Street Bikers United, a 900-member lobbying group for motorcyclists, plans to pay the $3,000 city fee to stage its 28th annual Christmas Toy Drive parade on the first Sunday in December, said E. Roy Gomez, the organization's state director.

"We're willing to put it on at any cost because it's for the kids," Gomez said. "It's worth it just to see the smiles on their faces."

SBU's parade committee was surprised when the city decided this year it could no longer waive fees for parade coning and cleanup.

"We only found out about it a couple weeks ago and it doesn't give us much time to raise the money, but we'll do it," Gomez said.

One option, he noted, is to check with organizers of the Toys for Tots classic car parade to see if they are interested in sharing costs for a joint effort this year. This year's car parade, scheduled for Nov. 24, has been canceled because of the $3,000 fee assessment, said Marine Staff Sgt. Ruben Villarreal, the state's Toys for Tots coordinator.

The bikers' event at the Hawai'i Convention Center will feature entertainment, food, contests and vendor displays, said D.J. Freitas of the organization's parade committee. Between 3,000 and 5,000 riders will donate a toy and take part in a parade through Waikiki to Kapi'olani Park.

Response to a story yesterday about the Toys for Tots' parade situation includes a challenge from Andrew Jamilla, president of Waimanalo Construction Co., to all truckers in the state to match or better a $50 cash donation and toy, added Villarreal.

"People remember kids," Villarreal said. "It's the drum I beat. Each year, they come through for us. Two years ago, we were 10,000 toys short two days before Christmas and put the word out. We ended up with 2,000 extra toys."

Toys for Tots' goal this year is 60,000 toys.