The winter break collection was coordinated for students at Princess N\u0101hi\u02bbena\u02bbena Elementary School, Kamehameha III Elementary School and L\u0101hain\u0101 Intermediate School. Food donations were contributed by the K\u0101‘anapali Beach Hotels & Resorts, with distribution carried out in partnership with the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai\u02bbi – Maui Chapter. In the weeks leading up to winter break, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies also supported the collection of healthy snacks, shelf-stable food items and pantry staples and extended community outreach by hosting a booth during the recent L\u0101hain\u0101 Lights parade.
“We see firsthand how school breaks can strain families, especially when food budgets are already tight, so this was an opportunity to meet families where they are,” said Kalai Asuela, manager of family support services at the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai\u02bbi – Maui Chapter. “Working alongside Pilikahakai Foundation and the K\u0101‘anapali Beach Hotels & Resorts allowed us to improve food access to directly support West Maui’s keiki.”\n
The Healthy Snack Program began during the 2025 fall break as a way to provide consistent support for students during times when school-based resources are paused. In 2025, changes to federal food assistance programs led to disruptions and new requirements that made it harder for some families to maintain access to regular nutrition benefits, prompting the K\u0101‘anapali hotel and resort community to work together to help ensure students continued to have access to nutritious food during school breaks. What started as a short-term response has since become a coordinated effort to help families navigate school breaks with greater stability.
The donations included a mix of shelf-stable and nutritious items such as canned and nonperishable goods, vegetable snack packs, whole grain crackers with nut- or seed-based spreads, dried fruit with no added sugar, cereal and powdered milk to support keiki and their families at home.
Looking ahead, Pilikahakai Foundation plans to continue the Healthy Snack Program with quarterly distributions, including the upcoming spring and summer breaks. Continued distributions throughout the school year provide reliable support for West Maui keiki during times when families may need additional stability, while helping sustain care for future generations.
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About Pilikahakai Foundation
Founded in 2024, Pilikahakai Foundation is a West Maui-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more resilient future by promoting sustainability, perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture and preserving public access to K\u0101‘anapali Beach. Led by Executive Director Keolahou Hinau, the foundation combines traditional Hawaiian knowledge with modern environmental strategies to address the challenges facing the region’s coastal ecosystems. Through educational outreach, conservation projects and community partnerships, Pilikahakai works to protect the environment, uphold cultural values and create lasting benefits for both residents and visitors. For more information, visit www.pilikahakai.org or follow Pilikahakai Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.
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