Khalsa Aid International – Supports Maui

Grateful for the spirit of unity and compassion that continues to uplift our Maui community. Recently, we had the honor of welcoming Indy Narwal from Khalsa Aid International, visiting all the way from the UK. Pictured here with Sophelia Oberlander, our Director of Operations at Hungry Heroes Hawaii (HHH), and Cameron from Local Harvest, Indy was hosted by Naim Ferguson as he toured our hubs, cooperatives, and kitchens.

Khalsa Aid’s guiding principle, “See the human race as one,” has been a beacon of hope for many. They arrived in Maui shortly after the fires to start a food relief operation and, upon meeting our team, made an incredible decision—to fund all the produce we source, which we then organize and deliver. Since the fires, Khalsa Aid has supported this initiative with over $580,000 USD in funding for fresh produce. We’ve been able to deliver this vital support weekly to families in need.

As we look to the future, we need help to keep this essential program alive. From covering rent, maintaining and fueling our truck fleet, to ensuring our staff can continue serving our community, we are calling on our supporters for aid, especially as we approach the holiday season.

Join us in this mission of hope and resilience. Every contribution helps sustain the work that feeds and fortifies Maui.

#MauiStrong #CommunitySupport #HungryHeroesHawaii #KhalsaAid #AlohaInAction

World Central Kitchen Maui – Hawaii

Honoring World Central Kitchen: A Heartfelt Mahalo for Their Impact on Maui

In the aftermath of the devastating Maui wildfires, our community witnessed an outpouring of compassion and support from around the world. Among those who answered the call was World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization known for providing meals in the wake of disasters. WCK’s arrival on Maui marked a crucial turning point in our recovery efforts, and their impact on our community will be remembered for years to come.Maui wildfires

From the moment the fires subsided, WCK sprang into action. With their unparalleled expertise in emergency food relief, they set up kitchens and partnered with local businesses, farmers, chefs, and volunteers to ensure that fresh, nourishing meals reached those most affected. Whether it was residents who had lost everything, first responders working tirelessly, or volunteers on the ground, WCK made sure no one went hungry.

The organization’s response was not just about food—it was about nurturing the spirit of aloha in a time of immense grief and uncertainty. Every meal they served carried with it a message of care, solidarity, and hope, reminding us that we are not alone. Through their work, WCK not only filled stomachs but also rekindled the hearts of many who needed it most.

WCK’s ability to mobilize quickly, integrate with local efforts, and use food as a way to build community was nothing short of inspiring. Their presence on the island embodied the values we hold dear—compassion, resilience, and service to others. At a time when logistics were overwhelming and access to basic resources was challenging, they seamlessly collaborated with local groups and farmers, aligning their mission with the spirit of Aloha ʻĀina by sourcing locally whenever possible.

The meals provided by WCK were far more than sustenance—they became a symbol of hope and connection. With each plate served, they reminded us that healing begins when we come together, support one another, and share in life’s most basic joy: a meal prepared with love.

World Central Kitchen staff making meals in mauiOn behalf of our community, we extend our deepest mahalo to World Central Kitchen for their tireless efforts. Their impact went far beyond the food they provided—it restored a sense of belonging, dignity, and hope for the future. The wildfire recovery on Maui is a long road, but with partners like WCK, we are reminded that we are not walking it alone.

As we move forward in rebuilding and strengthening our community, we celebrate World Central Kitchen for the profound difference they made in our lives. Their unwavering dedication and spirit of service will forever be a part of Maui’s story.

Mahalo nui loa, World Central Kitchen, for feeding both our bodies and our spirits when we needed it most.

 

 

News: October Newsletter ↯

Aloha

This month, we’re excited to share updates about our new kitchen, our partnership with Happy Opu, and how you can support our work as we expand to serve more of our community. As we settle into our new home, our mission as a Maui Non-Profit Organization to nourish and uplift Maui continues to grow.

HHH - Maui Hungry Heroes

Here’s what’s been happening at Hungry Heroes Hawaii:

Impact Since August 2023 Fires

Produce Distributed: Since August 2023, we’ve delivered over 178,158 pounds of fresh, locally sourced produce, equating to 356,316 meals for community members in need.

Meals from Our Kitchen and Partner Kitchens: Through partnerships with Hua Momona, Niu Life Kitchen, and Story Cafe, we’ve prepared and served 100,033 meals. A huge mahalo to our kitchen teams and partners!

 

Moving Into Our New Kitchen!

