Back to the Roots: The Spirit of Thanksgiving at Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene

A Tradition of Aloha and Hospitality

Each Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, something deeply meaningful stirs in the heart of Upcountry Maui. At Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene, the season isn’t just marked by food and family—it’s marked by love in action. Their mission is simple but powerful: to embody hospitality and love our neighbors well. And nothing captures that spirit more than their annual Imu celebration.
Here, Thanksgiving becomes more than a holiday. It becomes a revival—a moment to reconnect with community, culture, and the call to care for one another.

Building the Imu: An Offering of Hands and Heart

The Imu, a traditional Hawaiian underground oven, is a beautiful symbol of patience, cooperation, and cultural legacy. Every year, the church organizes a massive imu built from scratch—a labor of love involving dozens of volunteers, days of preparation, and a deep respect for the island’s traditions.

The process begins with a large pit, carefully dug and layered with fragrant kiawe wood (Hawaiian mesquite) and lava rocks. Once the rocks are glowing hot, the real work begins: The pit is layered with wet banana leaves and scraps of banana trees creating warm steam. Approximately 450 turkeys and various meats—lovingly wrapped in foil and other traditional methods—are passed down a line of volunteers. Together, they carefully stack the food into the pit.

Then comes the sacred sealing process: soaked burlap bags, and canvas cloths create layers of insulation to keep the heavy tarps and a large plastic sheet covers the entire oven to trap the steam and flavor. Dirt is shoveled back on the edge of the pit to weigh down the plastic cover. The food cooks slowly overnight (approximately 12 hours), absorbing the earthy, smoky essence of the imu.

It’s an ancient method that brings people together through every step—honoring the land, the food, and the hands that prepare it.

Feeding the Island, One Act of Love at a Time

This year’s imu at Pukalani Church produced an incredible 1,700 lau lau dinners, which were donated to the Maui Rescue Mission—a local nonprofit serving the houseless and underserved communities.

Saigon Cafe generously contributed trays of delicious food, joining in the spirit of giving. The collaboration between community members, restaurants, and volunteers showed just how powerful unity can be.

This wasn’t just about feeding people—it was about nurturing souls during a season that can be challenging for some.

Check out this highlight from the IMU event.

No Fees, Just Faith and Generosity

One of the most touching parts of this event? There’s no required fee to place your turkey in the imu. It’s a donation-based system that runs on trust and generosity. Whether you give your time, your resources, or simply your presence, everyone is welcome.

The church invites anyone to participate—not just as observers, but as part of something sacred. This isn’t a transaction; it’s a shared tradition of giving, rooted in faith and aloha.

Island-Wide Imu Fundraisers Keep the Tradition Alive

Pukalani isn’t alone in honoring this beautiful Hawaiian tradition. All across Maui, communities are gathering to dig imus, cook food, and raise funds for causes that matter.

Organizations like Māona Community Garden host Thanksgiving imu fundraisers, offering residents a chance to drop off their turkeys to be cooked the traditional way and pick them up fresh on Thanksgiving morning. These events raise money for grassroots nonprofits doing important work in the community—transforming meals into missions.

Another standout is Voyagers (HOCVS), which held its own imu this year and proudly advertised the turkeys as “moist and delicious.” Beyond the flavor, these events capture the heart of the season: connection, culture, and compassion.

Through these fundraisers, the imu becomes more than an oven—it becomes a symbol of unity, a gathering point for generosity, and a reminder of what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Across the Islands: Kaua‘i’s Imu Thanksgiving 2025

This tradition isn’t exclusive to Maui. On Kaua‘i, Thanksgiving 2025 was also celebrated through a series of community imu events hosted by local groups and businesses like Pineapple Express. Whole turkeys and pork were cooked in traditional style and shared during gatherings that honored Hawaiian values of gratitude.

Check out their highlights.

Come Be Revived—Mind, Body, and Spirit

As the team at Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene lovingly says:
“Jesus loves you, and so do we.”

Whether you’re placing your turkey in the pit, volunteering at the food table, or simply showing up to offer support, you’re invited to be part of something greater.

Come be revived in spirit. Come learn how to love deeper, give more freely, and return to the roots of what truly matters.
This Thanksgiving—and every day—we are reminded that our greatest blessings are found in each other.