KILAUEA — Obama was in town for dinner, but no one shut down the town of Kilauea Friday during the Anaina Hou free community Christmas dinner. “President Barrack Obama went to dinner in Waikiki, Thursday night, and they pretty much
KILAUEA — Obama was in town for dinner, but no one shut down the town of Kilauea Friday during the Anaina Hou free community Christmas dinner.
“President Barrack Obama went to dinner in Waikiki, Thursday night, and they pretty much shut down the place,” said Kimo Rosen, Obama Da Dog’s owner. “Today is Obama’s seventh birthday and she got a special bone — and dinner here.”
The Kauai Obama followed in the footsteps of President Obama, working the crowd for pats and returning the gesture with licks and an occasional kiss when the Anaina Hou Community Park hosted its sixth free community Christmas dinner at the Kauai Mini Golf located in Kilauea.
“We are truly honored to continue this annual tradition established by Bill and Joan Porter,” said Jordan Wyle, the executive director of Anaina Hou. “Anaina Hou was founded to serve as a nonprofit gathering place for our community and we are honored to be able to share the holiday with those in need of a meal, or without family and friends to share the day with.”
Thomas Daubert, Anaina Hou director of development and marketing, said they did a lot of outreach with the food pantries on the North Shore ahead of the Friday meal.
“We found out that not too many food pantries on the North Shore would be doing anything on this day,” Daubert said. “Additionally, starting this year, we have 20 kupuna who will have their meals delivered to their homes. They get the first 20 plates coming off the line.”
Wylie said Anaina Hou and its staff and volunteers projected to serve at least 400 meals through the help of volunteers and community sponsors such as the Waipa Foundation whose imu cooked the turkeys, ham, and pork butts. Other community sponsors included the Healthy Hut, Costco, and the Safeway Stores.
“We served 400 meals over Thanksgiving,” Wyle said. “We also served about 300 meals last year, so Crystal Bilyeu, the Anaina Hou community outreach manager, coordinated for 400 meals. The weather has been pretty funky, so we’re crossing our fingers.”
In addition to the free meal, guests were treated to free rounds of mini golf throughout Christmas Day.
“We heard about this while we were playing mini golf,” said Anna Friedman of Los Angeles, Calif. “We had reservations for a restaurant in Poipu, but thought it would be nice for the children to work and volunteer. We canceled our reservation so we could help serve, and enjoy a meal after we work. This is where the real people are. We are having fun talking to people and carrying on decent conversations. It is a real treat.”
Anna was joined by her husband Josh and children Zachary and Isabel in helping other volunteers serve up the meal under clear but windy weather, entertained by various musicians including Kanazawa and Renee Janton.
“This is the place to be,” said Diana Butcher of Lake Tahoe, Nevada who was also volunteering on the serving line.
Wyle said Anaina Hou Community Park is a 16-acre nonprofit campus which features the Kauai Mini Golf and Botanical Gardens, a cafe and gift store, access to hiking and mountain biking the Wai Koa Loop Trail, two weekly farmers markets where Kanazawa performs, a playground and skate park for keiki, and a HI-5 redemption facility.
“In the next 24 months, Puu Kumu School will be here,” Wyle said. “We are also taking input through a survey for the new Anaina Hou Pavilion to our community. This facility, funded entirely by a generous gift from Bill and Joan Porter, will provide a beautiful new gathering place for the community, hosting activities such as concerts, films, theater, lectures, and more while being able to host luau, wedding receptions, and other community events.”