Central Kitchen for HHH at Happy Opu

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve officially moved into our new kitchen space! After a year of rapid growth, this location provides an open prep area and a full commercial kitchen, allowing us to continue nourishing the Maui community. We’re grateful to Anuhea Chapel for their partnership and excited for this new chapter with Happy Opu, whose mission of health and wellness complements our work.

Stay tuned for more details about our collaboration with Happy Opu!

Help Us Outfit Our New Space

To maximize efficiency in our new kitchen, we need additional equipment, including a larger refrigerator for fresh produce. Please support us by contributing to our updated Amazon Wish List.

Or support us directly through GiveButter.

Lahaina is in the Heart: Supporting the Filipino Community

At a recent meeting hosted by Kaiser Permanente, challenges facing the Filipino community after the wildfires were highlighted, including displacement, food insecurity, mental health issues, and limited access to federal aid. Language barriers and the need for culturally appropriate food further complicate these challenges. We are committed to working with local organizations to address these needs.

Shoutout to Pohaku Park: A Refuge for the Westside Community

Pohaku Park - S-Turns Relief HubSince August 2023, Pohaku Park has provided essential support to the Westside community. Run entirely by volunteers, this hub ensures access to fresh produce and other essentials for those affected by the fires. We are grateful for the dedication and heart these volunteers bring to the community.

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

Your contributions—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word—are the foundation of our mission. As we settle into this new chapter, we are filled with gratitude for the community that makes all of this possible.

Mahalo nui loa,
Sara Yamtich & the HHH Team

New Chapter: Opening Maui Central Kitchen in Kahului

🌱 A New Chapter for Hungry Heroes Hawaii! 🌱

News: Closing Anuhea Kula Kitchen – Opening Maui Central Kitchen

New Maui Central Kitchen: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DVwgBfF2prk1hB9YA

At Happy Opu 🙂

Our organization has grown and expanded so much over the past year that it was time to find a new home that fits us—kind of like a crab finding a new, bigger shell! 🦀💚 We’re excited to announce that we’ve moved into a beautiful new space in Kahului that meets all of our needs as we continue to grow and serve our Maui community.

We are so grateful for our time at Anuhea Chapel and everything that space and organization offered us. Their partnership helped us grow into what we are today, and we send them our best as we take this next step forward.

Our new kitchen is not quite ready for visitors yet (think of it like moving into a new house—still getting everything organized and cleaned up!). But stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing more exciting updates about our new space and partners very soon!

Maui Central Kitchen in kahuluiIn the meantime, we’ll be sending out an updated Amazon Wish List with items we’d love to have in our new kitchen. And if you’d like to support

 

our mission, you can also contribute via our GiveButter page—every bit helps as we continue to nourish Maui with love. 💌

Mahalo for your continued support! More to come soon! 🌿

TAGS: Central Kitchen, World Central Kitchen Maui, Maui Kahului

#NewBeginnings #MauiStrong #CommunityKitchen #NourishMaui #HHHMaui

News: August Updates

As we close a month marked by the somber anniversary of last year’s wildfires, our resolve to nourish and heal Maui intensifies. August has been a period of deep reflection, a celebration of new beginnings, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability and resilience.

NOTE: As of September 12th, 2024 we have closed our Anuhea Chapel Location. We have opened a new Central Maui Kitchen in Kahului. Stay tuned for more updates!

Inside Happy Opu
60 E Wakea Ave
Unit 101
Kahului, HI  96732

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DVwgBfF2prk1hB9YA

Maui Non Profit

Here’s a snapshot of our impact since the fires in August 2023:

  • Produce Distributed: We have distributed over 144,416 lbs of produce! This comes to 288,832 meals delivered since the fires to those who need it.
  • Financial Investment: We’ve invested $524,397 in procuring and distributing produce and meals from our partners, underlining the critical support needed to maintain our efforts.
  • Meals from Partner Kitchens: Our kitchen efforts have resulted in 99,833 meals prepared and served to those in need. Partner kitchens include Niu Life, Papis Ohana, Anuhea Chapel, and Hua Momona. (Huge mahalo to our partners!)

New Website Launch

Maui Charity

We’re thrilled to unveil the newly redesigned Hungry Heroes Hawaii website, crafted with care and expertise by co-founder and visionary, Naim Ferguson. Embodying our ethos, “Feed Hope & Nourish Maui, From Farm to Hungry, with Love!” the website serves as a vibrant portal for connection and engagement. This dynamic platform details our history and philosophical foundations, featuring a timeline that traces HHH’s journey from its roots to its current expansive impact.

