LIHU‘E — Hi‘ilei Berg, recently crowned as Little Miss Kaua‘i, turned in 1,088 pounds of rice, and nearly 400 pounds of nonperishable food, including assorted canned food, soups, and pasta to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank this week.
“I was turning 10 years old,” Berg said Tuesday. “And I just wanted to do something to give back to the community. If you double the zero’s in 10, it comes to 1,000 so I thought I would like to donate 1,000 pounds of rice to help feed the community.”
But how do you come up with funds to pick up at least 50 bags of rice (assuming they come in 20-pound sizes)?
“I talked with my mother Devi, and Aunty Ray Gampon (she’s Kawai Gampon’s mom), and decided we would fundraise on social media,” Berg said. “Since I was turning 10, I asked for $10-donations, plus a dollar for good luck.”
A week following her coronation as Little Miss Kaua‘i on Oct. 3, Berg started her campaign by creating a video that would air on social media, anticipating the completion of the project by the time her birthday rolled around on Nov. 1.
“I got a lot of money,” the fourth-grade student said. “People donated from all over, here on Kaua‘i, the state, and even beyond. The people — Devi estimated at more than 60 — were my relatives, my friends, and the Miss Kaua‘i friends.”
The successful fundraising campaign meant she could spend her birthday shopping and packing the food for delivery to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank.
That load included 72 bags of rice and cases of canned food, soup, and packages of pasta.
Kelvin Moniz, the executive director of KIFB, was impressed and grateful for the contribution that rolled up to the Nawiliwili facility, Tuesday afternoon.
“We are really grateful and appreciate this effort,” Moniz said. “Traditionally, there is a higher demand for food as people celebrate the holidays. You can see this in our weekly community distributions that take place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. There are more people coming, and the ones that have been coming look for more items for their families. What you have done helps us keep the community distributions going, especially during this time as families recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and during the holidays.
Beyond the gratitude, Moniz said this presentation was like going full circle as he spoke of Kawai’s background on giving back food.
“Kawai and his sister used to bring food into the food bank when they were in elementary school,” Moniz said. “And look at Kawai, today. He’s the KIFB Programs Manager because of the knowledge and awareness he gained during those days of contributing food. His sister continued the tradition after he left, and today, is studying in a field that is related to people’s food needs and food security.”
Moniz said Berg’s delivery inspired him to participate in the Gratitude Day program being offered by the Kukui Grove Center, Saturday.
“We are truly grateful to everyone in the community who helps,” Moniz said. “Every contribution allows us to be able and put food on the tables of those who are struggling to find their feet in these trying times.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
