Operation Toybox & Christmas Breakfast

Nineteen years ago, Pastor Ron Valenciana made a request to Turtle Bay Resort that he was sure, at that time, was way over the top…he asked if the resort would feed 75 people in need on Christmas morning. That request, as they say in the movies, “was the beginning of a beautiful relationship”.

Pastor Ron’s plan was to provide some kind of a Christmas present to each child and to feed the families of those in need along the North Shore of the island of O’ahu. Over the years he has worked with many groups and shops to provide the presents. But he has only had to work with one source for food…Turtle Bay Resort.

Under the ever watchful eye of Turtle Bay Resort’s Executive Chef Hector Morales, this year the kitchen staff prepared five (5) pigs. (For those not aware of Polynesian custom, we are not talking about 5 large chunks of ham…we are actually talking about five whole pigs). The pigs were  slow roasted to bring out the flavor and keep in the moisture. Added to that was 15 cases of eggs for scrambled eggs, cases of linked sausage and 20 large containers of rice. (Again, for those not aware of Polynesian custom, pig, sausage, eggs and rice are breakfast foods). All this preparation was made in anticipation of, with today’s economic challenges to local North Shore families, up to 1,000 people.

Turtle Bay Resort’s staff helped to serve the food (along with countless others from the community including our local government representative Donovan Dela Cruz). Children were allowed to form and go through a line to get their food while local volunteers brought food to and served the senior citizens in need. Gifts were again given to those children in need.

What a great way to spend a Christmas morning and we now look forward to the 20th year of service!