It includes heartfelt insights from our Executive Director Rachel Tarver in a personal letter, echoing our commitment to the community’s foundational needs and the spirit of Aloha ‘Āina. Explore comprehensive sections dedicated to our purpose, partnerships, and the numerous ways you can support our mission—whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word. Each page is infused with the depth and history that define HHH, making it a valuable resource for both locals and supporters afar.

Dive into our digital world where community care and sustainability intersect, and see how we’re turning compassion into action. Visit our new website and join us in nourishing bodies and souls across Maui. https://hhhmaui.org/

Empowering Our Team with MEO Support

Maui Fire Response Non Profit

We are thrilled to share a significant advancement in our workforce development, made possible by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO). Through their invaluable support, HHH has been able to bring ten dedicated individuals onto our team. These hires are more than staff; they are vital members of our community who now enjoy greater economic stability as they contribute directly to our mission. This partnership with MEO not only enhances our operational capacity but also enriches the lives of those who work with us, allowing us to extend our reach and deepen our impact across Maui.

Each team member’s role is critical in delivering the essential services that define our commitment to nourishing and supporting our community. We are grateful to MEO for their role in this transformative collaboration, which underscores the power of local alliances in fostering sustainable community development. Reflecting on a Year Since the Wildfires This month marked the anniversary of the August 8th, 2023 wildfires, a day that deeply affected our community and landscape. As we honor this day, we invite everyone to reflect on the resilience of the land and our community.

This is a time to support each other, engage in stewardship, and transform our grief into proactive change for a sustainable future. If you’ve felt the call to do more, now is your chance to help us move from crisis response to long-term resilience. Every little bit helps. Consider setting up a recurring donation through GiveButter. Even $10 a month can make a huge difference in sustaining our programs. Set up your donation here. And if you’re on Maui for a day or a lifetime, your hands and heart can help nourish and uplift those in need. Join our ʻohana of volunteers! Learn more and sign up here.

Maui non profit grant

We are thrilled to share some inspiring news from our Executive Director, Rachel, about our latest collaboration with Kaiser Permanente! As new grantees of Kaiser’s community programs, we are immensely grateful for their commitment to healing and wellness.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in our mission, aligning with our goals of recovery and resilience. Kaiser’s support is not just a gesture of faith in our work but a crucial aid in these challenging times. We look forward to the dynamic advancements this partnership will bring to our programs and the broader Maui community.

Stay tuned as we unfold the impactful initiatives born from this exciting collaboration!

Partnership Spotlight: Maui Rescue Mission

Maui rescue mission non profitThis August, we are excited to announce our new partnership with Maui Rescue Mission (MRM), a vital resource dedicated to serving Maui’s houseless community. Every week, Hungry Heroes Hawaii delivers nourishing meals to MRM, ensuring that individuals seeking their services also receive a healthy meal. Maui Rescue Mission is committed to offering essential support and hope, providing services such as safe shower facilities, email access, free counseling, and more.

They are a sanctuary for those who have fallen through the cracks, facing challenges like substance abuse, mental health issues, and chronic illnesses. Together with MRM, we’re not just feeding bodies; we’re nourishing spirits and reinforcing a network of care that uplifts and empowers.

Learn more about their impactful work and how they’re making a difference at Maui Rescue Mission. This collaboration represents our shared dedication to healing and supporting our community, emphasizing that together, we can provide more than just meals—we can offer hope and transformation. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

 

Thanks for supporting Maui

Your support, whether through time, donations, or spreading the word, is invaluable. Together, we are making a difference. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every word of support contributes to the strength and resilience of our community. We are immensely grateful for your continued partnership in our mission. Warmest aloha, Sara Yamtich & the HHH Team

News: July Updates ↯

  • Major need for donations/funding to support our new project: Feeding Fire Survivors in NCS/Hotels
  • Volunteers Needed ASAP
  • Anuhea Meal Prep, Upcountry Drivers, Hua Momona Farms, Lahaina Meal Prep, West Side Produce Runs
  • Volunteer links updated
    SIGN UP HERE>>
  • Join Our Newsletter >>

Coming up this month:

  • New website coming online!
  • Podcast with Lahaina community leader John Web: Discussing Housing

Lahaina Fire Response Aug 8, 2023

Emergency Alert! Thousands of families on Maui have been forcibly evacuated from their homes due to the devastating fires. We’re on a mission to sustain the health of survivors and provide immediate relief.

