DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Ko Olina Community Association distributed a total of 4,000 Thanksgiving meals for Leeward Coast residents yesterday at more than a dozen churches. At the Lighthouse Outreach Christian Center in Waipahu, Zaira Santos held tightly to one of 10 turkeys given away as Kamaile Kaleiwahea, 1, sat next to her.
Thanksgiving meals
draw 4,000Leeward residents are treated
to early holiday meals as part
of an outreach program
About 4,000 Leeward Coast residents dined yesterday on free turkey-and-trimmings meals at more than a dozen churches as part of the Ko Olina Community Association's Thanksgiving outreach project.
Among the 300 diners at Calvary Chapel West Oahu in Ewa Beach were residents of veterans housing and Onemalu transitional shelter at Barbers Point, plus homeless people who had seen flyers about the event or been personally invited by church members.
"My friend Danny (a church member) invited me," said Russ Okamura, who said he's getting "back on the path" after almost a year without a job or a home.
"Because I'm homeless, poor and starving, I'm thankful for this -- my next daily bread," Okamura said after polishing off a plate of turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes, corn and pumpkin pie. "I think it's great how people do share. Sometimes when I look at Hawaii, we posture a lot about aloha spirit, but in some people aloha spirit has died."
Events like this, Okamura said, gesturing to the scene in the church parking lot on Ft. Weaver Road, "show there are people here who care and share and know what it's all about."
Chefs from the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort and Kapolei High School teamed with food service students from Waipahu and Nanakuli high schools to do the cooking at Kapolei High. Drivers with United Parcel Service delivered foil pans of food to each site, where other volunteers dished out plates.
Several dozen Calvary Chapel West Oahu members served the holiday meal restaurant-style to diners seated at flower-decorated tables underneath canopies, while the church's musicians and children in its hula halau entertained.
"Part of our desire was for people to come, sit and be served, to feel special and be entertained with music," said church member Donna Faainuinu. "We wanted to reach out to the homeless and veterans."
Glen and Kathy Neizmen, who are members of the Calvary Chapel West Oahu, have been living on the beach at Barbers Point with three of their four sons while waiting for Section 8 housing assistance. Their eldest son is serving in the Marines in San Diego.
Kathy Neizmen said fellow church members "have been genuine and caring -- that's what's got us through these hard times."
One unexpected gift yesterday was Ground Transport's donation of bus transportation that brought some Barbers Point residents to the church for the event, Faainuinu said.
"This is kind of a cheer-up thing for me today, because my great-grandmother on my in-laws' side passed away," said Zella Hawthorne, a Vietnam-era Navy veteran who lives in renovated barracks at Barbers Point that are available to low-income veterans.
As girls with the church-based Na Hula Okaleiokapualani performed a hula about gratitude, Hawthorne's eyes misted over.
"I'm crying for tutu," she said, as Army vet Maria Moran reached across the table to pat her arm.
After everyone under the tarps was served, church members Pedro Filo and Hendrix Feliciano packed "to go" meals in plastic foam containers. They were going to distribute them to homeless people living in an area residents call the "hau bush" and to families camping at Barbers Point.
