Kaunoa Senior Services reports Meals on Wheels reach, no waitlist but flags staffing and cost pressures

Kaunoa Senior Services provided an update on its Meals on Wheels (home‑delivered meals) and congregate nutrition programs during the Maui County Council’s Water Authority, Social Services & Parks Committee meeting on June 16, 2025.

Ruth Griffith, Senior Services Administrator for Kaunoa Senior Services, described two nutrition programs: a congregate nutrition program for people 60 and older and a home‑delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) program for frail, homebound kupuna who qualify through the Maui County Office on Aging. Griffith said the congregate program focuses on nutrition plus socialization and the Meals on Wheels program provides daily delivery and safety checks for people who cannot prepare adequate meals.

Program scale and outcomes Griffith reported that, in fiscal year 2025 through May, Kaunoa’s congregate program served approximately 650 unduplicated participants (the presentation listed an average participant age — noted in slides as 86) with roughly 46,000 congregate meals served and about 1,000 socialization activities (total attendance reported at about 62,000).

For home‑delivered meals, Kaunoa reported an average participant age of about 80, 760 unduplicated participants and about 105,000 meals delivered through May 2025. The program typically delivers roughly 120,000 meals per year, Griffith said, and reported a 98% satisfaction rate and 100% on‑time delivery. Kaunoa also confirmed there is no wait list for home‑delivered meals at the time of the presentation.

Eligibility, operations and West Maui impacts Eligibility for Meals on Wheels is determined by the Maui County Office on Aging and includes assessments of ability to perform activities of daily living and other criteria. Griffith emphasized that home‑delivered meals include a face‑to‑face or phone safety check each delivery day; staff said they regularly alert family or emergency services when they observe concerning conditions.

Kaunoa said the West Maui congregate site remains closed following the August 2023 fire; 20 West Maui residents are receiving home‑delivered meals. Griffith said Kaunoa plans to reopen a congregate site in West Maui later in the summer at an alternate location.

Staffing and funding pressures Committee members and Kaunoa staff discussed recruitment and retention challenges. Kaunoa reported roughly 17–19 vacancies across positions – about 25–30% of some workgroups — and said many direct‑service roles are in bargaining units with limited pay steps. Griffith and Roland Prieto, Kaunoa assistant administrator, said they are working with personnel to explore pay and recruitment options and have used temporary hires where possible, but stressed that higher pay would help retention.

Griffith also warned of an expected mid‑year increase in vendor meal prices (Department of Education meal vendors and packaging costs), and said Kaunoa will reassess budget impacts mid‑year and report back to council if additional funds are needed.

Partnerships and referrals Griffith described partnerships with Maui County Office on Aging (which manages Title III and Kupuna Care eligibility), Department of Education meal vendors, Habitat for Humanity for minor home retrofits, MEMA and AARP for emergency preparedness, and the Center for Independent Living for ADRC collaboration.

Public comment and committee action A member of the public thanked Kaunoa staff during oral testimony. Committee members complimented Kaunoa staff and asked to visit Meals on Wheels deliveries; the committee closed public testimony and, with no objections, deferred action on the item.

Clarifying details: Kaunoa reported approximately 760 unduplicated Meals on Wheels participants and about 105,000 meals delivered as of May 2025; congregate program reported about 650 unduplicated participants and 46,000 meals in FY25 to date. Kaunoa reported no waitlist for home‑delivered meals and cited 17–19 staff vacancies (approximately 25–30% of some staff groups). The agency said it typically delivers about 120,000 home‑delivered meals annually and achieved a 98% satisfaction rate in its survey.

The committee did not take a formal vote and deferred the item for further follow‑up and monitoring.