KAINALIU — For Malia Kahumoku and her family, coming to the annual King’s Daughters Ministry turkey giveaway is something of a tradition. ADVERTISING KAINALIU — For Malia Kahumoku and her family, coming to the annual King’s Daughters Ministry turkey giveaway
KAINALIU — For Malia Kahumoku and her family, coming to the annual King’s Daughters Ministry turkey giveaway is something of a tradition.
Kahumoku, 34, has been coming to the giveaway for six years now. Her kids, 5 and 6 years old, have grown up coming here for their Thanksgiving staple.
“It’s the best thing to happen on this side of the island,” she said, holding her two turkeys.
Each year, the nonprofit purchases turkeys to hand out to families who need one. Families can “pre-order” their turkeys in advance by picking up a ticket from the organization’s thrift shop.
This year, the organization bought 200 turkeys for the event, said Helen Vailuu, founder of King’s Daughters Ministries. She said the organization purchases all of the turkeys for the event and this year, they spent about $3,000 on the birds.
Kahumoku said she’s glad it’s something she doesn’t have to worry about for her family.
“It makes sure I can give them a full Thanksgiving meal,” she said. “It is a little tight in our household.”
She said King’s Daughters is a great part of the community and has a role in strengthening it.
“It kinda confirms that God is alive in our community,” she said.
Vailuu said the event started in 2004 as a way to help out residents who might otherwise not be able to have a Thanksgiving turkey.
“We started it off because people were asking if we assist with food for Thanksgiving,” she said. “It keeps growing and growing.”
Some of those in attendance have been coming out for the giveaway ever since the beginning.
“It’s such a big help for us,” said Chickie Dias, a resident of Holualoa.
Dias said her husband is on a fixed income at their coffee and macadamia nut farm. She said they have to hire workers to help, who of course need to be paid.
“So our funds are limited,” she said. “This is a big help during the holidays. I don’t have to spend $30 or $40 on a turkey.”
Abel Lui, a 73-year-old homeless resident of Kawa, found out about the event from a West Hawaii Today newspaper article previewing the giveaway and came out for the first time.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s a blessing that everybody can come together.”
Lui brought with him several jars of toasted grated coconut, which he prepared himself to donate to the event. He said he was appreciative of King’s Daughters Ministry and the help they extended to everyone.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, there’s kindness, there’s understanding,” he said. “Nobody feels like they’re not welcome.”
Christine Mello, an Ocean View resident, said she only wishesdthere was more like this in her town.
“It’s the forgotten town, I should say,” she said. “There’s not much that’s offered to us out there.”
Mello said she wants more nonprofits in that area. There are no turkey giveaways there, she said, only a dinner open to residents. But many people live in the mountains and don’t have any transportation to get down to the dinner.
She said she was able to catch a ride to Kainaliu with a friend and planned to catch one back to Ocean View. She’s received turkeys the last three years for her family.
“It’s been really, really helpful for my family,” Mello said, adding her family is on a minimum wage income and the turkey won’t only feed her family of six on Thanksgiving, but also provide leftovers in the days to follow.
“We can mix different meals together with the turkey to help us get through the month,” she said.
The giveaway, she said, is an important thing she looks forward to.
“I can rely on it every year,” she said.
