MILILANI — The hot dogs were free. The donations were from the heart.

Of more than a dozen approved Red Cross Hurricane Katrina donation collection locations on O'ahu yesterday, the one in front of the Mililani Wal-Mart with the "Free Hot Dogs" sign was unique, said Jill Becker, director of financial development for the Red Cross Hawaii Chapter.

"Some people are doing canister collections, some of them are putting on concerts, and some are doing bake sales," she said.

But the hot dog idea was a whole new wrinkle.

Becker said Alan Muschek, who owns a refrigeration company, presented the idea to the Red Cross as a way of collecting money for hurricane victims. She said they told him he could collect donations without giving away hot dogs, but he insisted.

"We did not give him any money at all," she said. "We don't do that. He just bought it all himself. And it looks like he's having good results."

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. yesterday folks lined up to get their free eats and stuff cash into sealed Red Cross disaster relief buckets.

And Muschek and crew said they'll be back to do it again today and tomorrow.

Lisa Kupau of Pacific Palisades saw the sign and stepped up to the counter. When she realized it was a way of raising money for hurricane victims, she talked two friends into joining the hot dog party as well.

"I like hot dogs, I like to shop at Wal-Mart, and I wanted to make a donation," said Kupau, who deemed it a triple good deal.

Christian Monk, 22, a Mililani resident who hails from Detroit, stepped up to the counter, placed a bill into the relief fund canister and proceeded to decorate her hot dog with condiments.

"I hope it's not a scam," Monk said as she made her way through the parking lot with a hot dog in one hand and a soft drink in the other. "I just gave 'em 10 dollars. Why? One, I'm really hungry. And two, it's a way I can help."

Muschek said he got the idea from Boy Scouts who were doing the same thing at a West Virginia truck stop over the Fourth of July weekend last year.

"They were getting donations for the Red Cross," he said. "We thought it was a great idea. It's better than selling hot dogs. They just gave them away for free. That way you don't have to charge a dollar for a hot dog. You get more money this way."

Since he's in the refrigeration business, he has contact with vendors and suppliers who were glad to donate buns, condiments, soft drinks and the all-important franks. What wasn't donated Muschek paid for himself.

His wife, Linda, and her former co-workers at the Waikiki Broiler restaurant were pleased to supply the know-how for hot dog steaming along with laughs and good will. Most of them worked together for years before the restaurant closed to make way for the Outrigger Enterprises redevelopment project.

"We're all unemployed since the Waikiki Broiler went out of business in March," said Linda Muschek, former Broiler general manager.

"But we're glad to collect donations throughout the Labor Day weekend."

For anyone who wants to be certain it's on the level, Muschek keeps a copy of his Red Cross agreement right next to the hot dog steamer.

The Muscheks say they don't even know how much money they're raising because they turn the buckets over to the Red Cross unopened and pick up empty buckets to replace them.

However, Becker said the Red Cross has promised to tell the hot dog crew how much was collected when it sends them a thank-you note.

"Everyone that raises money, we give them an official letter that says thank you for raising such-and-such amount of money," she said.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.