By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

HILO, Hawaii: The torrential downpour was not enough to halt the Rock & Roll Motorcycle Club’s 16th Annual Toys for Tots motorcade and rally on Sunday.

This year, the hundred or so participants – down a bit from the usual numbers, probably because of the weather – departed from Aunty Sally’s Lu’au Hale on Pi’ilani St.

The riders – including mayor Billy Kenoi – suited up for the elements and followed the direction of Ellsworth Fontes, the organizer of the rally, before heading out.

The convoy headed down Kalanikoa St. towards Kamehameha Ave. where it turned right and headed out towards Keaukaha along Kalaniana’ole Ave.

The group eventually u-turned at 4 Miles beach, rumbled through Banyan Drive and onto Manono Street, back to Aunty Sally’s.

While the bikers were gone, the unwrapped gifts continued to pile up, as did the gift bicycles… all donated for the island’s needy keiki.

Its an event that everyone looks forward to. But, all this almost didn’t happen this year.

In November, the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported that organizers had cancelled the much anticipated event due to permitting discrepancies with the Hawaii Police Department, having to do with limiting the number of participants, which in years past have totalled four or five hundred. However, the county reported that all conflicts were ironed out and the show will go on.

A turn of events that means many happy children in Hilo this holiday season. And even the weather couldn’t stop these guys from spreading the holiday cheer.