The Feeding Our Keiki and Kupuna program by the Peace Committee of the Honoka‘a Hongwanji began as an effort to feed about two dozen children in a small Hawai‘i Island town.
Miles Okumura and Lynn Higashi, retired attorneys, noticed children in their community who were going hungry.
“We started off with the keiki and when someone pointed out that there are kūpuna in our neighborhood in a similar situation, we added them to our program — and then we added the grocery bags,” says Miles.
From feeding a few children in the temple’s basement more than five years ago, the program has expanded into a community effort with more than 150 volunteers packing grocery bags and preparing meals for about 550 people a week, including food deliveries to kūpuna who are shut-in and isolated.
AARP Hawai‘i has recognized Miles and Lynn for their outstanding contributions to their community with its top honor for kūpuna volunteers, the 2024 Andrus Award for Community Service and a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice. Recipients are recognized as examples for others to follow.
AARP HAWAI‘I (nonprofit)
1001 Bishop St., Ste. 625, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-545-6000 | hiaarp@aarp.org | aarp.org/hi
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2025 Andrus Award: aarp.org/andrus
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