Hundreds of West O'ahu families in need began lining up early yesterday at the Kapolei High School cafeteria for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program that distributes toys for children and Christmas gifts for the elderly.

In a sign of tough economic times, Salvation Army Maj. Phil Lum said the number of area gift applicants practically doubled this holiday season.

"I'd say it's a 70 to 80 percent increase over last year," Lum said. "That just pinpoints the fact that there are more people in need."

The Angel Tree program, which began in Lynchburg, Va., in 1979, has since joined the Salvation Army's familiar Red Kettle tradition around the nation.

The process begins with needy families applying several weeks in advance of Christmas. Families include gift wish lists. While Army volunteers can't promise to meet the wish lists, that's the goal. Christmas trees decorated with angel gift tags are set up at area shopping malls. Shoppers who want to donate gifts are invited to select one or more angel tags, purchase specific gifts, and drop the gifts and forms off with volunteers.

SET ASIDE FOR FAMILIES

At Kapolei, around 400 large, heavy-duty, black plastic bags bulging with gifts were lined up in rows across the school cafeteria floor. Each bag was numbered and earmarked with gifts for a specific family. While Salvation Army volunteers worked the check-in table, a dozen Kapolei High School National Honor Society students located gift bags from among the rows and delivered them to the family with the corresponding bag numbers.

Stephanie Caoili, a 17-year-old senior who also handed out gifts at the event last Christmas, described the work as a meaningful way to fulfill her honor student community service requirement.

"I decided to do this because it is really fun," said Caoili, who plans to be a social worker. "Because you actually have direct contact with the people that you're helping. You smile and say, 'Merry Christmas,' and they smile back."

While recipients were appreciative, many were uncomfortable about discussing the circumstances that brought them there. A number of first-timers said only that their families had fallen on hard times in recent months. A woman who only gave her name as Rose said she was there to pick up gifts for her four daughters because her husband, a trucker, had recently lost his job.

Latisha Tai of Nanakuli showed up with her husband, Austin Tai, and six children, ages 7 though 14. The part-time government worker said since the city cut back her hours, making ends meet has become difficult.

"We appreciate all the Salvation Army has done to help us this year," she said.

Lum said the Angel Tree program tries to be sensitive to the parents' feelings.

GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN

While some parents show up with children, volunteers let them know ahead of time it's fine to come in without the youngsters, he explained.

"It's more for the dignity of the family client," he said. "That's one reason why we put the gifts in the black bags. For some parents it doesn't matter. But others want their little kid to know this gift is coming from Mommy or Daddy — and not the Salvation Army, or some organization.

"This way, they can take it home and wrap it themselves."

Children that did tag along yesterday were in luck as they passed long-time Salvation Army volunteers Georgia and Brengle Navarro who stood next to the exit beside three hefty, decorated boxes. The Navarros' duty was to give departing tykes a special surprise.

When a 3-year-old named Jimson reached the door, Georgia Navarro reached into one box and withdrew a teddy bear decked in red britches and a big blue hat, and virtually the same size of the boy himself.

After Jimson and his new stuffed friend dashed out the door, Navarro said the look in the toddler's eyes and the smile on his face are what make volunteering worth all the effort.

"It was a thrill giving that to him," she said with a laugh. "He was the cutest, sweetest little boy."