KAHULUI, Hawaii — For two months following the Maui wildfires, the University of Hawaii Maui College’s culinary arts program focused on food preparation. Culinary students and volunteers filled the program’s Paina Building daily, prepping, cooking and delivering 200,000 meals for displaced members of the community.

Now on Thursday mornings, instructor Natasha Joslin and her seven students in the culinary arts program’s purchasing class, together with a few campus and community volunteers, pack up to 200 boxes filled with local produce.

Cabbage, sweet potatoes, bok choy, onions, eggplant, kale, bananas, tangerines and more are distributed later in the day to UH Maui College student and those in the community affected by the August wildfires.

“We felt as though we wanted to continue providing something to the community, and we also knew the culinary arts program team needed to get back to their curriculum,” said Dean of Career and Technical Education Laura Lees Nagle in a news release.

“In discussions with Common Ground Collective (a nonprofit that promotes food security, educational and economic opportunities in Maui County), the produce boxes project seemed like an easy next step. Matson had already generously donated their refrigerated container for our use for a few weeks of meal prep and they instantly told us we could continue to use it until the end of the year,” said Lees Nagle.

The project is supported by Common Ground Collective and the UH Foundation Feed Maui Fund. The Lion’s Club of Maui is also providing bags of rice.

“It’s a project that definitely falls in line with purchasing and inventory,” said Joslin. “In addition to helping to continue to feed the community, we are able to support our local farmers, many of whom lost business as a result of the fires.” 

The product box project is expected to continue through at least the end of the fall 2023 semester.

“I feel so blessed to be able to give back to my community,” said Lily Weber, a culinary arts student. “I love to see our college and local farmers come together to give back in any way we can. I love being able to be a part of the great work!”

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.