Culinary Students at KCC Prepare Meals for Kauai Students Affected by Hurricane Lowell

HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now) – Students and instructors from Kapiolani Community College are extending their culinary skills to support Kauai students impacted by Hurricane Lowell. They have been preparing and sending over hot meals, which were cooked on Oahu, frozen, and then flown to Kauai Community College, offering students complimentary lunches throughout October.

The initiative was born from discussions between Kauai CC Chancellor Margaret Sanchez and Kapiolani CC Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi, aimed at aiding students whose lives were disrupted by the hurricane. A survey revealed that almost 40% of Kauai CC students lost food or groceries, over half experienced a loss of income or work, and around 75% faced outages in electricity and internet access. Kauai CC student Brandon Routh expressed, “These meals help because you know we don’t have to go buy food.” Culinary students prepared approximately 150 to 200 pounds of meals weekly, featuring dishes such as chili and rice, sweet and sour pork, and chicken curry. Alan Tsuchiyama, a chef instructor and Lihue native, commented on the effort’s personal significance. Kauai CC Chancellor Sanchez noted that the initiative fosters community and provides tangible support to students in need.