WAIMEA — Princess Lim was surrounded by members of her family and other volunteers from Japanese Grandma’s restaurant Saturday as everyone rolled up their sleeves minutes before 11:30 a.m. at Nana’s House.
“She’s a graduate of Waimea High School,” said Keiko Napier of Japanese Grandma’s and the coordinator of the massive feeding effort. “She knows everyone better than anyone else here. She needs to be the server and handing out the plates.”
Napier coordinated an effort that resulted in a Waimea High School graduation after-party where her Japanese Grandma’s volunteers served up at least 150 meals to graduates that included prime rib, sushi, salad and all the trimmings, including dessert from Kalaheo Cafe.
“Princess’ brother Rendel is from the Kaua‘i Community College culinary-arts program,” Napier said. “He created the menu, and the Lim family is helping all over.”
The prime rib dinner was a preface to a Zoom after-graduation virtual party, where graduates, in the safety of their own homes, were treated to several thousand dollars’ worth of prize giveaways during the event hosted by meal organizers.
Randy Francisco served as the lead greeter, directing cars off Kaumuali‘i Highway into the Nana’s House turnaround.
“I’m telling them about the census and how important it is to be sure and fill out the census,” Francisco said.
“There’s also the virtual party, but with the COVID pandemic, we need the money. The census helps determine how much we get based on the population. It is important that we fill out the census,” he said.
In addition to the efforts from Napier and Kalaheo Cafe, other providers included Ron and Teri Kurstin, the Mark &Eddie Donor Fund, and others.
“I was speaking with some people from Los Angeles,” one of the community benefactors said. “When they heard about what we were doing, they were generous — ‘help feed the kids’ was the reply.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
