ANAHOLA — Despite claims of “it never rains in Anahola” Saturday, volunteer servers welcomed the short-but-cooling showers that blanketed the Festival of Hope for Families drive-thru distribution presented by Child &Family Service, teaming with the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation.
The distribution done in the shadow of the Kalalea Mountains at the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Anahola Clubhouse provided needed supplies, resources, screenings, food and family-friendly activities to more than 250 families who needed to pre-register for the event.
“We are so fortunate to have excellent community partners like the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation to help us bring our Festival of Hope for Families to communities throughout Hawai‘i,” said CFS President and CEO Karen Tan.
“This is our first event in Anahola, and the 14th across the state. These festivals help to meet the immediate needs of families and allow our staff to check in with the community and offer services to those who need extra support during the pandemic and this holiday season. Mahalo to the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation for enabling us to extend the festival to the Anahola community.”
The family-focused festival, the fourth on Kaua‘i, followed social-distancing guidelines, with all attendees remaining in their cars while driving through the different stations offering the CFS Lokahi Kit, a Kaua‘i Food Hub produce bag, a new-to-the-event Kukulo Kumuhana O Anahola station, where bags of Waipa poi and a KKOA-grown kalo (taro) plants were presented.
“You know me,” said La Contrades, an Anahola resident. “Anything for Anahola and I’m there.”
Contrades was joined by three generations of the Manulele Dudoit ‘ohana, including daughter Ka‘ala Clarke, who happens to be the vice president of KKOA, and Clarke’s daughter Welina Wong. The unique-to-Anahola group got help from CFS Board Member Trinette Kaui and son Kale Kaui, who was enjoying a break from his work at Kamehameha Schools on O‘ahu.
The line proceeded through the chef-prepared meals by the team from Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, which came up with a turkey shepherd’s pie and a gingerbread-cookie-creating kit in time for the holidays. Pre-packed food was being handled by the YWCA of Kaua‘i in partnership with the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch that rounded out the giveaway with eggs, bread and cases of saimin.
“We were delighted to find that CFS was reaching out to help communities in Hawai‘i and are bringing their services and relief to Anahola,” said Bob Fujioka, a trustee with the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation.
“With all the stresses that come with the pandemic and the holidays, we are grateful to have an established partner that can bring resources to those that most need them.”
In addition to the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, CFS partnered with the following organizations to offer this event for the community to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: County of Kaua‘i Agency of Elderly Affairs, Life Choices Kaua‘i, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Community Health Center, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Lili‘uokalani Trust, Chef Hui, Under My Umbrella, Kamehameha Schools, Mark’s Place, Grove Farm, YWCA, Kukulu Kumuhana o Anahola, Statewide Safety Systems, Hawai‘i Food Bank Kaua‘i Branch, state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawai‘i Savin, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Waipa Foundation, Pono Market, General Contractors Association, Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Food Hub.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
