The look of wonder on the face of a kid who believes in Santa Claus inspires members of the Rotary Club of Mililani Sunrise to "go all out" for a family they adopt every Christmas.

"We want to make sure we get a family with young kids," said Paul Nakachi, past president of the club. "We want to see the joy in their eyes when Santa Claus comes. That’s the most joyous part of the whole thing, without question. When we come with Santa, with a sack full of goodies — that’s chicken skin!"

The club is one of many organizations and companies that sign up regularly to become donors in the annual Adopt-a-Family program under Helping Hands Hawaii. The Star-Advertiser’s Good Neighbor Fund helps the nonprofit in raising donations of cash and material goods for the holiday program.

"We go all out for them," Nakachi said. "Christmas is just once a year."

The Sunrise club chooses a family, sometimes two, living in the Mililani area from a list of people provided by Helping Hands. Members generally contribute a total of about $400 to $500 each year to cook a special dinner and buy gifts requested by the family.

"We don’t buy expensive things. We’re just a small club, just 20 members. But we’re very active in the community. We like to give," Nakachi said.

Wendell Nekota, the club’s president-elect, has played Santa the past several years, and coordinates everything with Helping Hands. Donors don’t usually deliver the food and presents themselves, but visiting the adopted family is an essential part of their gift.

"It’s a rewarding thing for us. We all feel better helping a needy family," he said. "I dress up as Santa Claus with a bag of toys. We cook full dinners, turkey and ham with all the sides." Members also spend time singing Christmas carols with the family.

This year, the club is helping a single mother with three girls, ages 2, 8 and 10. She works full time, but is finding it difficult to buy her children gifts, Nekota said.

"They haven’t asked for much," he added. The mom has requested gift cards for diapers and soap; the two eldest girls, tennis shoes and backpacks; and the 2-year-old, Elmo learning toys, Nekota said.

Nekota started out as Santa’s surrogate for his family celebrations, then began serving as Saint Nick as a favor for a few private parties a year.

"The enjoyment you get out of being Santa Claus — it’s fun!" he said. "I ask them if they’re being good, and are you listening to your parents — the usual things Santa would ask."

First Hawaiian Bank has been a collection site for the Star-Advertiser’s (formerly the Star-Bulletin’s) Good Neighbor Fund donations for about 10 years, as well as whenever a group needs to raise money for a good cause throughout the year, bank spokeswoman Susan Kam said.

Brandt Farias, FHB marketing director, said the bank tries to support community efforts as a way to demonstrate its five core values.

"It really starts with caring," he said, the most important of the values, which include character, cooperation, competitiveness and confidence.