For the 13th straight year, and without much fanfare, Chicken in A Barrel BBQ Owner Mike Pierce and family again offered free meals to all comers on Christmas Day.
Anyone who drove by the eatery on Kuhio Highway Christmas Day would have done well to heded the beckoning of Pierce in his Santa suit and various employees inviting all in for free food.
The Pierce family again spent their holiday not around their own dinner table, but dishing out free food — and a lot of it — to anyone willing to stop by.
A line formed early, and tables were filled throughout the day. It was a fun, festive atmosphere, and strangers and ‘ohana talked story while enjoying food and drink.
Guests, including visitors, locals both rich and poor, and even some houseless, estimated at more than 500, were treated to a feast, including chicken, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, pie and cookies. Keiki received toys and candy canes, too.
Pierce said they used to do a similar outreach in Murphys, Calif., and wanted to continue it on Kaua‘i when they arrived over a decade ago.
It’s a Christmas gift, he said, simply because he feels blessed by God and loves giving back to the community.
Chicken in A Barrel BBQ restaurant was founded in 2010 with the intent of bringing people together, he said.
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James “Kimo” Rosen is a Kapa‘a resident and occasional contributor to The Garden Island.
