National Guard members
get local-style goody bags

Seventy boxes of goodies were flown to Hawaii National Guard members who are currently training in Fort Bliss, Texas.

More than 450 goody bags, weighing 2,450 pounds in all, were recently delivered to the 227th Engineer Company from Pearl City and the 487th Field Artillery Unit from Wahiawa.

The bags were filled with local snacks such as macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, beef jerky, cookies and li hing mui.

"Because many of these soldiers will be unable to come home for the holidays, several patriotic and civic-minded companies and supporters reached into their stores and pockets to put these local-style goody bags together," said state Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Poamoho).

Those who contributed included Duty Free Shoppers, Island Shoppers, Blind Vendors Ohana, HMS Host, Greeters of Hawaii and students from Holomua Elementary School. The goody bags were flown to Texas courtesy of Continental Airlines.