With the help of over 70 O'ahu's chefs and restaurants, nine key sponsors and 350 adventurous diners, The Good Table benefit raised over $50,000 for Lanakila Meals on Wheels, O'ahu's only island-wide non-profit meal delivery service for the elderly. In addition to the event contributions, the awareness created during The Good Table campaign helped raise over $30,000 in direct donations to support the program.

The event also helps kick off the organization's holiday donation drive. The goal is to raise awareness and $250,000 with the help of the community and Lanakila's Social Enterprises to ensure meal service for every senior currently in the program and to bring more than 100 seniors off the waiting list this year.

The first time ever, synchronized dining event, had 350 diners sitting down to share a meal with family and friends at one table in each participating restaurant at the same time, October 22, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. Restaurants, ranging from fine dining to casual eateries served up special, prix fixe meals to diners who had purchased tables through donations to The Good Table.

It was an opportunity for some restaurants to treat diners to extraordinary and rare experiences to help raise funds and awareness. Haili's Hawaiian Foods hosted a table under the stars at their Backyard Luau lunchtruck across from Ward Theatres, with an elegant feast of Hawaiian cuisine. Zippy's coordinated sixteen of their restaurants and offered prix fixe style meals on specially printed menus, choices included Chinatown Steamed Opakapaka, Braised Shortrib or Garlic Grilled Steak. And Chef Henry "Hank" Adaniya transformed his Hank's Haute Dogs into a stage for an eight course meal complete with wine pairing, intermezzo and European service by his team of tux-clad volunteers. The Little Oven invited Lanakila's social enterprise catering service, Xpress Chefs, to collaborate with them on a Good Table. Xpress Chef Alan Cabebe whipped up a gourmet surf and turf, while Little Oven owner Joyce Harada, served up three dessert courses including Strawberry Romanoff with gold leaf and Chocolate Souffle topped with a flaming marshmallow. Chef Alan Wong, Honorary Chair of The Good Table, hosted the event's Hale Aina Table, at his King Street restaurant, with an extensive signature menu of Hawaii Regional Cuisine.

Another unique element of the event was the virtual share. Diners were encouraged to share photos of their experience of The Good Table. To see their photo gallery visit www.thegoodtablehawaii.org.

Proceeds from the purchased tables will directly support Lanakila Meals on Wheels to provide meals and support for Hawaii's elderly in need. A weakened economy and reductions in funding have created a shortfall for Lanakila Meals on Wheels, leaving hundreds of seniors on Lanakila's waiting list. As Hawaii's largest meals on wheels service, Lanakila will use the monies raised through The Good Table to help fund the shortfall and deliver more meals to Hawaii's elderly.

"All of us at Lanakila Meals on Wheels would like to send a heartfelt mahalo to everyone who helped make The Good Table a success," said Marian Tsuji, president of Lanakila Pacific. "In one evening, our sponsors, restaurants and diners turned their great meals into over 6,400 meals for Hawaii's seniors.

Key sponsors included Atlas Insurance, AIG Hawaii, Big Island Candies, Ham Produce & Seafood, HI Net Associates, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union, Island Insurance Companies, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Pacific Resource Partnership, Times Supermarkets, and Healy Tibbits. Talisman LBS, Island Air with Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, and The Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa came in as sponsors for the mobile and photo contests.

Participating restaurants included Alan Wong's Restaurant, Azul, Big City Diners, BluWater Grill, Bombay India, Brasserie Du Vin, Café Laufer, Duke's Waikiki, Elua Restaurant & Wine Bar, Formaggio Grill & Wine Bar, Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants, Haili's Hawaiian Foods, Hank's Haute Dogs, Hoku's, Indigo, JJ Dolan's, John Dominis Restaurant, Ka'Ikena Restaurant at KCC, Kaiwa, Kakaako Kitchen, Le Guignol, Le Bistro, Longhi's, Mac 24/7, Maple Garden, Mariposa, Max's of Manila, Michel's at the Colony Surf, Mini Garden, Mr. Ojisan, Nobu Waikiki, Ola at the Turtle Bay Resort, On On at McCully, Orchids, Pineapple Room, Roy's, Sansei Seafood Restaurant, d.k Steakhouse, Side Street Inn, Soul de Cuba, Stage Restaurant, Sushi Izakaya Gaku, Tango Contemporary Café, Chef Eric at The Pacific Club, Tiki's Grill & Bar, Top of Waikiki, Town, Twist at Hanohano, Vino, Willow's, Zaffron, Zippy's, 12th Avenue Grill, and 3660 on the Rise.

Lanakila Meals on Wheels has been serving Hawaii's seniors since 1971. For more information, to donate, or volunteer, please call 531-0555 or visit www.thegoodtablehawaii.org