HALE ONO Childrens Food Program

I came to Japan in 1983 with the Air Force & decided to stay 18 years workingn in Hotel & Restaurant executive management.

I changed industries and moved to Hawaii for 12 years working as a tour guide and returned to Japan six years ago to open my own business here.

Corona killed my business and after a year we fell into the welfare program. 10 months later I came across this property that no one wanted behind my house and I talked to the owner and they allowed me to read it for super super cheap as long as I cleaned it up and I could do anything with it I wanted so I thought it would be the perfect place for my wife to expand her garden and for me to barbecue.

That's when we got the idea for our instant noodle package program for kids

I went online and asked my friends for donations and I went around and got free pallets and bricks and I built a place that kids could come and have free instant noodle packages. We had heard that there was a need because of so many latchkey kids in the area.

HALE ONO officially opened on March 20, 2022 in order to become a venue for both children and older adults in our community to be able to gather in a safe manner and to assist those who are in need with some type of meal in these trying times. In Hawaiian, HALE means 'house' and ONO means, 'delicious'.

HALE ONO is located on a small piece of property located in the 1-chome district of Wakatake, Toyonaka in Osaka. It is a landlocked piece of property with a parking lot on the west side, a rice field and small apartment on the right side, a garden to the north and a home with a larger attached piece of property to the south.

The property is situated in such a manner that it provides the opportunity for this type of venue as no one wants it to build a home or to obtain to grow vegetables.

The property is surrounded by a 3 foot tall concrete wall block base with metal fencing approximately 170 cm tall.

The property has a front metal gate that can be locked but is always open and welcomes anyone who wants to use the property as their own, 'backyard'. Neighbors are encouraged to utilize the property in the morning and afternoons to enjoy coffee, tea, late lunch or even utilize the standing, 'tachinomiya' bar counter.

There are two tents connected as one structure that sports to barbecue smokers, a place to prepare food, a place to make coffee and shelving units and storage units that are stocked with instant noodle packages for children to be able to choose from when HALE ONO is open.

The property is leased from a real estate agent at the cost of ¥10,000 per year and we presently are in our second year of our two year contract. Our desires to be able to purchase the property outright as the real estate agent has no desire to do anything with it and has agreed to sell it at a reasonable price to be discussed once we are ready.

HALE ONO is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 PM to 6 PM for anyone who would like to come get an instant noodle package, (one per person), and they can either take it home or take advantage of the hot water pot and eat on premises.

As of the posting of this page on March 9, 2023, we have served over 1,100 meals for children.

HALE ONO also works in tandem with my food truck (Kau Kau Kitchen), to allow for burgers to be handed out every Wednesday in conjunction with taking home or eating on site that includes an instant noodle package. The Food truck opens at the front of the property near the road.

HALE ONO received a grant from the local city office in order to be able to provide this type of hot food in conjunction with their instant noodle packages. It has proven not to be enough to cover our costs

Most instant noodle packages are either donated directly or are purchased using money that has been donated to HALE ONO.

We are in severe beed of a donation network of local growers, retailers, donators and wholesalers that can provide HALE ONO with monetary funding and food products for redistribution to needy families.

It is the intention of HALE ONO to obtain NPO status sometime in 2023. With funds and grants provided by the status, the desire is to pull electricity, plumbing and sewage to the property and build a restroom.

A metal structure that can house the food truck and keep people safe and out of the elements while eating is also needed.

HALE ONO is an outdoor facility, the first of its kind, the children can play outside, enjoy a deck area for small children and a small clubhouse in a safe environment.

Our mobile food truck seems to be th first of its kind providing a mobile food bank program that has not yet been seen or heard of in the Kansai region.

As there are many latchkey children in the area it is our desire to be able to provide a safe and supportive venue to come and stay.

Basically, we need help. And if I can do this right, I believe I can be an inspiration to others not only in Japan, but to other food trucks and give them ideas how to utilize their assets to also help needy kids.

If you have read this far… mahalo nui loa