Loyalists return for Jingle Bell Run fun
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
They were back again last night.
Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser
Wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers, pushing strollers or leading dogs dressed like Christmas characters, they congregated on the corner of Alapai and King streets, then spread out across Bishop and Beretania streets, bells jingling and lighted hats flashing.
Brody, a golden retriever, was dressed up as the grinch for the Crazy Canine Costume Contest during the Jingle Bell Run, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last night.
They were The Honolulu Advertiser Jingle Bell Run participants, and hardly any of them ran.
Many of them have been dressing up and walking in the event for years, and say they will continue to return every year they remain within commuting distance of the charity event.
"Every year," said Sandy White, whose family flew over from the Big Island for the event. "It's a family tradition."
White dressed her 7-year-old son, Monte, and 3-year-old daughter, Molly, as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.
Led by White's 9-year-old son, Jack (aka Rudolph), miscellaneous aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws wearing antlers pulled the young Clauses in a wagon sleigh.
Cheryl Chang of Kane'ohe, wearing a moustache last night so she could look like Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express," is also a long-time Jingle Bell "runner."
"Every year but the first," she said.
The Jingle Bell Run is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Chang has been getting dressed up and walking Christmas-silly for 19 years.
For Willow, Chang's Siberian Husky who pulled the Polar Express last night, the Fun Run is also a family tradition. Willow's great-great grandmother started it when she participated in the second annual event.
Stacie Kunihisa, who is about to move into her first house in Mililani, was a first-year "runner." She brought her husband, Chad, her 4-month-old son, Chase, and Chase's stroller.
The stroller was decorated as the Twelve Days of Christmas, Hawaiian style.
It had a myna bird in a papaya tree, two coconuts, three dried squid, four flowered lei, five fat piggy banks, six hula-lesson gift certificates, seven shrimp allegedly swimming, eight 'ukulele, nine pounds of poi, 10 cans of beer, 11 missionaries and 12 televisions.
Chase rode in a pouch on his mother's chest.
The fun run, a benefit for Special Olympics, Hawai'i, included food booths, games, prizes and a concert with Vaihi, Wendell Kekauoha and Tapa Groove, and Imua.
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
