Helping Neighbors, One Day At A Time

Sarah Pacheco
Wednesday - December 01, 2010
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‘Tis the season for feasting, giving and spending time with friends and family - which is exactly why a group of Windward volunteers is making sure those less fortunate have a happy holiday too.

The fourth annual Windward Community Holiday Festival will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at KEY Project on Waihee Road, where special guests from the underserved areas of Windward Oahu will be treated to a sit-down holiday feast, activities, live entertainment, door prizes and other donations. Service providers will attend and share information and other services with guests. But the heart of the festival is what coordinator D. Keala Naluai calls the true spirit of Christmas:

“This is an all-volunteer services-and-giving event to ease the stress and strains many face in the tough challenges throughout the year,” Naluai explained. “This year is no exception from the strains we all feel, yet the hearts and hands that continue to give and serve, despite not having much, are true examples of the pure in heart and compassion.”


The festival began in 2007 as a way to combine outreach services of churches and community groups into one big treat for the neediest among us. According to Naluai, the first year saw a very small turnout - roughly 60 guests - because of a lack of transportation and public awareness. The following year the event traveled to Waimanalo Beach Park, Hauula Beach Park and Heeia State Park/Ulu Mau Village, serving more than 300 guests in three days.

Last year’s festival had about 120 guests, and Naluai expects greater numbers this time.

“The economic downturn has increased Hawaii’s homeless and houseless populations, and the needs of low-income households as well,“she said, adding that even the festival itself is not safe from the recession.

“We have had our donated funding cut in half (or more!) each year from the first to this fourth year,” she said. “This year there is practically no funding being given. Nonetheless, due to the compassion and generosity of the Smith ohana,the event will go on this year.”

Naluai explained that the Hakipuu/Hauula clan paid for all meal expenses out-of-pocket to ensure there would be enough food to go around the dinner table.


Other regular contributors are Tammy Smith and her culinary team of Hakipuu Learning Center seniors, who have catered the Hawaiian-style lunch for the past three years.

“When we, in Hawaii’s strained economy, can barely reach for a coin or two in our personal and/or business pockets, we still manage to share those coins with those being served at this festival.”

Donations are still needed, such as game prizes, household goods, clothing, shoes, bedding, personal hygiene items,school supplies and toys for children. Donation drop-off is from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at KEY the day of the festival. Volunteers who’d like to help set up, serve meals or clean up also are welcome.To offer help or for pick-up service and more information, call 366-7151 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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