When he was young, Adrian Rumsey admitted, he wanted to be Santa Claus. He still does.

“My mom always made sure my younger brother and I had a good Christmas, so now I want to make sure everyone else can also enjoy the season,” said the 68-year-old forklift operator who actually resembles the man in red, thanks to his long, white beard.

For 30 years, the Makiki resident has been dressing up his pickup truck — currently a tan 1989 Dodge Dakota — with colorful blinking lights and holiday decorations.

“I start planning around October,” said Rumsey, a former delivery driver for the Honolulu Advertiser. “I have some idea of what I’d like to do each year and I write down some notes, then I go into the stores and see if I can find what I’m looking for. Cost is not an issue.

“At first I only had about 100 lights. Now I probably have about 2,000 lights and 10 figures. Each year I try to do something different, and I try to put on more decorations.”

At the beginning, Rumsey would use bungee cords to secure lighted figures to his truck’s roof. Then about four years ago he devised a plywood platform to which the figures could be attached. A generator in the back of his truck provides the extra power needed for all the lights and decorations.

“I go on the freeway with them and they don’t fall off, and so far no one has stolen them,” he said.

This year, Rumsey’s rooftop display includes Santa and his sleigh, Rudolph and a few other reindeer, several black penguins and an igloo. A candy cane wraps around his radio antenna, and snowmen, green wreaths, more candy canes, another sleigh and strings of blinking lights hang from the sides of the cab.

Gold bells and lights adorn the front grille.

The father of four grown children and grandfather to three said his family used to help him decorate his truck when they were younger, and look forward to seeing each year’s new designs.

Over the years, Rumsey has had thousands of compliments about his holiday- themed truck.

“When I go into Waikiki, all the trolleys and tourists will stop to take photos of my truck, or they want to have their picture taken with me and the truck. Even the cops will stop and admire it.

“I just like helping people get in the Christmas spirit,” he said. “I can’t wait to put on my decorations each year. “