Nourishing East Maui: Keiki food box program supports families and local farms

Maui United Way and Nuestro Futuro Foundation partnered with the Hāna Farmers Market to deliver nutritious keiki food boxes to East Maui families during the Ho‘oilo and Kupulau breaks — providing fresh, locally sourced foods while supporting area farmers. 

A total of 200 keiki food boxes, valued at $14,000, were distributed across two rounds: 

• Winter Break (Dec 20, 27, 2024 and Jan 3, 2025): 120 boxes from 16 local farms 
• Spring Break (March 14 and 21, 2025): 80 boxes from 19 local farms 

Each box featured a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and nut products, farm eggs, fresh fish, poi, and other staple local favorites — nourishing keiki while strengthening East Maui’s agricultural sustainability. 

A heartfelt message from a recipient highlights the program’s impact: 

“So humbled and filled with gratitude at the amazing keiki boxes we have received this holiday break. My kid ate all his fresh poi, had poi rolls with honey, banana, and mac nuts as a snack, and also enjoyed the rambutan. Tonight, he will eat fish, and tomorrow, eggs for breakfast. It makes a huge difference in our nutritional intake. Mahalo nui and aloha nui,” said Blair and Chance Castro.

Maui United Way and Nuestro Futuro Foundation extend their gratitude to the Hāna Farmers Market, participating farms, and all supporters who made these distributions possible.