Allan Wallace, a retired New Jersey television producer who moved to Hawaii after retiring 32 years ago, spent a third Thanksgiving without his "significant other" this year, but he didn’t spend it alone.
The 94-year-old, who built the miniature Christmas village being featured for a second year at the Hawaii State Library, was one of thousands enjoying the Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving feast at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall on Thursday.
"It (the death of his companion) was a shock to me, and I’ve been sad and depressed about it," Wallace said. But a representative from Catholic Charities "gave me a tip about this meal," he said.
Despite some reservations, Wallace attended the event for the first time Thursday and is thankful he did.
"I don’t mind having Thanksgiving here," he said. "It’s nice that they give me something to eat."
The Salvation Army has hosted the free Thanksgiving event for the past 42 years.
What started as an event serving about 500 meals in 1970 has grown to one dishing up nearly 2,500 plates of food, said Maj. John M. Chamness, divisional commander of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division of the Salvation Army.
"Over the years, as word got out and more people found out about what the Salvation Army is doing, it’s really grown," he said. "There are folks from all over, seniors on fixed income, the homeless, disabled, folks who just want to share the holiday. It’s family coming together."
That’s exactly why Jiana Perez and seven family members decided to join the festivities this year.
"It’s actually going to be the last Thanksgiving with the whole family," Perez, who lives in Kalihi, said. "My mother is moving to the mainland, so we thought we’d do something less stressful and different. Not untraditional, just different."
Yesterday’s event kicked off at about 10 a.m. with performances by Joe and Shirley Recca, Halau Hula o Namakahulali, the Honolulu Boy Choir and the Salvation Army’s Brass Band, Gospel Choir and Hula Halau.
At noon, Mayor Peter Carlisle carved the first turkey onstage and declared a resounding "Dinner is served" as volunteers, numbering about 800, marched out with plates heaped with turkey and all the fixings. The Salvation Army serves and delivers Thanksgiving meals across the state.
In Chinatown at the River of Life Mission, more than 50 people waited in a line across the street while about 45 others enjoyed their hot Thanksgiving meals indoors.
The mission has been serving Thanksgiving meals to the needy for 25 years. This year it served about 600 meals and delivered another 450 to senior citizens.
Norman Siales, 50, of Honolulu has been homeless for two months and said he’s thankful for River of Life.
"They always take care of me," he said as he ate his turkey. "I live on the streets, so this is the only place I feel secure enough to have a meal and get clothes."
The Thanksgiving meal is made possible by monetary and food donations from individuals, businesses and other organizations. Nearly 100 volunteers help at the annual event.
Rear Adm. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, and his wife, Carol, volunteered at the River of Life’s Thanksgiving meal event for the second year in a row. "This is the best experience because this is what ohana is about, giving back to the community," Ponds said. "There are so many out there who need help, and I am in a position to give it to them. It’s the right thing to do."
Last year, Ponds arrived in the islands less than a week before Thanksgiving and decided the best way to spend the holiday would be to help others. After working at River of Life this year, he said he will volunteer on base to help those serving have a happy Thanksgiving, too.
