What We Do
In Hawai‘i, ‘ohana is important to us. That’s why Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels treats all of our clients like family. We make sure kupuna and others have hot and frozen, nutritious meals delivered to their door. But we don’t stop there. Our volunteers also take the time to make sure each one is doing okay. We serve as another set of eyes and ears for families. The aloha spirit is alive and well…and that’s why we’re called Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels.
Mission
Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels is dedicated to helping Oahu’s elders and individuals with disabilities preserve their independence at home. We do this primarily by providing hot and frozen, nutritious meals and regular personal interaction with those we serve
About
Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels was founded in 1979 to provide a hot and frozen 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.
We are a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, founded by former State of Hawaiʻi librarian Irmgard Hörmann and the Social Ministries Committee of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. She 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 eight founding churches included Central Union Church, Church of the Crossroads, Manoa Valley Church, The Parish of St. Clement, 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 Moʻiliʻili, six clients, six volunteers and $25. In 2016, Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels served more than 97,000 meals with about 450 volunteers on nearly 50 routes throughout Oahu.
Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels has continues to grow in response to an increasing need for fresh, hot and frozen, and nutritious home-delivered meals and friendly visits that also serve as wellness checks.
