KAINALIU — For a family who has lost everything or fallen on hard times, a Thanksgiving dinner can mean a sense of normalcy during an otherwise tough stretch.
“Because they would normally be having their dinner with friends and family,” said Lannie Colombo, a Red Cross volunteer who was helping handing out free turkeys at King’s Daughters Ministry for families in need during the holiday. “And all of a sudden, their whole world’s been turned upside down.”
For 14 years now, families have been able to count on the nonprofit founded by Colombo’s cousin, Helen Vailuu. Over that time, they’ve given away scores of turkeys every year.
It’s a tradition that continued on Saturday, when the nonprofit handed out 150 turkeys. Costco also donated sides to accompany the birds.
“We’re just here loving on the community and giving back to the community,” said Vailuu at the King’s Daughters Ministry thrift store in Kainaliu. “We’re just letting them know that we do care and we know that they’ve gone through a lot.”
Throughout part of the morning, residents swung by to pick up a turkey — or two for those with larger families — along with some sides to help make their Thanksgiving dinner not only possible, but bountiful.
“This takes a load off,” Vailuu said. “This is like another worry that they have to worry about, making sure that they have a Thanksgiving dinner for Thanksgiving. At least this way, they know they already got that out of the way.”
It’s also an opportunity for her to share her favorite holiday of the year.
“I have a lot to be thankful for — I have 12 grandchildren, we live in Hawaii, we have family,” she said, “And this is a beautiful place to be on the Big Island. So this is part of doing the aloha, give back the aloha.”
“This is aloha style,” she added. “What’s mine is yours, and we just share. If we need help, we help each other.”
Thankful, too, were those who came to the thrift shop to pick up the free birds, acknowledging the special role Vailuu and King’s Daughters Ministry has in serving the local community.
“I love what King’s Daughters Ministry does for the community,” said Tessa Kanakaole. “It’s all about the people and the kids and less fortunate. And it’s a blessing to have them.”
“You don’t see a lot of people doing this in the community,” added Seanie Panglinawan. “And I’ve always appreciated what Helen does.”
The annual event is just one of many ways King’s Daughters Ministry supports the region’s residents. Earlier this year, the nonprofit donated a vehicle to an Ocean View woman and is currently working to open a youth center in South Kona.
Their efforts on Saturday would extend past Kainaliu. Colombo planned to deliver turkeys to Ocean View residents who lacked the transportation to travel north.
“There’s a lot of people in Ocean View that don’t have vehicles,” said Colombo, “and there’s a really big need. A lot of people, without these turkeys wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving dinner.”
Colombo was born on Thanksgiving, she said, and so the holiday has always been a special day of the year.
“It’s not a materialistic holiday. It’s more of you’re just thankful for what you have. I mean, the name says it all,” she said. “And when you feel like there’s so many people that have so much less, and it takes very little effort to make such a big difference, it’s like ‘why not?’ If all I have to do is drive around and give somebody a turkey and that’s going to make their day? Oh my gosh, I’ll do it every time!”
Not only does the turkey giveaway make a difference in the lives of residents, said Panglinawan and Kanakaole, it inspires them to find ways to make a difference of their own.
“It motivates me to pay it forward and give to others as well, to change who I am by example of what she’s doing for the community,” said Panglinawan. “It kind of shows everybody to kind of be a better person.”