LIHU‘E — The Salvation Army Advisory Board member Janice Bond did double-duty, Wednesday with Thanksgiving meals.
Bond manned the grab-and-go table at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall where The Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps put up 500 meals with the option of diners walking up for the grab-and-go, or driving through with no contact delivery by Advisory Board members.
The Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps distributed another 300 meals from its facility adjacent to the Hanapepe Stadium. The meals, prepared with the help of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, was handed out either grab-and-go, or no contact drive-through.
Capt. Shawn Keoho said Mayor Derek Kawakami dropped in for a brief visit during the plating before rushing off to flooding somewhere else on the island.
“We know Thanksgiving is an important time for our families,” Kawakami said in his video update delivery. “But in order to protect the ones we love the most, we are urging you to please limit your gatherings to those in your own household — keep your table small this holiday season in order to ensure all your seats are filled next year. This holiday season, we are grateful for a community who understands the importance of putting others before ourselves, and for being willing to make personal sacrifices for the better good of our island.”
Meals at the Lihu‘e Corps
distribution were done with Gaylord’s Restaurant roasting the turkey and the Kaua‘i Community College continuing its tradition of supplying the pumpkin crunch. The Lu‘au Kalamaku with Chef Johnny Saguid extended its help by manning one of the plating stations Wednesday.
“I was done at noon,” Bond said. “I had to change my shirt and come to the Kapa‘a Hongwanji where the East Kaua‘i Lions Club were preparing the food packages that will accompany the meals.”
Bond is the president of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club and joined other Lions to prepare the food packages accompanying the Thanksgiving meal prepared by Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering for the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.
The COVID-19 changed the face of the annual event hosted by combined efforts of eight churches belonging to the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association.
Face masks must be worn, and social distancing will be observed when the event starts with an interfaith service at 10:30 a.m. in the outdoors, under the kamani tree next to the All Saints Gym.
Following the service, the All Saints Gym will be the site for meal pick-up service in lieu of a luncheon gathering starting at 11 a.m. There will be no dine-in luncheon.
Instead, Kapa‘a Interfaith volunteers will be taking orders and delivering meals to cars on a first-come, first-serve basis “until we run out.”
Home-bound residents who placed their requests by Nov. 23 will start receiving their meals and packages from Kapa‘a Interfaith volunteers who will be leaving the Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission, the alternative site for home deliveries, starting at 11 a.m.
“We already have 700 meals requested for home deliveries,” said Roberta Yanagawa of the Kapa‘a Hongwanji who helped with the Lions’ packing efforts, Wednesday.”
Mary Margaret Smith and Sarah Rodgers of the All Saints’ Episcopal Church are the chairpeople for this year’s event that will unfold under COVID-19 rules and guidelines. Other participating churches include the Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission, the St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, the Kapa‘a Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Kapa‘a United Church of Christ.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
