The Hale Kau Kau program has served an estimated 1.3 million meals, and the community has responded with donations and volunteers. Photo courtesy Hale Kau Kau

Kathy Worley remembers it was a difficult search finding a place to feed people facing hunger and homelessness in South Maui. However, Father Jack Stawasz of St. Theresa’s Church in Kihei told Worley and friend Cheryl Solon: “We have to do this.”

“People just started to stream in to help,” recalled Worley.

Worley, who was on the original board establishing the Hale Kau Kau feeding program, said the church has never missed a meal in 33 years. Hale Kau Kau means “house of food” in Hawaiian, and the program has served an estimated 1.3 million meals, according to program director Shawn Wallen.

Wallen said the numbers are edging up every month. “We’re seeing more families. More people are feeling the effects of inflation. Food is expensive,” she said.

Hale Kau Kau serves dinner from 5-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4:30-5:30 p.m. on the weekends. In addition to serving dinners, Hale Kau Kau also delivers meals to about 100 people who are homebound in South Maui.

Wallen said Hale Kau Kau is looking for a couple of volunteer drivers and kitchen assistants.

She said the nonprofit operates with two full-time and two part-time staff including chef Matthew Andrews and part-time chef Adriana Ianni.

Wallen said the nonprofit has received great support from the real estate company Keller Williams, which donated $50,000 last year and whose staff comes once a month to serve meal.

“They give our staff a break once a month,” Wallen said.

Wallen said the nonprofit receives donations from Whole Foods twice a week, Maui Food Bank once a week and from Feed My Sheep, Maui Bread Company and Starbucks at the Dolphin Plaza.

Worley, an owner of Pali Kai Realty who helps in fundraising for the nonprofit, said Hale Kau Kau also recently received a $25,000 donation from a Wailea resident.

She said volunteers come from various backgrounds and religious faiths. Many of the volunteers are also part-time residents who live on Maui during winter months and want to contribute to the community.

For a time while Hale Kau Kau was being renovated, the meals were served at Trinity Episcopal Church-by-the-Sea.

Along with her husband, Jim, Worley was working in Singapore when the couple happened to visit Maui and saw multiple rainbows as a sign they should settle on the Valley Isle.

Worley said she’s enjoyed working under the leadership of successive priests including Terry Watanabe and the Rev. William Kunisch.

She said as part of his work, Father Kunisch has spoken to a number of guests who frequent the feeding program and made an interesting observation during a sermon.

“He said, ‘The real hunger that they have is community,'” she recalled. “This brings them together to be able to meet overnight and exchange information and support.”