“I’m a waiter,” said Fred
Cowell, general manager of Kauai Coffee Wednesday morning at The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps social hall. “Today I’m serving people.”
Kauai Coffee was one of many community contributors who made The Salvation Army annual community luncheon possible.
“I grew up in this neighborhood,” said Russ Hasegawa of the HSTA retirees group. “I need to come and help.”
The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps, through its corps of volunteers, served up nearly 300 full Thanksgiving meals that included the centerpiece roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Hundreds more were served at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.
“Oh happy day,” said The Salvation Army Lt. Shawn Keoho. “We’re having a party. The people have gotten into the routine. Mr. David Leong of the Waimea High School band, it’s time for a hana hou.”
The Menehune band anchored the entertainment lineup that included students from Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha Public Charter School providing some opening numbers as well as the doxolgy that triggered the serving lines into action.
“I come every year,” said Irene Randall. “But I don’t come early because I don’t want to park inside. I come late so when I’m ready to go, I can go. I just have to walk a little farther. I used to work for The Salvation Army so everyone here knows me.”
Brian Kohatsu teamed with Keoho to pepper the audience with giveaways between the entertainment that was taken over by the Kekaha Senior Center as the Waimea band members enjoyed a turkey lunch break before resuming play.
“We’re not playing today,” said Shirley Medeiros of Alu Like. “Instead, we can just sit and enjoy the music and food.”
A diner expressed her disappointment, but was smiling as Medeiros joined the ranks of servers bringing plates to the waiting crowd.
Hina Hayashi of Eleele was accompanied by her daughter Amy Miyashiro of Oahu.
“Hina wanted to see what this was about after reading about it in the newspaper,” Miyashiro said. “She was curious.”
The pair were encouraged to sit and enjoy the meal with everyone else.
“We serve everyone,” Keoho said. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
