"We have 11 — ages 4 months to 12," Matt said. "We're the Baker's dozen — my wife and I make 13."

The Baker Bunch were among the more than 800 foster kids and families who fanned out across Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei yesterday for the Friends of Foster Kids Annual Summer Picnic.

"We just love a big family," said Matt, an Army staff sergeant stationed at Fort Shafter.

"Three are our own, four are nieces and nephews we're raising, and four are foster children," Lisa said. "The military moved us into an eight-bedroom place, and we got a 15-passenger van. So, we're doing good. These kids have been so excited about this."

"Is everybody ready?" Matt asked after one and all had stashed their gear.

"YES!" they screamed in gleeful unison, and dashed off toward the Big Kahuna water slide. Meanwhile, Lisa and the two foster infants stayed in the shade of the Luau Lagoon pavilion.

At any given time there are about 2,700 Hawai'i children in foster care, statewide, said Lillian Koller, director of the state Department of Human Services.

"That's a point in time," Koller said. "Over a year we have about 5,000 kids come through the system. Typically, they stay in about three months or maybe longer, and then some of them are adopted or reunited with their natural parents."

But the kids at yesterday's big party came with a special status, explained Gay Tsukamaki, executive director of the Friends of Foster Kids.

"All of these children have been removed from their families because of abuse," she said. "These families here today have stepped up to the plate and welcomed these kids into their homes and said, 'We'll take care of them.'

"And this is our way of saying thank you to them."

Tsukamaki said the foster children have needs that can't be met solely by the state's foster parent financial support system. The mission of the Friends of Foster Kids — a grassroots, community based program started by the Rotary Club of Honolulu 10 years ago — is to identify those needs and find ways to meet them.

Additionally, the organization works to raise public awareness about issues relating to foster children. From its beginning, the organization's purpose has been "to assist abused children who cannot live safely with their family of origin."

The picnic was a special treat because normally taking the kids for a day at Hawaiian Waters would be cost prohibitive for most foster families, said Tsukamaki.

The event was paid for by community donations. Dozens of volunteers supplied labor, and numerous organizations gave beverages, snacks and other items.

Outback Steakhouse Waikiki donated 850 burgers and chicken sandwiches as well as 10 staff people to prep the food and operate the grill, said proprietor, Caroline Magcalas.

Eddie Galdones, senior sales executive for Hawaiian Waters, said the park gave the kids a substantial price break for the occasion — $12 each instead of the usual $30 admission fee.

There was little doubt that the kids were having fun.

"I want to do the big slide," exclaimed one 9-year-old girl. "I'm not scared."

"I'm scared," said her 7-year-old brother, with a grin. "But I'm going to do it anyway."

"Once they're in here they've got full use of the park," Galdones said. "They're getting lunch, drinks and entertainment. We're doing a series of picnic games for the kids, and the Luau Lagoon is reserved exclusively for the Friends of Foster Kids."

Stationed throughout the park were a group of volunteers from the Hawai'i Foster Youth Coalition, an advocacy organization that offers assistance, advice and help for foster teens. The coalition members were partnering with the Friends group.

"We try to be role models for older foster kids because they aren't as likely to be adopted," said Aileen Alolino, 24, a youth outreach coordinator and a former foster child herself. "They need someone to assist them because otherwise a lot of them end up homeless and on drugs."

She said coalition members understand the problems of foster kids because they've been through it themselves.

Alolino said one benefit of the Friends picnic is that it serves as a positive opportunity for foster children to meet each other. It's a way for them to discover that they are not alone, that their situation is not unique, and that there are others who care about them and are willing to help.

"These kids are lucky," added Ricky Gacusan, 23, who is also with the coalition. "We didn't have anything like this when I was growing up."