Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels (HMoW) is dedicated to helping frail elders and individuals with disabilities preserve their independence at home by providing hot, nutritious meals and regular personal contact.
Hawaii Meals on Wheels, Inc. is dedicated to helping Oahu’s elders and individuals with disabilities preserve their independence at home. We do this primarily by providing hot, nutritious meals and regular personal interaction with those we serve.
Our Story
Hawai'i Meals on Wheels, a 501(c) 3 organization, was founded in 1979 to provide a home delivered meal service for frail elderly and disabled persons who were unable to cook or shop for themselves and did not have access to help for these essential functions. Irmgard Hörmann and the Social Ministries Committee of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu spearheaded the formation of a committee representing different denominations and several Honolulu churches to provide a basic nutritional and human support system for their isolated, disabled, and frail elderly neighbors
The other founding churches included Central Union Church, Church of the Crossroads, Manoa Valley church, The Parish of St. Clement, First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church.
The service began with two small routes in Makiki and Moiliili, six clients, six volunteers and $25.00.
As we celebrate our 31st year, Hawaii Meals on Wheels has grown in response to Oahu's aging community and increased need for hot, home-delivered meals. In 2009, we delivered over 69,400 meals to over 450 senior and disabled individuals. We also added 4 new delivery routes. As we look toward 2010 and beyond, we hope to expand even more to more communities throughout Oahu.
Meals are prepared by 10 care home, hospital and commercial kitchen partners. This enables volunteers to pick up meals at a location in their immediate community and deliver them to their neighbors. Institutional kitchens also enable us to be able to meet the need for medically therapeutic meals, such as low sodium, low fat and pureed meals.
Forty-three delivery routes now extend from Hawai‘i Kai to Pearl City, Kane‘ohe to Kailua, Waimanalo, Mililani and Ewa to Ewa Beach.
Hawaii Meals on Wheels is a volunteer-driven force. We rely on over 300 volunteers to deliver meals each day. Our volunteers are productive friendly neighbors bringing food and personal interaction to those who need it most in our communities.
Every Monday through Friday, including holidays, the dedicated volunteers from Hawaii Meals on Wheels provide hot and nutritious meals with aloha.