KAPA‘A — There never is an occasion where it is too busy to celebrate a birthday. Thursday, Wendy Oyama was “trapped” by volunteers with Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, so she could get her celebratory moment at the Kapa‘a
KAPA‘A — There never is an occasion where it is too busy to celebrate a birthday.
Thursday, Wendy Oyama was “trapped” by volunteers with Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, so she could get her celebratory moment at the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association free Community Thanksgiving Luncheon at the All Saints Gym in Kapa‘a.
“She’s over in the delivery side,” Chef Mark Oyama said while supervising the movement of food from the holding area to the serving area. “I think there’s another birthday, too.”
The Interfaith Association event was prefaced by a community worship at the All Saints Church where everyone was welcome before the traditional Thanksgiving lunch prepared by Oyama and his staff.
“It’s a good thing we have Chef Mark to help with this,” one volunteer said. “If we had to do this, it would be chaos.”
In addition to the hundreds of meals served at the All Saints Gym, the KIA arranged to have meals delivered to homes of the elderly, handicapped and homebound in Lihu‘e through Anahola.
“We have about 250 deliveries this year,” said Scott Sato, juggling the orders for different sections of town. “This is more than last year. We need drivers this year.”
Nadine Nakamura, recently re-elected to the Kaua‘i County Council, just finished her delivery run to the Kapahi area, returning to the All Saints Gym where she could mingle.
Participating churches
includes the All Saints’ Episcopal Church, St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ward I and II, the Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission, the Kapa‘a Jodo Mission, the Kapa‘a Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Kapa‘a United Church of Christ.
