From left, April Ludwick, Mark Haley, Caitlin Mishler, Lisa Meadows and Angela Leone of Coconut Condos serve meals.

LAHAINA – Ka Hale A Ke Ola, meaning “The House of Life,” is the name for the homeless resource center on Maui. It provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, adult education and training, counseling, a primary care medical clinic and facilities for child care.

There are two centers – one in Wailuku and the other in Lahaina, located mountain side of the Lahaina Aquatic Center. Both centers will gladly take donations of household items, toiletries, as well as food items such as canned soups and vegetables, tuna and peanut butter.

Every month, sponsors are encouraged to sign up for a specific day to bring in or serve a meal. Meals can either be dropped off or they can be prepared and served by volunteers with the help of the kitchen staff.

The team at Coconut Condos vacation rental management company has enjoyed volunteering the last Tuesday of the month at the Lahaina center since January 2017, providing Pizza Hut Night.

“Serving food at the homeless shelter is something so simple, yet it makes an impact. It’s powerful to have the opportunity to give back to your own community,” shared Coconut Condos Reservations Manager Caitlin Mishler.

The last time the company served at the shelter, Todd Kanoa, food services manager for both locations, informed the team that the Wailuku center only has six nights per month that are not filled by community volunteers.

The Lahaina center only has six nights per month that are regularly served.

Upon hearing this, the Coconut Condos team wants to encourage and challenge the generous West Side community to fill that calendar.

CEO Angela Leone commented, “We know that this island is home to some of the most generous and big-hearted individuals. So many times when we have mentioned to friends or West Side neighbors about serving at the shelter, we have been asked where the shelter is and how they can get involved. We just want to get that information out to the community. Our children serve with us, and we get to meet some of the most wonderful and interesting people.”

The team encourages fellow West Side businesses and community members to fill up the calendar at the Lahaina homeless shelter location and meet the needs of the local community.

“When we serve on Tuesday Pizza Nights, we encourage our staff to not only serve dinner, but then sit and eat with the guests, talk story and get to know them as our neighbors,” shared Coconut Condos COO Lisa Meadows.

If you or your organization has been hoping to find a way to serve the community, this is a wonderful opportunity. For more information, e-mail Kanoa at Todd.Kanoa@kahako.org or call the kitchen at 446-8639.