NAWILIWILI — A small group of Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank staff, including Executive Director Kelvin Moniz, the food bank’s board of directors and government representatives wrapped up another day of work at the Nawiliwili warehouse and offices Aug. 16.
The pau-hana gathering had enough sun remaining in the sky to allow the group to celebrate three decades of service to the island of Kaua‘i, and look to the future with the blessing of its newly acquired building.
“The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank has become a pillar in the Kaua‘i community, and exists as a beacon of hope for many,” The Kaua‘i County Council said in a recognition certificate. “KIFB started in the aftermath of Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992 when volunteers answered the call to assist the many people struggling to rebuild their lives following the disaster.”
Operated by volunteers, KIFB answered the call with more than five million pounds of emergency food distributed directly to victims of Hurricane ‘Iniki.
Two years later, KIFB was serving approximately 10,000 individuals a month, or about 20 percent of the island’s population at that time. This moved the organization to become a formal nonprofit organization.
Gov. David Ige added to the celebration with a recognition certificate from the Office of the Governor.
“Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank was recently able to secure a new 10-year lease with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to allow the award-winning organization to continue to flourish as one of the most innovative food banks in the state,” Ige’s statement said.
“With three full-time staff members and numerous specially trained and community volunteers, the nonprofit KIFB distributes nearly 200,000 pounds of food annually to feed more than 435,000 meals to people across the island. Congratulations on the new lease, and building milestones.”
Mayor Derek Kawakami added this office’s congratulations and commendations to the list of anniversary best wishes.
“Today, the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank has earned the reputation of being the most innovative food bank in the state of Hawai‘i, and has earned
numerous national awards in the process,” Kawakami said in his recognition certificate. “The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank continues to be the only food bank in the state of Hawai‘i accredited by the Better Business Bureau, meeting all 22 of its required charitable standards.”
The KIFB solicits and distributes about 200,000 pounds of food each year to people in need, with more than 51 percent of those being served being children, and about 17 percent being elderly.
In 2021, KIFB had goal-breaking performances of 424,373 pounds of food being distributed to nonprofit agencies across the island. The KIFB Backpack Program provided 6,670 backpacks of food to keiki for weekend use when school lunches were not available. The Keiki Cafe Program provided 14,508 snacks to students after school, and 1,916 kupuna were recipients of home-bound deliveries through the Kupuna Program.
Additionally, nearly 900 individuals had their food-insecurity needs met through the Uluwehi Emergency Food Distribution Program in 2021.
And the need continues.
w kauaifoodbank.org
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
