Wang Chung’s Donation-Based Wangsgiving Dinner Will Benefit a Waikīkī School—and You’re Invited
The Waikīkī karaoke bar is hosting free turkey dinners with all the fixings—donate what you can and if you can’t, you’re still welcome.
Photo courtesy of Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar
Wang Chung’s, the LGBTQ karaoke bar in Waikīkī, is bringing back its annual tradition of hosting full turkey dinners on Thanksgiving. The best part about Wangsgiving isn’t that you donate any amount you want, or even that all the money goes to nearby Jefferson Elementary School, earmarked for kids whose families struggle to pay school-related fees. The best part about Wangsgiving is that it’s open to anyone, including those who can’t afford to make a donation. “A lot of us don’t have family here and can’t travel home for the holidays, so this is kind of a thing to support them and the community,” Wang Chung’s owner Dan Chang says. “We even feed the workers of the hotel we’re in. It’s like hey, come in, grab a free meal.”
Tomorrow will mark the sixth time the bar hosts Wangsgiving. It was started in 2014 by its former chef, Randy Sanchez, who brought over the tradition he and his mother started at their restaurant in Texas. The point there was hyper-local giving—supporting the people they saw in their neighborhood daily. In Waikīkī, far from home, Sanchez broadened the scope to include others like him, and since he passed away some months ago, tomorrow’s Wangsgiving will honor his giving spirit.
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What’s on the menu? Expect a full traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, fresh cranberry sauce and pies from Hawaiian Pie Co. in Kalihi. It will be cooked by The Corner Rolls, which pops up at Wang Chung’s every Thursday.
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Chang will have four large turkeys ready to carve. If the space is full or people can’t stay, they’re welcome to get a plate to go. “It’s not even about raising money or getting donations. That’s a plus,” he says. “It’s just having a safe space to go with friends or even with us—we’ll consider you as family. That’s what holidays are all about.”
Wangsgiving dinner will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m. or until food runs out. Walk-ins only. Donations welcome but not required.
2424 Koa Ave., (808) 201-6369, wangchungs.com, @wangchungs
