Students hopped, crawled under a camouflage net, rode down a slide and weaved around objects for the annual Turkey Trot on Wednesday, run by the school PTA and Kane'ohe Marines from 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment.

It was a day for having fun, giving thanks and sharing time.

Marine Pfc. Steven Lichtenberg, 21, said he was delighted with the children — especially one physically challenged kindergarten girl who wanted to give up after a fall.

"She didn't want to go back through the net but I told her I'd go with her," Lichtenberg said. "It convinced her to go."

Part of the obstacle course for 'Aikahi Elementary School's Turkey Trot included low and high hurdles, which students must make their way over and under. Second-graders are shown here jumping the hurdles. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Marines perform community service while putting a face on the military for the community, Etheridge said. The kids are drawn like magnets to the Marines, who can serve as role models for students, he said.

"But I think (the Marines) always get more out of it then they give," Etheridge said.

With the sun beating down and no trade winds, the troops led the kids on the fun run, calling out encouragement, spraying them with water and in at least one case carrying a boy through one segment of the course.

Mac Alexander, 7, was a major contender, having lapped the field of runners and claiming first place in his group. And Heather Burns, 7, said the event was really tiring, with crawling on all fours the most difficult part of the course. Savannah Pugh, 7, said she enjoyed the run for the exercise and the challenges. This was the first year the Turkey Trot had an obstacle course.

Out of breath and sucking on frozen flavored icicles, the children didn't forget what the event was all about: raising money for teachers, Pugh said.

"So that my teacher can buy a lot of things that we don't have in our classroom," she said adding that she wanted to raise money for her teacher because, "she's really nice and I think she's the best one I've ever had."

All of the money raised by the children goes back to the teachers, said Kathy Bryant-Hunter, event co-coordinator. A kindergarten girl raised the most money, more than $300 for which she received a $50 gift certificate for Pearlridge Center, as did nine other top money raisers, Bryant-Hunter said. Some 214 students raising more than $50 won a pumpkin pie, she said.

Castle Medical Center provided the money for the prizes, so all of the money raised went to the teachers. And the teachers whose classroom raised the most got a $100 bonus, Bryant-Hunter said.

"Castle likes the fitness element of the day," she said. "It fits nicely with their mission."

The teachers appreciate the effort, said Randi Shibuya, a third-grade teacher.

"We're actually not complaining about not having enough money because we get what we need and we get extra support from the community," Shibuya said. "It's really neat with the military people coming. The kids get so hyped up and excited."

Plus the activity is good for the students who practice team work, cheering each other and giving moral support while exercising, she said.

"I think they feel proud of themselves for completing the course," Shibuya said.