Kokua

Many posts that we have read prior to coming to Maui have said that they way tourists can help is by shopping at local stores and eating at the local restaurants.  We have been doing that but we wanted to do more.  Karen in her research found an organization called Hungry Heroes Hawaii.  They were looking for volunteers to do kitchen prep, delivery drivers and farming.  We decided we were best suited for kitchen prep so that is what we signed up for.

Chef Jason Riffin reached out to Hua Momona Farms to see if he could use their facilities which sits above Kapalua to produce meals for those who have suffered as a result of the August 8 fire.  Hua Momona Farms has been supplying organic micro greens to many Maui restaurants since 2019.

We arrived just after 8:00am and found our “boss” Michelle who quickly explained how things were going to go for the day.  All in all, there were nine volunteers today.  Our first task was to get the prep area sanitized and set up under a giant tent next to the greenhouse.

The next three and a half hours was spent chopping and washing various vegetables like carrots, bok choy, tomatoes and kale.  Everyone also took turns doing dishes in the kitchen trailer.

Once all tasks were done, we sat down to a lunch prepared by Chef Jason.  We actually ate with a couple of the farm hands and they told us that there are twenty-five acres growing around thirty-five different vegetables.  Our final task was cleaning up from lunch and then we were done for the day.

Because we finished an hour earlier than expected, we went to Nakalele Blowhole and Honolua Bay before going back to the condo.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing on the lanai, I had a quick soak in the hot tub and we finally got to see turtles.  There is an area on the outskirts of the property where the turtles like to sun themselves.  It was so nice to see them again.

While we were relaxing,  I received an email from Holidays for Lahaina Foundation.  We had signed up to volunteer at Christmas event tonight.  The email said that our help was no longer required because the executives had made the decision to not have tourists at the event.  We were disappointed but that meant we had the rest of the evening free.

For dinner tonight, we got a recommendation from Karen’s friend Helayne for Joey’s KItchen.  When we arrived, the line was out the door.  This is a good sign.  The restaurant only holds forty people but we were able to grab a couple of chairs at the bar.  We ordered the Chicken Chow Fun and Pork Adobe Fried Rice.  Wow … was it ever good.  Thanks Helayne.