News Release

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Honolulu crewmembers joined with Coast Guard members from District 14 units to bring Christmas presents to more than 300 hundred children at Kuhio Elementary, a downtown Honolulu school that draws from a heavily underprivileged area of the island of Oahu, Dec. 14.

Dozens of MSST Honolulu crewmembers took wish lists written by the children and collected by their teachers, purchased gifts and wrapped them.  Crewmembers then delivered the gifts to the school with other District 14 units and attended a presentation by the children, who sang and performed holiday-themed routines for their families and the Coast Guard. 

“This is the second consecutive year that this unit participated in the local Angel Tree project, and it’s wonderful to be able to spread some holiday cheer to the kids,” said Lt. Cmdr. Helena Robinson, MSST Honolulu’s Commanding Officer who also participated in handing out the gifts. “From our understanding, many of these children were told this year that Christmas was going to be ‘cancelled due to tough times’, so we’re very glad to be able to reach out to them and bring smiles to so many faces right here in our community.” 

For one crewmember, this event struck a more personal chord.  “I looked out at the audience during the performance that the kids did, and I recognized some of my high school classmates standing there, taking video of their kids,” said Petty Officer Kenneth Pua’a.  “It was pretty amazing to realize I was helping them out by helping their kids have a good Christmas.” 

“I told them what the MSST does, and the teacher tied their recent lesson on goal setting and making progress towards their goals to my personal experience in joining and being in the Coast Guard,” said Petty Officer Michael Richards.

By the end, many happy and smiling children filled the school grounds, generously giving hugs and high-fives to the MSST Honolulu members as they departed.  In total, the Hawaii Coast Guard units donated more gifts than there were students, so the Coast Guard gave the excess presents to local homeless shelters for distribution. 

Created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, the eleven MSSTs are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.

MSSTs are a component of the Deployable Operations Group.  The DOG provides properly equipped, trained and organized Deployable Specialized Forces to Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and interagency operational and tactical commanders.

111214-G-0000X-104 MSST Honolulu brings Christmas to Kuhio Elementary School

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Waylon Logsdon and Lt. Cmdr. Helena Robinson pause for a picture with one of the classes of Kuhio Elementary School after they handed out Christmas presents to the children, Dec 14, 2011. The gifts were donated by the crewmembers of Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu in conjunction with other Oahu Coast Guard units as part of the Angel Tree charity event, which helped bring Christmas to over three hundred students, many of whom come from underprivileged families. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Warren Grimes.

111214-G-0000X-097 MSST Honolulu brings Christmas to Kuhio Elementary School

HONOLULU – A student from Kuhio Elementary School smiles for the camera after receiving her Christmas present from Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu crewmembers, Dec 14, 2011. The gifts were donated by the crewmembers of MSST Honolulu in conjunction with other Oahu Coast Guard units as part of the Angel Tree charity event, which helped bring Christmas to over three hundred students, many of whom come from underprivileged families. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Warren Grimes.

111214-G-0000X-102 MSST Honolulu brings Christmas to Kuhio Elementary School

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Waylon Logsdon, a Boatswain’s Mate stationed at Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu, smiles with students from Kuhio Elementary School after handing out Christmas presents, Dec. 14th, 2011. The gifts were donated by the crewmembers of MSST Honolulu in conjunction with other Oahu Coast Guard units as part of the Angel Tree charity event, which helped bring Christmas to over three hundred students, many of whom come from underprivileged families. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Warren Grimes.

111214-G-0000X-098 MSST Honolulu brings Christmas to Kuhio Elementary School

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Richards, a Maritime Enforcement specialist stationed at Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu, helps a Kuhio Elementary School teacher sort out presents for her class, Dec. 14, 2011. The gifts were donated by the crewmembers of MSST Honolulu in conjunction with other Oahu Coast Guard units as part of the Angel Tree charity event, which helped bring Christmas to over three hundred students, many of whom come from underprivileged families. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Warren Grimes.