Nānāikapono Church on the Leeward Coast turned into a full‑on toy depot this week as Honolulu police, Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and a crowd of volunteers rolled out Operation Blue Light Christmas. Organizers say 2,027 donated presents were collected, and nearly 2,000 of them were handed straight to local keiki during a giveaway timed with the Christmas on the Avenue festival in Nānākuli. Interim Chief Rade Vanic, District 8 officers, and representatives from the Honolulu City Council, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney all jumped in to get toys into neighborhood hands.
Who Took Part And What They Gave
According to the Honolulu Police Department, Interim Chief Rade Vanic and District 8 command and community policing officers joined city leaders and community volunteers on site to pass out the gifts. The department reports that nearly 2,000 of the 2,027 donated presents went to keiki and their families during the event. HPD also publicly thanked donors, council representatives, and staff from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for helping move toys through the crowd and into waiting arms.
Where It Took Place
Per the Nānāikapono Protestant Church event listing, Operation Blue Light Christmas ran on Dec. 13 at the church and at a booth on Nānākuli Avenue between Mano and Pililaau avenues as part of the Christmas on the Avenue festival. Organizers say the drive has put thousands of gifts into the community in recent years, with festival pages noting more than 4,000 presents collected across prior seasons. Hawaii News Now previewed the street fair and noted that the event brings vendors, resources, and families together along the Leeward Coast.
Part Of HPD's Holiday Outreach
The Honolulu Police Department frames the giveaway as part of its Lights of Aloha campaign, a seasonal effort that mixes public safety messaging with community service projects across Oʻahu, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Organizers and local leaders said this year’s festival theme, “Pupukahi I Holomua” ("Unite to move forward as one"), was chosen to highlight unity and collaboration. Festival promotions chair Shanztyn Nihipali told Aloha State Daily that the event is “by the community, for the community.”
Photos And Next Steps
The Honolulu Police Department also shared photos and a short write‑up of the distribution on its Facebook page, showing officers and volunteers passing wrapped gifts over tables to excited kids at the festival booth. Organizers’ event pages continue to encourage donations and volunteer help for upcoming distributions and list contact information for anyone who wants to pitch in.
Operation Blue Light Christmas is one of several neighborhood‑focused holiday efforts on Oʻahu. For more on the drive or to donate, see the Nānāikapono Protestant Church, which includes donation and volunteer contacts.
