At its 25th anniversary celebration March 4 at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, Hale Kau Kau honored persons who helped create the organization that feeds the hungry at St. Theresa Church in Kihei. From left, Dr. Dan Boarini, son of the late Dr. Jack Boarini, one of the original supporters of Hale Kau Kau; Frank Shuster, Cheryl Holt and Kathy Worley. (Photo courtesy of Claudine San Nicolas)
By Claudine San Nicolas
Special to the Herald
WAILEA, Maui — Bishop Larry Silva recalled the biblical story of loaves and fishes at the 25th anniversary celebration of Hale Kau Kau — the “no questions asked” meals program for the hungry at St. Theresa Parish in Kihei.
Jesus took “a little,” five loaves and two fish, and fed a multitude, Bishop Silva told approximately 450 people at a celebratory fundraiser for the program March 4 at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea. Similarly, St. Theresa’s Hale Kau Kau has provided “a service desperately needed” for people needing to be nourished and fed.
Reciting the grace before dinner, the bishop prayed that some day hunger would vanish. “Let us hope for the day when there will be no need for Hale Kau Kau,” he said.
The event raised thousands of dollars for the meal program that started in 1991 with the vision of Cheryl Solon Holt and Kathy Worley and the assistance of the pastor at the time, the late Father Jack Stawasz. Since then, the program has served more than 1.2 million meals to the homeless, the poor and the homebound.
The evening featured silent and live auctions, a gourmet dinner, music by the Maui Pops Orchestra and proclamations and messages of support from Hawaii U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Gov. David Ige, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, Maui County Council Chair Mike White and Vice Chair Don Guzman.
“Everything we see is truly a work of love, a work of caring,” Arakawa said. “This organization has done a great deal for Maui County.”
St. Theresa’s pastor and the executive director of Hale Kau Kau, Msgr. Terrence A.M. Watanabe, said that, unfortunately, the feeding program is still needed. He said that those who volunteer for this service are answering Pope Francis’ call to “encounter” the poor during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
“There is no question that those who step forward to minister in our Hale Kau Kau feeding program do so with this thought in their minds and hearts,” he said. “They do so with great courage, strength, commitment and trust in God. It is these people that we want to celebrate and thank.”
Cheryl Holt shared the beginnings of the program, saying that she saw a widespread need for food for Maui’s hungry when she lived in South Maui in 1990. Although she described herself as not being religious, she said she heeded the call of a vision of angels, knowing that God had called her and was watching her.
“OK. OK, I’ll do my best,” she recalled saying. “It can’t fail. It can only succeed.”
Finding a location for the feeding program in Kihei wasn’t easy. She enlisted Kathy Worley’s help, and the two of them went up and down South Kihei Road, repeatedly being refused. Finally, they asked Father Stawasz at St. Theresa, and he said, “Yes, of course, we must do this.”
At first, the pastor allowed the group to use the sacristy at the back of the church to prepare meals for the hungry, but that church has since been torn down. Before long, church volunteers came forward. A kitchen was furnished and picnic tables put out for people to eat.
Holt recalled the first night drew some 30 people, of which a third were children. Today, 90 to 110 meals are served on site every day to men, women and children, and 70 to 80 meals are delivered to homebound elderly and persons with disabilities.
The ever-expanding program has a “wish list” of needed kitchen repairs and equipment, including a steam oven, storage racks for a new freezer, a food processor, a food transport cart and cutting utensils.
For more information, go online to halekaukau.org or call St. Theresa’s business office at 875-8754.
