KALAHEO — Some residents were close to tears Wednesday. “You should have been here in May,” said Caroline Frederiksen, who along with Ernie Kanekoa owns the Kalaheo Steak and Ribs restaurant on Papalina Road. “Seeing those faces on the young
KALAHEO — Some residents were close to tears Wednesday.
“You should have been here in May,” said Caroline Frederiksen, who along with Ernie Kanekoa owns the Kalaheo Steak and Ribs restaurant on Papalina Road.
“Seeing those faces on the young children, there were people who were crying as they served the people.”
Wednesday night, representatives of Nana’s House in Waimea presented Fredericksen and Kanekoa with a unique artistic piece signed by some of the families who were beneficiaries of the steak house’s unique “Thanksgiving in May” program.
“We’re not rich people,” Fredericksen said. “We struggle like everyone else is in these times. But we’re thankful for what we have and cannot help but think of those who have less than us.”
During the Thanksgiving in May program, more than 350 residents, coordinated through the efforts of Nana’s House and Friendship House, were treated to a full turkey dinner with all the fixings and trimmings, Fredericksen said.
Kalaheo Steak and Ribs coordinated the event that included the preparing of the turkeys by resorts located in Po‘ipu, including the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa and Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort.
Randall Francisco, president of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, came through with extras and supplies along with Koa Trading Co., The Right Slice, Girard’s and Joe’s on the Green, Fredericksen said.
“But the Transportation Security Administration people were great,” she said. “They only had three days notice and came out with 23 volunteers who worked through the entire program. We could not have done it without their help.”
Shar Mata, Kaua‘i TSA director, said the volunteers were eager to help.
“They were running around like crazy,” Mata said. “They cleared this area at least three times, but they said, ‘We are part of this Kaua‘i community, and this is what aloha and community is about.’”
Fredericksen said giving back to the community has always been a priority for her, and the Thanksgiving in May is just one way Kalaheo Steak and Ribs can show its appreciation to Kalaheo and the surrounding communities for being so welcoming and supportive.
“I’ve done work with many charities and wanted to do something different,” she said. “The idea of Thanksgiving in May came to me one evening while I was reflecting on how blessed Ernie and I were.”
“The people who came are experiencing greater needs than us during these economic downturn times, and there are other nonprofit organizations that need help.
“I cannot begin to express the joy I felt seeing the children’s smiling faces and all the aloha present during that night we served them,” Fredericksen said. “I strongly encourage other businesses and individuals to contribute and help in any way they can. There is no such thing as too small a contribution.”
Kalaheo Steak and Ribs is open Tuesday through Sunday with happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. and dinner served from 5 to 9:30 p.m. There is a Sunday brunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and take-out orders can be placed by calling 332-4444.
Visit www.KalaheoSteakandRibs.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
