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Beanie Babies
packing ’em in
at McDonald’s
The promotion at the eateries
By Steve Murray
benefits Ronald McDonald
House Charities
Star-BulletinBEANIE Babies have once again invaded McDonald's restaurants throughout the state as part of a promotion and benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
At 5:30 a.m. yesterday, Les Okasaki, a 58-year-old grandfather, was among 30 people waiting for the Keeaumoku McDonald's opening. Okasaki ordered breakfast and received his prize for his 10-year-old granddaughter Shawnalynn Phelps.
He was back for lunch at 11 a.m.
Okasaki said he did not know how often he would return. "She collects them," he said. "But I don't know how many Happy Meals I can eat."
Twenty-nine models of the popular collectibles will be offered. The toys come free with a purchase of a Happy Meal or can be bought for $1.69. The slightly larger Superstars Teenie Beanie Babies can be purchased for $2.49 when buying any food item.
At the Keeaumoku restaurant much of the day yesterday there were four or more lines for those purchasing food and/or Beanie Babies -- and a special line for the rare customer who was purchasing "food only."
The star of day was the special Millennium Bear. McDonald's hopes that sales from the bear, available one day only, generate $4 million for the charity.
Seventy-five percent of the amount raised is to stay in local communities, said McDonald's assistant marketing manager Melanie Okazaki.
By the time yesterday's lunch crowd began drifting in, manager Paul Kaikaka said his McDonald's had sold more than 400 Millennium Bears.
One of the buyers was Charlette Kamiya, who boasts "a couple thousand" toys in her collection. "I like the challenge in of collecting, going from one McDonald's to another trying to find the one you want," she said.
Collector Websites offer original Beanie Babies for as much as $12,000. Although 69-year-old Gladys Isono never shelled out that much, it doesn't mean she will part with her beanies.
"I tell her she should sell them, but she won't," said her 75-year-old husband Tee Isono. "We have a four-bedroom house and one room is nothing but Beanie Babies."
AFTER finishing their meals, some customers stayed to study the Beanie Baby status board, like brokers watching the stock market ticker.
"They wait to see when we sell out of one toy so they can buy another," Okazaki said. Okazaki recalled that year at the Queen Street McDonald's, one man voluntarily updated other customers about the availability of particular models of the toys.
Among the crowd of baby boomers and seniors nabbing the toys, a few children could be found playing with their new acquisitions and discussing their favorites.
Seven-year-old Sagang Chung said he collects cats and monkeys while his 6-year-old sister, Yougang, likes dogs the best. One thing they both agreed on was their willingness to return. "We will come everyday," they said.
Loyalty to a particular toy was not a problem for 6-year-old twins Preston and Quinton Muronaga. "We like them all," they said in perfect stereo.
Preston and Quinton are not serious collectors but they know someone who is: their mother. "My mommy has rainbow bears," Quinton said. Asked whether they are allowed to play with their mothers collections, they both answered quickly, "No!"
McDonald's said new sets of Teenie Beanie Babies will be offered every week or as long as supplies last.