Join our critical fundraising effort to amass essential resources: fresh food, water, clothing, and more. Our goal is to supply daily, hot, and nutritious meals to hundreds. We’re also assembling CSA boxes brimming with grains and produce, plus crucial items like toiletries. Urgently required temporary shelter will be set up too.

Our island is in crisis, and time is of the essence. Your support is a lifeline for those struggling in the aftermath of this disaster. Every contribution counts and will make a direct impact on our community’s heart, soul and survival.

Act now and thank you in advance for your heartfelt generosity!
Mahalo and Aloha, from our island home and its resilient people.

https://Hungryheroeshawaii.com

***UPDATE***

We are currently establishing multiple kitchens on the west (Lahaina) side of the island to starting cooking!!! We are using these funds to buy thousands of pounds worth of produce per week from local farms, wholesale direct. We have decided this is the most sustainable, long-term solution for providing fresh, healthy, hot meals to people on the Lahaina side of the island. This keeps the local farms in business so they can continue to grow food for the people of Maui moving forward, they are the back-bone of our community! We have been providing services to those in need on Maui for over 3 years and are grateful for the connections we have made along the way to bring this all to life. We feel this is the best way to continue to support both the farms (who have been donating food to us for years) and the residents who have been impacted by these fires.

We are also still cooking 300+ meals a day out of our usual kitchen at Anuhea Chapel and delivering to those who are living in their vehicles and/or on the streets all over the rest of the Island.

We are beyond grateful for your immense generosity and aware that this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Establishing solid foundations for the long term is our focus, so please continue to donate and to share this link so that we can continue to be of service to our ohana!

***PLEASE SHARE THIS***

Many, many, many mahalos!

Aloha-
HHH

Sponsored by Kaiaulu Kanaka 501c3.
For larger tax-deductible donations, commercial contributions or gifting of resources that are not monetary, please contact us using the form below and we will get back to you ASAP.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/HHH-FIRE-RESPONSE

True North – Neighbors of West Maui

“True North” – By Ken Crisson, Maui resident

As featured in upcoming June issue, Neighbors of West Maui

We tend to think of an all-pervasive pandemic as bad luck, a twist of fate that is holding us back. It may be good fortune in disguise, however, saving us from a much worse fate. Maybe the universe feels a need to give us pause, to reconsider our direction, to examine ourselves, and ask new questions. A rude awakening, yes, but a necessary slap in the face. Wake up! Your house is on fire!

From the beginning, humans have looked outward to alter the environment to our advantage. It was necessary for our survival. But our headlong pursuit of progress led to the development of technologies that have perhaps exceeded the scope of our wisdom, and left our fate hanging in the balance. We’re more comfortable, and many other aspects of our lives are more accessible and convenient, but the quality of our lives is seriously diminished by the complexity, chaos, and stress of the reality we’ve created.

The arsenal of nuclear chemical, biological, conventional, and now electromagnetic and gamma-ray weapons suggests we’ve excelled in the manly art of transforming hatred and paranoia into death and destruction. Our technology needs to be redirected from a higher realm of our consciousness.

We’ve used knowledge to achieve remarkable things. But knowledge alone is easily misguided. There is no inherent heart in knowledge. Cavernous, slumbering warehouses of microchips cannot stir your spirit and bring you peace. Life needs more. Knowledge must be tempered by wisdom to use it the right way. Our ultimate solutions are spiritual, heart-smart over unbridled technology.
We’ve created a situation that necessitates learning more and more about less and less in this fast-paced age of specialization. The focus is narrow and the demand is debilitating. There is an avalanche of information, and disinformation can be a factor. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to believe. Balance is lost. The obsessive preoccupation with mind matters dominates us, and that which is truly important is often neglected. The mind should be harnessed by wisdom, restoring perspective and balance.

Confucius said that only the supremely wise and the ignorant do not alter their ways. This pandemic pause is life presenting us with the opportunity for necessary change. This is the junction where a major shift in consciousness can come into play. The focus needs to shift from without to within, from material to spiritual.

When we do this, values change. Defining oneself in terms of wealth, position, and possessions loses power and emphasis. The shift from material to spiritual results in peace from within, being happy while wanting less. The tendency to connect and share with others deepens. The mind opens and tolerance and compassion prevail. Ego and self-separateness fade and the strength of empathy evolves.

