By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

When you look at the numbers — 1 million pounds of food in the last four years to 87 social service agencies that serve thousands — you don't quite get a sense of the impact Aloha Harvest makes.

But to see the folks running out to meet Aloha Harvest driver Kauahi Sai and his truck full of goodies, you get the picture right away.

Leslie Moody, program supervisor at Ke Ola Pono Salvation Army Treatment Services, has tears in her eyes as she takes delivery of Kentucky Fried Chicken, frozen Portuguese bean soup and doughnuts.

"This is really a blessing for our ladies," she says.

Sai gingerly reverses the truck up the narrow driveway of the Ronald McDonald house, then helps the staff carry food into the kitchen.

Gene Davis, who manages Ronald McDonald public relations, says the prepared food is always appreciated. "The families come in at night after being at the hospital all day and maybe they don't feel like cooking. This way, they can eat, they can sleep, and they can face another day."

Sai calls agencies while he's on the road, so they know he's on his way. "Howzit. This is Aloha Harvest. You folks want some food?" It's rare if he ever gets turned down.

His food pickups take less than a minute. He parks the refrigerated truck outside the restaurant or store, walks in, gives a howzit wave to the staff and goes straight for cold storage to find whatever has been set aside for him. He leaves behind a receipt for the donation as he heads out the door with a "mahalo" without breaking stride.

The deliveries are just as smooth. That's one of the things Mike Prevost likes best about Aloha Harvest. Minimal paperwork. No bureaucracy. And it's free.

"It's just, 'Here's the food, there's the hungry. Feed them. Goodbye,' " says Prevost, director of the Community Outreach Program at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Kaheka Street.

"And they don't just bring me a small box of stuff, either. If it's doughnuts, it's 300 doughnuts."

Aloha Harvest began in November 1999. The idea was to take leftover perishable food from restaurants, food suppliers and stores — food that would otherwise go to waste — and deliver it free of charge to agencies that could use the help. Initially, there were 10 donors, but now there are 300, including regular donors like Meadow Gold, Dunkin' Donuts and KFC as well as catering companies with unused food from large parties.

In the last two years, Sai has become the face of Aloha Harvest. "The ad in the paper said 'Friendly person with a commercial driver's license' and I said, 'That's me! I'm there!' " As happy as people are to see him, he seems even happier to be of help.

"It's a good feeling at the end of the day," he says.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.