A warm meal — thanks to warm hearts
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hundreds of island residents launched their holiday season yesterday by helping thousands of others enjoy hot Thanksgiving Day meals.
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But in addition to feasting on comfort foods of turkey, potatoes and yams, many who attended the events enjoyed the warm comfort of companionship and took stock of what they were thankful for.
Jessica Barnes of Kalaheo High's Interact Club serves turkey at the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving event at the Blaisdell Center.
Dewey LeBlanc, who has been homeless for about two years, was grateful for the food he received at the 33rd annual Salvation Army Thanksgiving event at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.
"At least I'm getting a decent meal instead of eating corned beef out of a can," he said.
"A lot of unfortunate people who can't afford to make something at home can come here to relax and be entertained and feel like they're amongst family at least once a year. This is the only time of the year everybody loves everybody. Everybody's got a smile on their face."
Diners were also grateful at the River of Life Mission, where a lively choir performance prompted some guests to clap along and even drew tears from 42-year-old Naomi Mokuahi.
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For Mokuahi, who has been homeless for a couple of years and volunteers occasionally with the mission, the event was a chance "to share the thanksgiving with them" and enjoy a good meal with her family and friends. She said she has been looking for a job and has filled out 250 job applications without any luck.
As part of the Lanakila Meals on Wheels program, Nicholas Chang, 4, helps to deliver Thanksgiving meals to Steven Murayama in Palolo.
But yesterday was "a blessing," she said, and the food was "awesome."
The Salvation Army event drew more than 2,500 people — more than last year, when it served 2,200 guests, said spokesman Daniel deCastro. The menu included 900 pounds of turkey, 550 pounds of stuffing and 300 pumpkin pies. All the food, decorations and entertainment were donated. Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris carved the first turkey.
"A lot of people just wanted to be here because they can't provide their own Thanksgiving meals," deCastro said. He also said while most of those who attend are from poor families, some are just lonely and want to be around others during the holidays.
Volunteers also appreciated the opportunity to help others.
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About 800 volunteers helped the Salvation Army with various duties that included decorating tables, making candy baskets and serving food.
Cory Shin of the Punahou girls basketball team serves Leinaala Kauhi, who has her son Solomon on her lap and is seated alongside her husband, Simeon U'u, at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. The family recently found a place to live at the Onemalu shelter in Kalaeloa and were Thanksgiving guests of the Salvation Army.
DeCastro said so many people wanted to volunteer that some were turned away. But he said the Salvation Army is always in need of "bell ringers" to help collect money for the needy and it's always a challenge to find volunteers for the rest of the year.
Iolani School senior Hilary Tanabe didn't mind waking up early on a holiday to be a kitchen volunteer for her school's Key Club service project.
"It's a good way to help other people on Thanksgiving and it's fun to be here with my friends," she said.
Danny Kim, a 41-year-old attorney from Halawa and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Harbor, wore a plastic white apron as he helped fluff the rice. He has volunteered at the event for four years.
"One of my pet peeves is hunger," he said. "And I don't think that anyone should go hungry."
At the River of Life Mission, about 130 volunteers prepared and served a meal that included 60 turkeys, 100 gallons of gravy and up to 18 cases of stuffing. Gov. Linda Lingle carved the first turkey and helped to serve paper plates heaping with food.
Spokeswoman Connie Wright said the mission expected to serve about 500 to 800 people. An additional 200 meals were being delivered to the elderly and disabled.
"It's just something so wonderful," said Chanelle Yoza, a 21-year-old student from Waipahu, as she placed ham on paper plates. "To give to those who don't have a family — at least they can feel that someone wants to spend time with them."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
