Kaua‘i Community College students prepare food donations for Maui

Second year Kaua‘i Community College culinary students are preparing bulk foods to donate weekly to victims of the Maui fires.

Under the tutelage of Culinary Instructors Chef Steve Nakata and Chef Mark Oyama, with
assistance from O‘ahu-based non-profit organization Chef Hui, the students are learning how to prepare, chill, and cook or reheat bulk foods.

Chef Oyama said there’s an emphasis on sanitation during these teaching moments and the
students are being taught how to safely chill and reheat food while retaining its nutritional value.

“The day the tragedy happened, I immediately remembered what it was like during Hurricane
Iniki and how everyone needed help and food,” Chef Oyama said.

After learning that all cargo shipments to Maui would be for only medical purposes and after
running into several obstacles with getting the food delivered to Maui, Chef Oyama said he
finally got in touch with non-profit Chef Hui that helped organize the shipments.

The shipments are being frozen and sent over weekly to Maui Community College, and then
distributed to community members. Each shipment contains 500-1,000 portions. Kauai Community College will continue to send these shipments through the end of the semester, or longer if necessary.

Most of the food is being purchased through grants provided by Chef Hui. Kauai Community College has partnered with local companies that are providing some of the products needed.

The Westside Boat Club and fisherman have caught and cleaned fish to donate to send to Maui as well.

The culinary instructors are working on scheduling chefs from all over Kaua‘i to participate in this project.