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About Us
The Kau Kau Wagon’s number one goal has been is to provide hope to those in our community in need. We reach out in various ways. We have been operating for more then 20 years. We are not the solution but we are a part of it. Through each volunteer that has contributed in many ways, time, resources and even an old t-shirt, it has made a difference for those in need. We are who we are because of wonderful people who cared. What makes the KAU KAU WAGON unique in my opinion are a few things. We are not in a structured setting when we serve. We give uncondtionally. ANYONE who comes we serve. Be it homeless, poor, rich, lonely, old or young, male or female. It doesn't matter what beliefs they have religions or other wise. We are there. Our meal is more then just food. We have had a few people in our line that could probably fund our program for life. lol But again we are not there to judge. For all we know maybe they are just lonely and want to be a part of something they see as a special place in time. The only time we have ever refused service is to those that may pose a danger to themselves or to others.
When we first started the Kau Kau Wagon we took out 30 sandwiches, and 2 gallons of juice to the China Town Wall. Months later after seeing a larger need of those hungry, we made about 60 sandwiches and took them to Aala Park. My children... daughter Nicole ...6 yrs old then ...and my son Chez... 5 yrs old then escorted me to the park. The load of things to bring got too heavy to carry in my arms, so I used my kids lil Red Wagon to transport the food to the park. The LIL RED WAGON is what we were named in the early days by a reporter Linda Hosek who did a story on our program. I still have that lil red wagon.
When we first went out, no one was serving from the street level to the communities needest. We made all the sandwiches from my tiny kitchen. We did this every Sunday. We adjusted how we serve through experience and need requirements of those we served. For example when we first went out with the sandwiches, we found some people would grab plenty, leaving us without enough for others. We then came to the reality that a lil street structure was needed such as a line so we could better pay attention and get more food to more people.
As the holidays rolled around, it hit us deep in the heart that there were families out there that had nothing. I knew that experience well from my own childhood. It was the motivation that got me doing what I do.
I knew way back, I would never stop until I lived that dream to help just one person have a better life. The KAU KAU WAGON is that dream and I have been living it for as long as I can recall. We have continued on for most of the years to help those who cannot to celebrate the special holdays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving! No one has to be alone at that time. Everyone has the chance to feel the spirit...THAT moment of hope that others care unconditionally.
Thanksgiving is my favorite of all the holidays because for me it is all about saying thanks. I am thankful for every volunteer we have had. I am thankful for every contribution we have ever gotten. It is the one day of the year I get to say thanks in the best way I can.
The first year we decided to do Thanksgiving dinner we had 4 Turkeys, and all the fixings with donated cloths. Approximately 20 volunteers. We have come a very long way since then. We now have close to a hundred volunteers, from Lt Gov Duke Aiona, and many wonderful organizations including HPD but most especially my friends and family. WE ALL work super hard, Norma Acob and her group from CFI cooked many turkeys for us through the years and last year she and her staff cooked 48 Turkeys with gravy. She even classed up the setting adding in some great tables and chairs for people to eat from. We served more then 700 people. We had live music for the first time compliments of our new friend and his wife. Cassey. It all never stops amazing me!
For over 10 years Dr Denis MeeLee, Evelyn and the Seventeenth Day Adventists Church group from Monoa have adopted the last Saturday of the month to serve in place of us and give us a break. They bring out hot awesome food. Almost makes our stuff look a lil ghetto. lol Love it!!
Recently we have had a new group of volunteers from the military. Motivated and fits like a glove out there with us. Each with great talents and a natural comfort of helping us out. And thanks to Major Rob McCabe who started it all for us! His ad in the military paper had bought us some great new people. We even served hot dogs and hamburgers. thanks to their donation. And this web site was created by Devona from the Navy. Our first web site!! She's wonderful!
LOVES BAKERY has been a HUGE blessing to us every Saturday. They have been hooking us up with the bread every week for the past few years! YAAAAY LOVES!!! special hug to Sharon and her staff there!
The HAWAII FOOD BANK keeps us going. I don't know what we would do without them. They make a huge difference for us.
Our regular frequent contrubutors such as Ross Brown, Dr Denis MeeLee, Dr Tom Leland, Mary Deninno, Aunty Lynn, Alicia and Rob, Aldon Perkins, Donna, Sam, Kathy, Linda, Pat, Lt Duke Aiona's awesome staff, The media reporters, have been more then a blessing to us through the years! Without them ALL... we would not be here. They really are the Wind Beneath Our Wings. So many people, I could never begin to name that all. But forever they have a place in our heart. We have had some great companies and agencies also come join us.
And of course my kids Nicky and Chez. who have been there with me since way back! Like they had a real choice? hahaha Nawww I don't think so. As a friends (Denis) Mom told me once she made her kids volunteer because it built character. Great thinking!! For me I needed the help!
And by no means the last and most important of all our thanks to those we serve. They trust us every week to do our best to give our best. Without them....Well..DUH!
So many people left to mention who deserve mention. Trust me they are forever in my heart of thanks.
Because of ALL the wonderful people involved in the operation of the Kau Kau Wagon, we now serve 500 plus sandwiches, 15 gallons of juice, cases of snacks, and cloths when we get them. Any items we can share we do.
