After six months of planning, Hawaiian Chopper Magazine’s Paradise Bikefest & Bike Build-Off finished with an explosion of bikers, babes, and bikes. Billed as Hawaii’s biggest motorcycle rally ever… the event lived up to all the hype with nearly 4,000 people gathering at the Kapiolani Community College campus in Honolulu over the Independence Day weekend.
Along with featured builders Nui Kauhane of Grumpy’s Customs on Oahu, and Noah O’Geen of Maui’s Hot Rod Alley and celebrities like Sugar Bear, Big Schwag, Big Mike, Jose De Miguel, Harold Pontarelli, Shannon Aikau, Roger Kuwahara and harmonica great Kevin McKay, Hawaii was treated to a motorcycle spectacle of sight & sound that will be hard to match…
Congratulations go out to Nui who was voted build-off winner for his specially built, trademark “Local Boy” creation. Nui’s hard work, and dedication to the style he helped popularize was obvious to the throngs of voters who selected his bike over O’Geen’s ’41 knucklehead, which was definitely one of the highlights of the show.
With 10 weeks to build their bikes, the two iron artisans busted their asses to unveil some of the coolest chops ever displayed at a Hawaii bike event, and both can be proud for their effort.
With 67 bikes entered into the drive-in bike show, and nearly 1000 bikes, and hundreds of cars in the parking lot of the school at the base of Diamond Head, Hawaii’s biker community and general public merged to create a synergy not experienced since the 2004 Choppers Only show when Billy Lane, Indian Larry, Peter Fonda, Mondo Porras, Paul Cox, Jose De Miguel, Bandit, and a host of other greats joined Hawaii’s Ohana for a party unmatched before this year’s rally.
Over 30 vendors, and 15 sponsors showcased their wares, and celebrated Hawaiian Chopper Magazine’s 2nd anniversary with a backdrop of heavy music courtesy of local rockers Big Dawg, and Warner Bros. Recording artist Kevin McKay of the Warren Commission.
Events like the Island Tattoo Contest, Sensually Yours Bikini Contest, and the ride in bike show kept the crowd entertained until the Big Schwag announced the winner of the BMC Rolling Chassis that was given away by BMC’s Big Mike & Hawaiian Chopper Editor-in-Chief Steve Kalnasy. Congratulations go out to Robert Williams of Ewa Beach who had the winning ticket and pushed away what will one day be one of Hawaiian Choppers featured chops. Thanks for the contribution Mike. I expect that that chassis will be something that BMC will be proud of…
I am just now beginning to get my sanity back after one fucking crazy weekend, and I want to take a moment and recognize some of those behind the scenes people who helped me create a one cool party.
My partner Wanda Shipp, Mike Caswell & Pasha Hawaii, Big Mike of BMC Choppers & his brother Jason Rouse, Todd, James & the boys at Budweiser, Mario Medri, Bill Van & the crew at Pacific Rim Cycle, Mark Eli, Dan Franco & everyone at South Seas Harley, Domenico’s Harley-Davidson, Cycle City, Mikey’s Speed Shop, Mobi Pacific, Ryan Lau & the Tattoo Krew, Bandit & Bikernet, Steve Hoppis & Nancy Carr, Big Fatt Tatts, my brother Kevin McKay, Sugar Bear, Shannon Aikau, Harold Pontarelli, Roger Kuwahara & the brothers at Kustom Fab, Nui Kauhane, Noah O’Geen, Bo Irvine, Ed Canoy, Big Schwag, Kapiolani Community College and a host of others I am sure I am forgetting (sorry bout that folks)…
Finally, I want to give some props to Deacon & Chris Tronolone for setting the stage for me. Without their hard work in the past, the Paradise Bikefest wouldn’t have been possible…
Now with that event under my belt, I hope you will all join us for the Great Hawaiian Biker Build-Off 2 being held Sunday, December 3rd following the annual Toys-for-Tots run. December in Hawaii! What could be better???
Ahui ho,
–Steven Kalnasy
Editor-in-Chief
Hawaiian Chopper
