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Beach Bum Weekend a wet and wild time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  "Soak or be soaked - you choose!" was the challenge the 15th Services Squadron's Outdoor Recreation Flight put out to military families at the Beach Bum Weekend at Hickam Harbor May 23 and 24. 

This annual event kicked off the summer with family-friendly fun, thanks to help from Friends of Hickam, and included a float contest, free food, overnight camping, a movie on the beach, and access to the harbor's kayaking, sailing, motorboat rides, windsurfing, and more. 

"We had about 100 people actually in the float parade and another 150 or so coming out to watch and have fun," said Ryan Bergstrom, a lifeguard at Hickam Harbor, who's helped the 15 SVS host the parade the last two years. 

Beginning at Bishop Point pier, the floats passed the Hickam Fire Department, which had fire hoses hooked up to soak the occupants. Spectators were armed with water balloons, and float members defended themselves with huge water guns, Bergstrom said. 

The Hickam Community Housing team won for the best supersoakers, and the Hickam cheerleading squad, the "Flyers," won the most spirited float award, according to Outdoor Recreation. 

"The parade was really fun, this was our first time coming," said Pandra Bridges, a Hickam Elementary early childhood special education teacher. "It was not only nice, but it was convenient and free. My 6-year-old son, Evan, loved shooting water guns and throwing balloons at the floats. Sunday, they had a huge water slide out that he also had a blast on." 

The annual weekend event is heavily supported by members of the Hawaii community, Bergstrom said. Friends of Hickam, a private, non-profit organization of about 150 local business owners and civic leaders, donated food for the barbecue, helped with preparation and serving, and judged the floats. 

"I know there was a lot of hard work that went into this huge event," Bridges said. "I'm so thankful for all the effort that not only the base put into it, but people who aren't even in the Air Force - they made this a really fun weekend for my family, and I would definitely come again next year." 

"It was fabulous, we really enjoyed supporting this activity for families and Airmen at Hickam Air Force Base," said Stuart Chun, FoH president. "We appreciate the sacrifices Airmen make to defend our right to freedom and keeping us safe in lieu of us serving ourselves." 

Every year, the organization, which has been in existence for about 20 years, donates $20,000-30,000 for base Airman morale programs, Chun said. 

"We want to do anything and everything we can to boost morale for our military, specifically Airmen and the 15th Airlift Wing," he said. "We also just really enjoy socializing with base personnel." 

"We really couldn't do this by ourselves," Bergstrom said. "Friends of Hickam help a lot."
In addition to fun, family "down-time," the Beach Bum Weekend lets base members know what outdoor recreation offers, he said, including surfing lessons, bottom and spear fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling. 

For more information about base recreational opportunities, call 15 SVS outdoor recreation at 449-5215.