The Kau Kau Wagon received our 501c3 this year for the first time! It was a huge growth step up for us. Rebecca from Pacific Gateway was a great blessing of growth for us this year. We now have a real kitchen we get to use and store some of our food. It helps us big time. Don't know how long we can afford it but for now it's awesome!
I just don't know how to thank you ALL ever enough for everything. For making my dream come true and sharing with me the HOPE and vision of what a real community can be when we come together united in a cause to help others.
So much more to say. But then I would be writing a book. Ooops too late I think I just wrote one. hahaha
But trust me I will write more with time. Right now my heart is over filled with all the people I am thinking of to be thankful to.
MAHALO!! For those of u interested I have kinda kept a blog on the Honolulu Advertiser talking about the Kau Kau Wagon on a weekly basis and ofcourse I have sprinkled in some other topics. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6644 | FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS: Originally started from a state job I had worked, which was cut early on for lack of interest and funding, I re-invented it at a whole different and more expansive level to meet the needs of many individuals. The Kau Kau Wagon continue to grow sometimes faster then we could afford. All the funding early on came from any over time I was getting and anything I can beg my friends to help with. To this day over 20 yrs later it continue to grow faster and bigger then I had expected. Which to me is wonderful because it speaks the volumes of trust we have created with those we serve and the community around us that helps us to keep on doing what we do.
The Kau Kau Wagon has become a major service to the downtown communities needy and has drawn a large number of impressive volunteers. Some Kau Kau Wagon volunteers are regulars. Kalona/Sharon Black Nicole Black, her daughter and her son Chez Black. Also all the extended Ohana the Black family adopted such as Lei, Dustin, Jennifer and many others.
Include the equally and more impressive members of those Ohana of the heart with the Kau Kau Wagon for more then 10 yrs would be Ross Brown, Dr. Denis Mee Lee, Dr Tom Leland, Kathy Vance MSW and her family, Pat Thieland MSW, Mary DeDinino MSW and her family, The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Manoa, The Hilton Hawaiian Village staff with Noel Trainer, his family as well.
We have so many members that have worked with us for yrs, some that have been with us now for a few years such Aunty Lynn Vasquez, Aldon Perkins, Alika, Jessica, Donna, her family and her church members, Sam, Nick,
Sooooo many too name!!!! Norma Acob and her company from CFI, Loves Bakery and their awesome staff.
Some of our regulars are join us yearly for our Thanksgiving Celebration every year. Sue Dowsett HPD and her family, Mark Nakagawa HPD, Michael Tucker HPD, SHOPO and many of it's members, HFD, Ed Kubo and his wife, HSH, Castle Medical Center, Queens Medical Center, Kahi Mahala, and it's members, Countless individuals. I just can't name enough but one day I will name them all. I do know one thing some have come and gone but everyone of them meant the difference of hope for no less then a moment of time and hope.
And then our awesome new members of our family from the military and the community. The list is never ending!!! | COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
The Kau Kau Wagon has been community involved since 1988. In the beginning, with all funding being out of pocket, the Kau Kau Wagon was providing small amounts of food and beverage to a small amount for the community, serving from Aala Park. Estimated to be approximately 20 to 30 plus people.
Over the years, the Kau Kau Wagon has become a service that the community population has come to rely on for everything from a good healthy meal to bus fare and medical referrals. Our numbers increase everyday as does those in need in our community.
Starting with 20 or 30 people in 1988, the Kau Kau Wagon now provides food, clothing and advocacy to approximately 200 to 300 people on any given day but mostly on Saturdays because it's what we can afford right now.
What makes us special is we are unconditional. We don't turn away anyone in need unless they are disruptive to others we are serving. Safety is something we take very seriously. What also makes us special is we are in a non structured environment. A street setting. We are not religion based. We give from the heart and do our best to serve anyone who comes to us.
We have a wonderful variety of people. Some young, some Senior, some youth.
Some veterans, some with handicaps, homeless, fixed income, working homeless, some with mental illness, some with substance abus problems, and a few can afford to fund us for life. hahaha I think they come for the company. The sense of being a part of something special. We have a huge variety of reasons they come, and in some cases we may never get the answer to all the reasons. But we do know our presence represents unity, support and hope.
We even had peoples pets on occasion come through the line. We do not decide why a person is there in our line. We know there is a reason even if we don't understand that reason at the time of service. It is not for us to judge the why. But we will help in any way we can. We are willing to be creative and try our best to keep up with what services are available to reccomend to those in need. Recently in the past yr, we have helped and added our service to the Mayor Wrights Housing Christmas Celebration. We have also added to our service pet therapy through a program called TAILS OF ALOHA. Polo our wonderful loving Great Dane has been sharing his own Aloha with patients. He brings them smiles and warmth for a moment of time that he can.
It's not all about the meal, it's about being there. It's about being a part of a solution to a part of the problem. It's about bringing a smile for a moment in time. A smile does make a difference for many. And if we all believed that way, our services one day may never be needed. We are the many hearts of hope. We always need help of all kinds not just financial, but service. |
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