PO‘IPU — Peter Merriman said one of the best ways to take care of the community is contributing to the United Way. He said this at the kickoff for the Kaua‘i United Way annual campaign earlier in the year and,
PO‘IPU — Peter Merriman said one of the best ways to take care of the community is contributing to the United Way.
He said this at the kickoff for the Kaua‘i United Way annual campaign earlier in the year and, on Thursday, Merriman’s Kaua‘i Executive Chef Kevin Ives, Director of Operations Robin Dame, and Event Coordinator Hollan Hamid contributed a check representing proceeds from a special benefit for the Kaua‘i United Way.
“It was one year ago that Peter Merriman opened his Merriman’s Kaua‘i restaurant in the Kukui‘ula Shopping Village in Po‘ipu,” said Scott Giarman, KUW executive director.
“He dedicated the net proceeds of the restaurant’s grand opening to the entire Kaua‘i community by donating to the Kaua‘i United Way.”
Giarman said the presentation Thursday marked the restaurant’s first anniversary, where people were treated to a special menu prepared by Ives and the culinary staff at the Kukui‘ula Village restaurant.
“Peter doesn’t have to do this,” Giarman said.
“He does it because he truly cares about the communities where he has his restaurants, and he says his employees are happy about it, too.”
Giarman said Merriman’s Kaua‘i uses 90 percent local ingredients, with the menu for the special KUW dinner featuring Hanalei citrus cured ono sashimi, baked soft Kunana Dairy goat cheese, a choice of sesame crusted fresh fish, or loin of Maui cattle beef baked in alea salt crust, kabocha pumpkin and mascarpone cheese tart, and wine pairings.
“We’re an island community and we have to take care of one another,” Giarman said.
“The restaurant takes care of the farmers, the farmers supply the restaurant, and we all pitch in to ensure that social services are available for all of us. As a result, we are all better off.”
Kaua‘i United Way is Kaua‘i’s umbrella charitable organization where one contribution helps the whole island, he said.
Money raised on Kaua‘i stays on Kaua‘i, Giarman said.
Kaua‘i United Way’s participating agencies offer a diverse array of dozens of social-service programs that save lives daily and help tens of thousands of Kaua‘i people each year, said Giarman.
For more information, call 245-2043.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
