Multiple Molokai speakers told the Maui County Budget Committee that county-supported meal programs for kupuna (seniors) should provide food that meets elders’ nutritional and cultural needs rather than repurposed school lunches.

Deldreen Kauinoea Kapuni Manera, who represents Molokai’s kupuna and serves on the Maui County Council on Aging, told the committee that some home-delivered and congregate meals are the same type of high-sodium, processed items served in school lunches — “corn dogs, cheese pizza, pepperoni... potato chips” — which she said are not appropriate or palatable for many older residents. “It should be a meal that is nutritional, that's ono, that's appealing, and that the kupuna going eat,” she said.

Why it matters: Testimony stressed health and waste concerns: Manera said some seniors discard meals or feed them to pets because the food is not suitable for elders’ chewing ability or preferences. She proposed partnerships with local producers, such as Sustainable Molokai, to include fresh island produce (taro, bananas, papayas) in meal boxes and to supplement county-provided meals.

Program details cited at the hearing: Manera said Kaunoa (the county program) serves about 46 home-delivered meals and 38 congregate meals on Molokai; she estimated AluLike, a nonprofit elder-services provider, delivers roughly 20 home-delivered meals and serves congregate sites though the congregate counts vary. She clarified AluLike serves primarily Native Hawaiian kupuna and receives funds from the State Executive Office on Aging and other federal grant sources.

Council response and next steps: Committee members asked for clarification about whether Kaunoa or AluLike operates which services; Manera said Kaunoa is the county program and AluLike is a nonprofit contractor funded in part by federal grants. She told the committee she would work with Sustainable Molokai and council offices to explore options and requested the council consider budget adjustments to make meals more nutritious and locally sourced.

No formal changes were adopted at the hearing; speakers requested budget-level attention to nutrition, sourcing and program design.