About 200 Marines and sailors from Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Headquarters Battalion planned to conduct a conditioning hike in which service members will each carry nearly 25 pounds of nonperishable food as part of their combat gear load. The hike will take place along a 4.2-mile route around the base this morning as both a unit physical training activity and as part of the base's Operation Harvest.

The food will be dropped off at the end of the hike at the base chapel and is expected to be given to local charities, including St. George's Food Pantry, the Hawaii Food Bank and the Armed Services YMCA. This is the second year that Marine Corps Base Hawaii Chapel has hosted Operation Harvest during the holidays in which donations are made by families and units aboard the base.

The base chaplain, Capt. Kalas McAlexander, will also bring a group of 12 Marine and sailor volunteers, alongside Hawaii's Institute for Human Services, to take part in a “Feed the Homeless” event Saturday. During this monthly event, MCB Hawaii purchases food to cook and serve at a shelter dining facility, which is expected to feed 300 people.