LIHU‘E — Nate Apuna was excited about lunch, Thursday at the Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps. The normally scheduled Kokua Soup Kitchen lunch coincided with Christmas Eve and Apuna was excited about being able to prepare Christmas lunch for the kitchen’s
LIHU‘E — Nate Apuna was excited about lunch, Thursday at the Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps.
The normally scheduled Kokua Soup Kitchen lunch coincided with Christmas Eve and Apuna was excited about being able to prepare Christmas lunch for the kitchen’s patrons.
Under normal circumstances, a group of volunteers from the Lihu‘e Lutheran Church handle chores for the Thursday lunch, but Apuna said they were tied up with church affairs because of Christmas.
“I’m still waiting on my regular volunteers, but guess what? We have families who came to volunteer,” Apuna said.
Those families included Larry and Jo Heasty of Kirkland, Wash., Laura and Sam Burch of Colorado, and Carol and Doug Burch of Oregon.
“We are united by marriage and are staying in Kapa‘a,” said Larry Heasty. “Jo called this morning and asked if there was anywhere we could help on Christmas Eve, and here we are!”
That call answered Apuna’s need for help, and also bolstered Envoy Larry Groenleer’s efforts to create a Christmas giveaway for patrons to the Thursday lunch.
“We got some help from the Toys for Tots and Borders Books and Music,” Groenleer said. “There’s something for every child and even the adults who comes for lunch, today. This is going to be the big Christmas giveaway.”
Lt. Sarah Smuda of the Hanapepe Corps said they prepared a roast and had some holiday trimmings Wednesday for Christmas. The Wednesday lunch coincides with Hanapepe’s Kokua Soup Kitchen schedule.
“Tonight, we’re probably going to have a potluck and enjoy a movie on the Nativity,” Smuda said. “It’ll be more relaxed and I’m not planning on giving a sermon. It’s going to be relaxed.”
Apuna said the Lihu‘e Corps normally serves between 100-125 meals on its Thursday lunch, but he’ll draw on his restaurant experience if the crowd exceeds that number.
He said he was called on to assume the position of Kokua Soup Kitchen manager after Groenleer was discussing the need for a chef with Apuna’s wife.
That conversation saw Apuna enter not only the Kokua Soup Kitchen, but enlisting in the Salvation Army.
“My goal is to transfer to somewhere God wants me to go,” Apuna said. “But not until my second, Honorato Badua, learns enough to take over as kitchen manager. Then, I’ll move to California, or wherever God wants me to go to cook for people. I’ve devoted my life to God and service to the community.”
Apuna said he enjoys cooking for people and uses the recipes he developed while working for restaurants including the chicken caccitore which was the entrée for the Christmas lunch.
“I want to encourage more people to come and enjoy a healthy, solid meal with us,” Apuna said. “This is my Glory Day.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
