Santa might rule Christmas, but this year his gift-giving supremacy has been challenged by a guy who likes giving as much as the jolly old elf: millionaire philanthropist Marc Paskin, aka Uncle Kokua.
It’s an encore for Paskin, whose passion for giving to the needy was the idea behind a short series that was shot here and aired on KFVE in 2012. This year, Paskin and KFVE teamed up for a holiday special, "Uncle Kokua’s Christmas in Hawaii," which airs at 7 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Dec. 22.
The 65-year-old Paskin, who divides his time between homes in San Diego and Kailua, bought $10,000 worth of equipment, flat-screen TVs and ukulele for Shriners Hospitals for Children; gave $5,000 to Surf the Nations so it could feed the homeless; helped buy furniture for a single mother in Wahiawa; and created a huge Christmas party for the inmates at the Women’s Community Correctional Center.
Paskin invited an Elvis impersonator to the prison and treated the inmates to a one-hour show.
"They went crazy," Paskin said. "They are obviously hungry for entertainment. It’s boring in prison, and they probably don’t have many opportunities to smile."
Paskin uses his own money for his philanthropy and once said he wants to die broke. That could take some time, though. A real estate investor, Paskin started with a $1,000 duplex and over the course of four decades has amassed a $100 million empire.
Fans of ABC’s "Secret Millionaire" might recognize Paskin, who appeared in an episode in which he was sent to Detroit with only $40. Paskin worked with local charities and met people struggling to survive. Then he distributed about $125,000.
The difficulties faced by Hawaii residents touched Paskin, who still receives a lot of email from people who watched his 2012 KFVE series.
"I think there are more people struggling in Hawaii than in any other city in the country," he said in a phone call from San Diego. "I get email all the time asking for help. It never ends. Even when the show went off the air, the email kept coming. Most people I can’t help. I wish I could help everybody."
Paskin worked out details of the holiday special this past summer when he pitched the idea to KFVE’s general manager, John Fink, who said the station has wanted to air more episodes that featured Uncle Kokua. And the timing was good, too.
"Christmas is the season of giving and sharing and trying to make a difference," Fink said. "If we can produce some happiness and some relief, show some of those good stories, what better time to do it than now?"
Uncle Kokua, a nickname Fink created for the 2012 series, leads by example, the station manager said.
"We need more people like that," Fink said. "Uncle Kokua is an example of someone who is not just talking about what he wants to do. He is doing it."
Paskin’s charity can have an immediate impact.
As the cameras rolled for the Christmas special, a truck full of furniture arrived at the home of the Wahiawa mother, and she burst into tears. Paskin, along with a discount outlet, furnished her whole apartment.
"This poor lady could barely put groceries on the table, and her kids slept on the floor," Paskin said. "When we left we had furnished the whole apartment."
Administrators at Shriners hospital had heard of Paskin, but that still did not lessen their surprise when he called.
"We just couldn’t believe it," said hospital spokeswoman Mahealani Richardson. "It was a gift that popped out of nowhere."
Paskin bought a pair of special tricycles that allow patients with balance problems to ride, which they did in the lobby of the hospital. The TVs he bought were put in rooms used by families who have to stay at the hospital, and the ukulele are good for therapy.
"For us to have all these things was really incredible," Richardson said. "We couldn’t afford to buy these on our own."
Paskin said he gives because he can.
"I’ve done well, but there are a lot of people who have nothing," he said. "I think it’s a nice thing to do."
AND that’s a wrap …
Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.
