Top chefs help feed homeless for early Thanksgiving
By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the second summer, some of Hawai'i's top chefs whipped up a "Thanksgiving in July" feast for homeless guests at the Institute for Human Services yesterday.
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The chefs served more than 300 meals — complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, Kahuku sweet corn, fresh salad and pumpkin pie — to men, women and children.
From left, chefs Goran Streng, Steven Ariel, Ron Masuti and Rainer Kumbroch help to prepare "Thanksgiving in July" meals at the Institute for Human Services in Iwilei. Local chefs donated their time, expertise and food for more than 300 homeless guests yesterday.
"For any good American, a Thanksgiving meal represents a satisfying meal," IHS executive director Lynn Maunakea said. "And, hopefully, this makes more people aware of the IHS meal service program."
Food for the event was donated, cooked and served by Steven Ariel of The Pineapple Room, DK Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Wayne Hirabayashi of Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii, Darryl Fujita of the Halekulani Hotel, Goran Streng of the Hawaii Prince Hotel, Hiroshi Fukui of L'Uraku, Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms and Rainer Kumbroch of Roy's Restaurant.
"I think it's really nice for the chefs to take the time to do this for us," said Chris McClelland, 24, who eats at the men's shelter on a regular basis. "And, a nice meal definitely takes people's minds off where they're at."
Maunakea said the chefs wanted to volunteer at the agency last year, so they created the July Thanksgiving event.
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"It's exciting to have this caliber of expertise in our kitchen," Maunakea said.
It's a full-fare feast, with roast turkey and the traditional trimmings, as well as pumpkin pie.
IHS provides temporary support services to more than 2,000 homeless people a year. The 24-year-old agency serves as many as 800 meals a day and provides shelter to more than 300 people a night at its men's shelter on Sumner Street and its women's and families' shelter on Ka'aahi Street.
"Doing this is a realization to all of us that not everyone gets to eat out at restaurants," said Okimoto, whose farm donated the vegetables for the green salad. "Not everyone gets to eat a well-rounded meal every day."
Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant added, "You can really get caught up in everyday things with the restaurant business and promotions, so this is really exciting that we have a chance to give back to the community."
"It's like what we prepare in our own restaurants, it's the same quality," Fujita said.
Fujita said he volunteered because he wanted to build awareness in the community.
"A lot of people know about the homeless situation here, but they don't want to or they don't know how to help," Fujita said. "Maybe if people see local chefs are helping and that it's not all about business, then that will start some sort of movement."
Reach Shayna Coleon at scoleon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8004.
