Commissary shopper wins Harley-Davidson motorcycle

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HONOLULU, Hawaii --  Shopping in the commissary paid an unexpected dividend for Senior Master Sgt. Collin Sakuma on Aug. 20. Along with using one of the military's most cherished benefits and saving big bucks on groceries by shopping in the Barbers Point Commissary, Sakuma won a Harley-Davidson XL1200L 105th Anniversary Edition motorcycle in a putting contest sponsored by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. 

Sakuma, an air traffic controller for the Hawaii Air National Guard's 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, and an avid motorcycle rider, competed against four other commissary shoppers in a putting contest held at the Kapolei Golf Course in Kapolei, Hawaii. The other competitors represented the commissaries at Pearl Harbor, Kaneohe Bay, Hickam Air Force Base, and Schofield Barracks. 

Rain began to fall just as Sakuma stepped up to putt, but it didn't affect his concentration. His putt stopped 16 inches from the pin; close enough to win the Harley. 

"I own a Suzuki right now," Sakuma said, "and we had a second bike when we lived in California. My wife said it's time for both of us to start riding again. I put my entry in at Barbers Point where I shop several times a week. I still can't believe I've won." 

Sakuma didn't say whether he or his wife Pam will ride the new Harley. He did say they will both be on a bike most weekends when he is not serving on guard duty at the Barbers Point runway where he directs the safe takeoff and landing of aircraft. 

Sakuma's competitors, David Lopez, Jessica Murphy, Wil Alvarado and Jerry Dagulo, didn't walk away empty-handed. Each won a black leather jacket and a Sunkist go cart from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.