Hale Kau Kau, a nonprofit meal program for the hungry, less fortunate and elderly who are homebound, sick and disabled in South Maui, will host its 18th annual benefit auction 3-8 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea.
Each year, Hale Kau Kau’s primary fundraiser provides approximately 30 percent of its annual budget. A team of volunteers and Hale Kau Kau staff have an exciting evening planned featuring entertainment, a Pacific rim dinner, and live and silent auctions. The silent auction is the centerpiece of the fundraiser, with hundreds of items up for bid. In previous years, individuals and businesses from all over the islands donated more than 400 items for the auctions.
The Maui Food Bank will be the main honoree at this year’s event. The food bank was incorporated as a non-profit in 1994, a few years after Hale Kau Kau was formed. It has worked in partnership with Hale Kau Kau for many years and sharing the mission of feeding Maui’s hungry. The food bank provides Hale Kau Kau with food supplies at a significantly reduced cost.
More than 100 agencies and programs make up Maui Food Bank’s community network, distributing food all over Maui County including Hana, Molokai and Lanai.
Individual tickets for the 18th annual benefit auction are $140 and can be purchased at St. Theresa’s business office at 25 West Lipoa Street or after each scheduled St. Theresa’s Mass. You can also support Hale Kau Kau by advertising in the fundraiser program book, by donating an item for the silent or live auctions, or by becoming a table sponsor at the event.
Program ads range from $400 for a full-page to $100 for a quarter-page ad. Information about buying ads, commitments for auction items, and table sponsorship is available by calling the Hale Kau Kau office at 875-8754 or by emailing halekaukau@rcchawaii.org.
Hale Kau Kau was founded in 1991 by a diverse group of people from South Maui. Over the past 26 years the program has grown from feeding the hungry on site from its facility, to delivering meals to the homebound.
“As much as Hale Kau Kau would like to one day go out of business, the need for our services has not diminished,” said Paul Corrarito, business manager for St. Theresa Parish. “Since the inception of the program, Hale Kau Kau has served over a million meals.”
Donations are appreciated and accepted anytime at the Hale Kau Kau office on St. Theresa Church grounds or after any scheduled Mass. Send donations to Hale Kau Kau, c/o St. Theresa Church, 25 West Lipoa St., Kihei, HI 96753. Cash, check or credit card is accepted.
For more information, visit the program’s website at www.halekaukau.org.
