NAWILIWILI — Chuck Brady said this was the first time the Marriott International was doing something like this on Kauai.
Pooling their resources among the different Marriott properties, including the Kauai Marriott, Koloa Landing Resort, Kauai Lagoons Kalanipu‘u, the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, the Westin Princeville, and Sheraton Kauai Resort, the Marriott International Kauai Business Council, representing the collective group, arrived with more than 33,043 pounds of food contributed to the Kauai Independent Food Bank, Tuesday morning.
“We had some technical difficulties,” said June Cappiello of the Sheraton Kauai. “We had a problem trying to fit all the food onto the truck. We finally filled the truck and got a few other trucks (pickups) to get the food down here.”
Sheraton Kauai led the coordinated effort with a contribution of 10,651 pounds of food and $3,985.86 in currency to become the first winner of the perpetual Marriott ‘Ohana Food Drive contest.
“The difference came with Kadie Parubrub,” Cappiello said. “She contributed 2,500 pounds to the Sheraton collection.” Kauai Marriott Resort, finishing second in the amount of food collected, turned in 7,219 pounds of food and $5,567 in currency which included the $2,000 designation by Chef Rey Montemayor who earned the amount by winning the chef’s competition at the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair.
Parubrub, enjoying her fourth year of food drives on her birthday, said “it was just another drive,” adding a separate $1,000 collected to the Sheraton kitty.
Brady said there were two Marriott properties, the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, and the St. Regis at Princeville, who did not participate in this year’s inaugural Marriott ‘Ohana effort.
Kelvin Moniz, the Kauai Independent Food Bank executive director, said this was one of the strongest contributions, with the food going toward ensuring people have a healthy nutritious holiday season.
