Christmas comes early with Shop With a Cop | News, Sports, Jobs

Officer Bethany Cravalho-Parker helps 6-year-old Faith pick out a toy during the Shop With a Cop event Saturday morning at Target in Kahului. More than 50 children each received a $100 gift card to spend as part of the event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Kahului. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo

KAHULUI — Like other struggling parents, Sunshine Puaoi has had to say no when her children have asked for expensive toys.

But for her three youngsters and dozens of others, the answer was yes to toys and more when they were paired with police officers and $100 gift cards to Shop With a Cop on Saturday morning at Target in Kahului.

“They’re excited,” said Puaoi, who has been at Malama Family Recovery Center for nearly two years after starting to use drugs when she was 13. “I’m trying to live this better life for myself and then my children.

“It’s nice to see them with the officers and thinking that it’s OK. Sometimes it scares me to think if I don’t guide them the right way, they’re going to end up being arrested. I’m trying to make sure my kids don’t do the things I did that led me to jail.”

More than 50 Maui Police Department officers volunteered to help 52 children shop for early Christmas gifts at the Shop With a Cop event, which marked its 16th year on Maui.

Police DUI Task Force Sgt. Nick Krau gets a high-five from 4-year-old Kailea Puaoi-Kalilikane while he helps her select toys during the Shop With a Cop event. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo

“I haven’t stopped smiling since I got here,” said Bruce McDonald, president of the Kiwanis Club of Kahului, which sponsors the annual event. “It literally is the best day of the year.”

Fifteen Target employees volunteered to help set up for the event, said Jasmine Bekgran, Target asset protection manager.

Children and parents were treated to donuts, Starbucks coffee provided by Target, and juice and water donated by Pukalani Superette before Santa arrived with a personalized gift for each child.

Then each child was matched with a police officer to go shopping, getting a head start before the store opened at 7 a.m.

“For me, this event is the true start of the holiday season,” said DUI Task Force Sgt. Nick Krau, who has consistently volunteered for Shop With a Cop since it started on Maui. “This is what Christmas is all about, giving and giving back.”

Five-year-old Kekupu Kaeo Valante gets a thumbs-up from DUI Task Force officer Jason Thompson after she selects a Squishmallow plush unicorn. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo

While Krau helped 4-year-old Kailea Puaoi-Kalilikane look for toys, police Chief Tivoli Faaumu pushed a shopping cart carrying her 6-year-old sister, Kaimalie, through the toy aisles. Her cart was filled with toys including a Disney Princess Ariel doll that was almost as big as she is. Another officer helped find gifts for the sisters’ 3-year-old brother, Kaimana.

“This is amazing,” said Paul Tonnessen, executive director of the nonprofit Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, which found the families who participated through Malama Family Recovery Center and the Maui Family Court Drug Court program.

If not for the event, “they would never have anything,” Tonnessen said. “Christmas is very limited for them.”

At the checkout line, staffed by Target employees who were scheduled to work early, Tonnessen watched as officers gladly paid the difference when purchases exceeded the gift card amount.

“The kids always look to put back,” Tonnessen said. “The officers are, like, ‘No, no, I got it.’ The officers won’t even let me pay. They want to do it themselves.”

Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu and his partner, Deborah Ross, head to the checkout line with 6-year-old Kaimalie Puaoi-Kalilikane and a full cart at the Shop With a Cop event Saturday at Target in Kahului. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo

“It’s a really good feeling,” said officer Bethany Cravalho-Parker, who was volunteering for the fifth year. “The kids light up when they’re able to shop for themselves.”

Some want to guy gifts for their family members instead of themselves, Cravalho-Parker said. “It’s pretty awesome,” she said.

Cravalho-Parker helped Janel Kahula shop for her 6-year-old daughter, Faith, while another officer helped Kahula’s sons Kekai, 8, and Kapono, 4.

“I’m actually loving this because we’re having a hard time with presents,” Kahula said. “So this is a really big help for us.”

When Kekai approached his mother to ask if he could get a toy, Kahula told him, “You don’t have to ask me. As long as you can pay for it with your card, you can get whatever you like.”

Kapio Kaeo Valante, who accompanied her 5- and 7-year-olds, said she was nervous and excited to be there.

“At first, I was unsettled,” she said. “I did see some of my arresting officers. Not fun.

“This time last year, I was on the dark side.”

She said she was in a “better space” this year.

Her 5-year-old daughter, Kekupu, made a list of what she wanted but ended up diverting to the toy aisles with DUI Task Force officer Jason Thompson.

Solo bike Sgt. Gregg Rowe said he volunteered “just to give back, do something positive for the community.”

He and his wife, Nola, helped 10-year-old Destiny Gill shop for clothes and art products.

Chief Faaumu said some parents or guardians of the children may have “come in contact with police in a negative way.”

“But doing this, we’re able to bridge that gap, bring a smile to their face,” he said. “That’s what this is all about.”

Puaoi, whose children participated in the event for the second year, said she was impressed.

“It’s such an amazing thing,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful thing to see. It makes the kids happy.”

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.

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