You Won’t Believe What This West Maui School is Giving Kids Over Winter Break! Shocking Healthy Snacks Unveiled!

In a significant community initiative, the Pilikahakai Foundation has stepped up to address food security for students in West Maui. This week, the foundation distributed healthy snack packs to three public schools during the winter break, a time when many children often lose access to their regular meals. The schools involved include Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School, Kamehameha III Elementary School, and Lahaina Intermediate School.

The Healthy Snack Program for the 2025–2026 school year is a collaborative effort between the Pilikahakai Foundation and the Kā‘anapali Beach Hotels & Resorts. This program was created in response to feedback from local educators about the nutritional gaps faced by students when school meals are unavailable. Keolahou Hinau, the Executive Director of the Pilikahakai Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “This program grew out of listening to schools about the challenges students face when access to regular meals changes. By coming together with the Kā‘anapali Beach Hotels & Resorts and community partners, we’re able to support West Maui keiki during school breaks and continue building a stronger, more resilient community.”

The initiative was launched during the 2025 fall break, addressing the disruptions caused by new requirements in federal food assistance programs that have made it increasingly difficult for some families to maintain regular nutrition benefits. This timely intervention promises to alleviate the burdens many families face during school breaks when children are at home.

The snack packs provided contained a variety of shelf-stable items designed to offer essential nutrition. The packs included vegetable snack packs, whole grain crackers, dried fruit, cereal, powdered milk, and canned goods, aiming to offer a balanced selection for the children. This thoughtful assortment is crucial in helping families who may struggle to provide adequate meals when school is not in session.

The distribution was enhanced by a partnership with the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi – Maui Chapter, which also played a role in collecting food items and hosted an outreach booth at the recent Lahaina Lights parade. Kalai Asuela, the manager of family support services for the coalition, noted the particular strain school breaks can place on families with limited food budgets: “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. Working alongside the Pilikahakai Foundation and the Kā‘anapali Beach Hotels & Resorts allowed us to improve food access to directly support West Maui’s keiki.”

The Pilikahakai Foundation, established in 2024, is committed to continuing the Healthy Snack Program with quarterly distributions planned for the upcoming spring and summer breaks. This proactive approach not only addresses immediate food security needs but also fosters a more supportive community environment where families can thrive even in challenging times.

As food insecurity remains a pressing issue across the nation, local initiatives like this one underscore the importance of community collaboration in addressing the nutritional needs of children. By prioritizing the health and well-being of West Maui’s youth, the Pilikahakai Foundation and its partners are taking significant steps toward building a more resilient future.