Posted on: Sunday, December 26, 2004
Christmas, aloha style
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer
While most O'ahu residents were enjoying their Christmas morning with loved ones, dozens of volunteers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa and Hilton Grand Vacation Club were preparing to serve hundreds of free meals to the homeless and others residents at Kau Kau Wagon at Gateway Park in Chinatown.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser "I am blessed to have this every year," said Robert, who asked that his last name not be used. "This is a beautiful thing they do every Christmas."
People started to form a line as soon as the Hilton's trucks arrived at about 8 a.m., said Gary Manago, director of food and beverage. Hilton provides the food, transportation and several employees for the yearly feast that costs between $8,000 and $10,000 and was expected to serve 500 to 600 people.
Volunteers served the food and distributed toys, blankets, clothing, canned goods, toiletries and books donated by hotel employees.
Many volunteer parents brought their children and grand children to the event. The Valeriano family have made the lunch an annual event for four or five years and this year the children came without their father who had to work at Hilton yesterday.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser But Valerie Valeriano, 16, said at first she was resistant to volunteering.
"At first I didn't understand," said Valerie, an Aiea High School student. "I thought everybody should be like us, why do we have to give back? But then I realized there are less fortunate people."
By 11 a.m. when the turkey lunch was served, more than 200 people were in line, including the elderly, the homeless, several wheelchair users and people who said they have homes nearby.
The meal included salad, vegetables, fresh fruit, macaroni salad, sweet potatoes, stuffing and cake.
People standing in line said they were grateful for the free meal, including Louis, 57, who didn't want to give his last name.
"I ain't got no family to go to," said Louis, who is homeless.
Melek Israel, a 32-year-old homeless man from Waikiki, said the food was delicious.
The event included volunteers and gifts from Halau Hula O Hokulani, which has helped out often, said Larry DeRego. The group gives away toys and gift boxes but asks people to pick up a small bag of trash in return. Halau students and parents aren't asked to participate, DeRego said — they just show up because parents believe the children can learn from the experience.
"Your think of homeless and you see them at Ala Moana Park," he said. "They're real dirty and dingy and kids think this may be something that's dangerous. But you come here and you see they're people just like us except they're having a hard time."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
For Robert, a 43-year-old homeless man who lives in Ala Moana Park, the gesture was a touching reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
A lei-bedecked George Kauhi, of Makiki, was among dozens of workers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Grand Vacations Club who volunteered to serve meals to the hungry and the homeless at Chinatown's Gateway Park yesterday.
Arthur Valeriano, 24, said serving people is a way to say thanks for all they have received from the community at large and Hilton, which gave him college scholarships. It's also a time to reflect and be grateful that they have parents who work, a roof over their head, meals and are able to go to school said Andrea Valeriano, 17, an Aiea High School student.
Leimomi Trainor, 14, of Kaka'ako, the daughter of a Hilton executive, dishes up heaping portions of a traditional Christmas dinner prepared for the homeless by chefs at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
