KAPA‘A — “I no mo’ one dollah, aunty,” one school-aged student told Kelly Kakalia of The Musubi Truck. “I only get 50 cents.”
How can you say “no” to that? Kakalia asked.
With just two days remaining before the schools close for winter break, Kakalia and The Musubi Truck launched its “Feed the Keiki” campaign to provide hot meals for up to 2,000 keiki around the island.
“Many of these kids are on free or reduced (price) lunch programs,” Kakalia said. “Without school, many of these kids are without school lunches, and parents either have to provide extra meals or the kids have to prepare meals themselves or go hungry while their parents are at work.”
Parked in a strategic location within walking distance of Kapa‘a schools and Mayor Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex, the truck manned by Kakalia has welcomed numerous students who can use the help being offered by The Musubi Truck and its ‘ohana, including the truck’s chef Brentten Rapozo, a former Kapa‘a High School player and coach.
“We want to help feed these kids,” Kakalia said. “We are committed to providing up to 2,000 free lunches with the support of the community. This is part of our goal to cater to the local community as well as be a safe place for kids to come hang out. It is important that we take care of each other.”
The “Feed the Keiki” campaign partners with the Kaua‘i Skate ‘Ohana to distribute the $5 lunch vouchers to youngsters who need the help. These vouchers will be made available to youth programs throughout the island.
Additionally, Kakalia said the Aloha Exchange wants to hook up these kids with some gear, but does not quite have the funds to do it.
“My goal is for people to have enough money so they can help those who don’t have,” Kakalia said. “My husband and myself were there before.”
Donation is simple: A $5 contribution feeds one child a special package that includes a musubi, chips and juice.
Donations can be dropped off directly at The Musubi Truck, or through its website, themusubitruck.square.site.
People are able to follow the progress of the campaign through the truck’s Instagram page, @themusubitruck.
The Musubi Truck started in a lot across Otsuka’s Furniture on Kuhio Highway in Kapa‘a, and eventually moved to where youth skateboarders described as “the grass lot near the two-story building” on Kukui Street.
“We shifted our menu offering to take care of what local residents and the kids want,” Kakalia said. “We added the poke bowls, bento and slushies. The kids really like the slushies.”
The Musubi Truck is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“I gotta get ready to wrap OG (that is ‘original’) musubi,” Rapozo said. “Our busiest hour is right after school. We get smashed. If we don’t have enough musubi, they think we’re not smart.”
