Keck & CFHT Join Community Effort To Feed Keiki
This summer, W. M. Keck Observatory served as a hub of community care each Monday. Over 40 staff from both W. M. Keck Observatory and Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) came together once again to pack and distribute meal kits for children as part of the Kaukau 4 Keiki program, an initiative that has become a lifeline for many families across Hawaiʻi Island.
Running from June 16 to July 25, Kaukau 4 Keiki was created to fill a crucial gap: when school is out for summer, many keiki lose access to the free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches their families rely on during the school year.
Hawaiʻi Island non-profit organization Vibrant Hawai‘i coordinates the program, which is funded by the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, in partnership with the state Department of Education’s Hawaiʻi Child Nutrition Program. Maunakea Observatories staff have supported the effort since it began on the island in 2021.
As one of 29 distribution sites across Hawaiʻi Island, Keck and CFHT volunteers received, packed, and distributed over 800 meal kits filled with nutritious fruits, vegetables, proteins, starches, and milk over the course of the program; each kit with enough food to prepare up to 14 meals per keiki.
Volunteers came from the community and all departments of both Keck and CFHT – including visiting observers participating in the Pilina and Kōkua Initiative and Akamai Workforce Initiative interns. It was a deeply meaningful experience for all those involved, and for volunteers, it was a valuable opportunity to build relationships between the observatories and with the community.
“When each of us who works in astronomy wakes up in the morning, before we go to work and make our contributions to humanity’s understanding of the universe, we are members of this community first,” said Ilihia Gionson, Chief Public Affairs Officer at W. M. Keck Observatory. “We were honored to once again work shoulder to shoulder with our community to support Kaukau 4 Keiki this summer. By engaging farmers, distribution companies, drivers, sites, and volunteers around the island, the effort helps feed families while building networks and relationships that position our community to be more resilient in times of disaster or emergency.”
That long-term resilience is central to the program’s broader vision. In addition to food, Kaukau 4 Keiki sites often served as informal touchpoints for families to connect with resources ranging from emergency preparedness materials to keiki development programs, digital tools, and financial assistance. These efforts help strengthen social infrastructure year-round, not just in moments of crisis.
By contributing time, space, and hands-on support, Keck and CFHT reinforced a shared commitment: exploring the universe while staying grounded in care for their island home.