We should have more respect for our own miraculous and mostly dormant inner spiritual potential. Computers pale by comparison. Everything you need is inside.
The mind is a relatively small aspect of our consciousness. In another region, beyond intellect, is an open space of stillness and infinite possibility.

The spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle says that it is through this gap that anything fresh and new comes into this world. This is the divine realm of creativity. It’s where you’ll feel the joy of being. It’s been said that God speaks in the language of stillness.

I feel a sacred presence there, a peace that surpasses understanding. The Lakota Prayer expresses it well:

Great Spirit,
Teach me how to trust
My heart, my mind, my intuition
My inner knowing, the senses of my body
The blessings of my Spirit
Teach me to trust these things
So that I may enter my sacred space
And believe in loving beyond my fear
And walk in balance
With the passing of each glorious sun.

This is an age of multi-tasking: we’ve created a complicated reality in which we take pride in our ever-developing ability to do many things at once. This is necessary to keep up with incessant demands. Our consciousness becomes fragmented. We’re losing the spiritual practice of putting our heart, our entire being, into one pursuit at a time. Everyday life, as we live it, is our spirituality. It’s not something to be compartmentalized. Thoreau’s cry of “simplicity, simplicity, simplicity,” has been long ignored by most. Our hearts are losing ground. When we’re detached from our hearts, we’re less human.

As life evolved from bacteria that somehow sprang forth from the primordial soup, consciousness has evolved right along with it. How does a bacterium experience the world? What was the world like as experienced by a T-Rex ? Such is the consciousness we evolved from for the last billion years.

It’s as if the universe has been struggling to take a peek at itself. We’ve been evolving to awareness, a higher consciousness, closer to God. The universe is curious and likes to explore. Consciousness is always aspiring to higher consciousness. There is no ceiling (unless that ceiling is God). Life is the light, and it somehow finds a way.

We’re in a struggle for survival. George Bernard Shaw said that biological evolution was the only hope for our survival. We need to focus upon and expand consciousness itself. Measured with magnetic field readers, the magnetic field of the heart is 5,000 times more powerful than that produced by the brain.

Our collective consciousness as a nation reflects a decline in spiritual values. Is the world a safer place now than it was 100 years ago? Is our planet healthier and more beautiful? Are we happier?
I feel the heart is wiser than the intellect. Thought is fickle and subject to manipulations. We can go the wrong way in our minds and get lost, but the compass of the heart always points true north. It points within you. Follow your heart.

The sages throughout the ages have been pointing true north. Socrates’ dictum, “Know thyself”. Buddha told us nirvana is beyond words, beyond concept. Carl Jung believed that at the center of each of us is pure love. And Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is within you. We fail to recognize our divinity. We persist in looking “out there” for all of our answers.

Hungry Homeless Heroes (HHH) continues along a shining path that unfolds before us as we branch out. We now have access to Maui Enchanted Gardens in Kula, 8.5 acres of nature at its most resplendent in the colorful indigenous diversity as well as exotic plant specimens imported from around the world.

Our path converged with two other like-minded groups, the Jedi Alliance and The Consciousness Caravan, on the same day here at Enchanted Gardens. We all came to examine the property for opportunities to expand and serve. We’ve connected and combined with other talented and resourceful volunteers to raise money by hosting events in order to further cultivate and beautify the land and to develop educational and environmental programs and opportunities for children and adults.

We have educational speakers and others offering their contributions in art, music, healing, plant knowledge and cultivation, and any other positive avenues leading to awareness, spiritual development, and heightened consciousness.

Feel free to stop by and stroll along the paths of this special place. They will take you to the sacred place of stillness inside you so that you may walk in balance and beauty, and feel the love that takes you beyond fear.

I’ll be writing more about Maui Enchanted Gardens in future articles along with a newsletter to keep you informed of future developments and events. Around 400 people came to the event last Saturday, and the only problem we had was with parking (please carpool if you are able).

Donations are welcome to expand and improve the quality of our services as well as ongoing grounds maintenance. If you are unable to spare the money, you are welcome with open arms all the same.

Add your light to the sum of light and feel your life deepen and transform from the benefits of loving collective consciousness.

Ken Crisson is an unsheltered Maui resident who volunteers daily with the Hungry Homeless Heroes Hawai’i project. You can learn more by following HHH (Hungry Homeless Heroes Hawaii). With a degree in literature and years of world travel, Ken has a unique perspective. You can contact Ken on 298-8293.

#hungryhomelessheroeshawaii