CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Tyler Nii, 16, from Boy Scout Troop 611, went through a gift bag presented to him and other Scouts by the Visitors Aloha Society yesterday evening at the Willows in Moiliili.

Scouts cheered by isle donations

Gifts help out the visitors who had their belongings stolen

The community came up with $3,775 in cash for California Boy Scouts who lost their belongings to thieves, but it is hard to replace the digital Kodak moments.

"It's really great to go from a low point and bounce back to a higher one," 16-year-old Tyler Nii said, "but the pictures I had on my camera can never be replaced."

Checks, free dinners, backpacks and reusable cameras replaced the four backpacks, digital camera, cash and traveler's checks stolen from their van as they ate lunch at the Waimanalo McDonald's on Friday.

The boys said they have tried to forget about the theft of $2,500 worth of the troop's belongings and make new memories. For example, Nii proclaimed the first bite of barbecue beef steak the best he has ever had -- a free plate lunch at Rainbow Drive-Inn on Tuesday.

"I really liked going to the Dole Plantation," Eric Beutler said. "Of course, the pineapples at home aren't as good because they're in a can."

Eleven boys and five leaders of the Boy Scout Troop 611 from San Jose, Calif., enjoyed free admission to various local attractions, such as the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Bishop Museum.

President and Executive Director Jessica Rich of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo presented the donations to the troop yesterday during a farewell dinner at the Willows.

"The experience you had here is not what Hawaii is all about," said Kubo, giving each boy a commander's coin -- his office's award for community service. The Boy Scouts cleaned up Bellows Beach Park on Friday within hours of being ripped off.

The troop returned to Bellows yesterday. They filled 45 bags with driftwood and trash during the two days of cleanup.

"The second time was much more fun because we made a game of pushing the logs," Scoutmaster Stan Kawamata said.

The boys pushed six telephone pole-size logs out of the ocean and next to the road for pickup.