Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 4, 1 April 2013 — Filling bowls to feed hunger [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Filling bowls to feed hunger

By Lynn Cook Hawai'i Meals on Wheels program coordinator Deena Ahakuelo describes the nonprofit's typical client as someone who might be your neighbor. "They are often house-bound, no longer able to drive or even catch the bus alone," she says. "They ean be lonely, bored, feeling useless and, worst of all, helpless." She explains that when family members move to the continent to find work and a better life for their young families, the older folks may have been independent and fine on their own. As they age, however, they have needs their mainland-based family can't meet. "That's where we eome in, both in person and on the phone," Ahakuelo says. "Our clients tell us that knowing that a hot meal will be delivered is a joy, as is the fact that they ean eall a Hawai'i Meals on Wheels staff member at any time, just to talk." Last week she picked up the phone to hear an older woman, living in ineomebased housing, saying that she had no calls from her son, living on the continent, since New Year's. "I told her I would eall back and I called her son. ... In an hour his mom called back with joy in her voice telling me that her son called." Ahakuelo, who has a degree

in social work from the University of Hawai'i, is a caregiver, first for her father and now her mother. The position with Hawai'i Meals on Wheels was a perfect fit, as she says, providing "food for the elders and food for the soul." The challenge, SEE B0WLS ON PAGE 13

Empty Bowl > WHERE: Ala Moana makai parking deck, outside Sears > WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26 > C0ST: $20 in advance at emptybowlhawaii.eventbrite. eom or $25 at the door. Soup ean be enjoyed on site or taken home in a container. > PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS: Cafe Laufer, Town, Side Street Inn, Tiki's Grill & Bar, Great Life Cuisine, 12th Ave Grill, 3660 on the Rise, Big City Diner, Cafe Kailua, Hula Grill, JJ Bistro, Le Bistro, Mariposa, Murphy's Barand Grill, Roy's, Sansei Seafood, Stage, Tango, The Pineapple Room, Whole Foods Market in Kāhala and Kailua > ENTERTAINMENT: The Carmen Haugen Quartet

Hand-made bowls destined for a worthy cause. - Photos: Lynn Cook

of course, is funding. Serving 83,000 meals a year and helping as many as 600 clients - including in areas with high concentrations of Hawaiians like Waimānalo and Papakōlea - takes 400 volunteers and money. Taking a page from a fundraiser on the continent, in 2009 the Hawai'i Potters' Guild held an Empty Bowl event. How it works is, attendees select a favorite hand-made bowl and get to enjoy gourmet soup created by Hawai'i's top restaurants, with proceeds going to Hawai'i Meals on Wheels. The first year they sold 700 bowls. In 20 1 1 they sold 3,000. This year they made 5,000 bowls, a number that may make the Guinness Book ofWorld Records. To reach the 2013 goal, members of the Hawai'i Potters Guild set up 16 ceramic wheels. They

called in the pottery pros for three "Throw-a-Thons." In two hours, experienced potters threw 800 new bowls, accounting for almost half of the 5,000 bowls needed. The remaining 2,600 bowls eame from individual potters, groups, clubs and classes. Neiman Marcus will display the work of student potters for the week before the sale. Ahakuelo, who notes that "every bowl purchased provides four meals and friendship that can't be measured," plans to repeat her approach from 2011. "I bought many bowls," she says. "All year, whenever I need a gift, I wrap up a bowl that holds my husband's recipe for soup and a gift card that says I bought this at Empty Bowl and I want to share it with you the way Hawai'i Meals on Wheels is sharing the proceeds with those in need." ■ Lynn Cook is a loeal freelance journalist sharing the arts anel culture of Hawai'i with a global auāienee.

B0WLS Continued from page 7

At home in a kiln, Deena Ahakuelo of Hawai'i Meals on Wheels shows off some of the bowls made for the annual benefit. - Photos: Lynn Cook