Big Ben Toys for Tots Train brings holiday joy and goodwill

by Kristen Okinaka | Dec. 19, 2018

Over the past 25 years, Hawaii Electric Light’s “Big Ben” Toys for Tots train has chugged along in Christmas parades around the island. What began as a project to raise awareness of and collect toys for the Toys for Tots program has evolved into a fan favorite in local parades.

Built in 1993 by Hawaii Electric Light employees, Big Ben was modeled after the official Toys for Tots red train logo designed by Walt Disney in 1948.

Big Ben’s locomotive, coal car and caboose were built from recycled materials. The frame, engine and transmission were repurposed from a used meter-reading truck, while the coal car and caboose were built over recycled airline baggage carts.

Employee Ben Dart began the project with the help of Wayne Simonson, Douglas Bumatay, and Kyle Kobayakawa. Sadly, Ben passed away before the train was completed. To honor him, the train was named Big Ben.

Over the years, many employees from around the company volunteer their time to update Big Ben’s look. Shiny garland and light strands have transformed into a high-tech light show akin to Disneyland’s popular Main Street Electrical Light Parade.

Today, Big Ben features LED pixel lighting. Strings of RGB (Red-Green-Blue) lights are placed in a matrix, computer controlled, and synchronized to music. The matrix of pixel lighting allows images and text to be displayed, much like a video screen.

Parade-goers from keiki to kupuna smile, sing and dance as Big Ben passes by with his elaborate light show and joyful music. This year’s playlist includes “Baby Shark,” “Little Saint Nick,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Santa’s Coming for Us.”

Stanward Oshiro (also known for the annual “Punalights” show at his home) coordinated and programmed the lighting decorations this year. Grant Fukunaga, Nolan Simeon, Bradley Ballesteros and Robert Kaneshiro assisted Stanward. Robert Rasse and Lesley Iwata helped with train modifications.

Safely transporting Big Ben from parade to parade is no small feat, and Kelvin Kohatsu, with the help of Rannikks Auto Specialists, transports the train around the island every holiday season. In recent years, Big Ben has appeared in the Hilo, Kona and Waimea parades. In the past, the train has taken part in six parades throughout the holiday season, including Pahoa, Keaau and Pahala.

Big Ben’s “helpers” also include employees and their ohana who march alongside the train or ride in the caboose to spread holiday cheer throughout our communities.

Formed in the early 1990s, the Employees of Hawaii Electric Light Toys for Tots Program is the official Local Community Organization on the Big Island for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Each year, employees volunteer their time to coordinate toy collections, fundraise primarily through its Tee-Off for Tots Golf Tournament, and purchase and distribute toys to thousands of less fortunate keiki in our community. A banner listing donors to the Tee-Off for Tots Golf Tournament accompanies Big Ben during the holiday parades.

Kristen Okinaka is the senior communications consultant at Hawaii Electric Light Company.