LIHU‘E — Flashing her signature smile, Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano waits by the door and greets early birds at Tuesday’s Kokua Soup Kitchen hosted by the Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps. “I was a young girl — in elementary grade — when
LIHU‘E — Flashing her signature smile, Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano waits by the door and greets early birds at Tuesday’s Kokua Soup Kitchen hosted by the Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps.
“I was a young girl — in elementary grade — when my older sister’s friends started teasing me,” Kano said about her nickname. “They called me ‘Dimples,’ and it kind of stuck.”
Born in 1925, Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano has been going by her nickname for more than seven decades.
“Nobody knows me by my real name,” Kano added.
It’s evident by the steady stream of people saying hello to “Dimples” with smiles and hugs. Kano has been serving as a Salvation Army board member for 37 years. She is an honoree board member for the Kaua‘i United Way for her 30-plus years of service, and she spearheads various charity events, including the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Christmas fundraiser. In addition she is an active real estate agent and serves on the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors.
“I’ve been talking about retiring, but my children tell me they have heard that song before,” she said. “I always held the notion that you are not here on this earth forever. While I’m here, I’d like to leave a few footprints.”
Kano said she heard the call to help others in 1972.
“Way, way back, when my mother was dying of cancer, I would go up to the hospital — I had four kids by then — and I’d see how important it was to visit sick people and try bring them some comfort,” Kano said. “I would stick my hand under her and slowly bed massage her, and it gave my mother some comfort. That’s when volunteering came to the forefront”
Every third Tuesday of the month, Kano, along with members of the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors, volunteer to prepare and serve hot dinners to anyone who wants a meal.
“She’s such an inspiration,” said Fran McDonald, a volunteer who also serves with Kano on the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors. “She really leads by example. She does so much for the community and does things for other people.”
Tuesday’s menu included a mixed plate of penne pasta, shoyu chicken, fried chicken, fruit salad, rice and dessert, which was prepared by dozens of volunteers led by Nathan Apuna, kitchen manager and head cook of the Kokua Soup Kitchen.
“My specialty is local food, all you can eat,” Apuna said with a wink. “Dimples has helped me out a lot. And I mean a lot. One of the biggest problems the soup kitchen has is budget. We are having a hard time funding the soup kitchen, which is a vital need for the community.”
The Kokua Soup Kitchen opened its doors four years ago, according to Kano, and she names it one of her most satisfying moments working with the Salvation Army.
“I’m glad it’s still hanging on. It takes a lot of money to feed the people all the time,” she said. “It doesn’t mean you have to be poor or homeless to come. Even people who are well off come sometimes because they don’t know how to take care of themselves.”
Kano chose to volunteer with the Salvation Army because of its mission statement, which stresses helping others without discrimination.
“The Salvation Army draws no lines when it comes to service of the community,” she said. “I kid around that I am the token Buddhist. Community service is for the people, and I like that.”
From Hurricane ‘Iwa in 1982 to Hurricane ‘Iniki 1992 to the Kokua Soup Kitchen, Kano said she is proud of how the Salvation Army has impacted the community.
“It has nothing to do with religion, whether you are rich or poor,” Kano said. “It’s about coming together as a community and sharing your fellowship.”
For more information about the Kokua Soup Kitchen or to make a donation, call the Salvation army Lihu‘e Corps at 245-2571 or Hanapepe Corps at 335-5441.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@thegardenisland.com.
