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HANA – Maui police officers are hoping to deliver a dose of Christmas spirit along with donations of food and toys to families in two outlying areas of Maui County this year.

The effort started by police Sgt. William Juan for Hana residents more than a decade ago is being expanded this holiday season to Lanai, even as needs appear to be increasing.

"It’s harder out there," said Kimberly Kuloloia Juan, who is helping her husband by arranging for donations for the annual effort. "I don’t know what’s going on."

In addition to 106 families in Hana, the volunteer group is trying to obtain food, toys and gifts for 22 families on Lanai, she said.

Carol Ball & Associates is again providing toys for 50 children, she said.

"Without them, I don’t think we would have had an edge this year," Juan said.

She is hoping others will step forward to sponsor families that don’t have enough money for turkeys and other extras commonly associated with Christmas.

"It’s families that would never have been on the list before," she said."The income isn’t supporting them now days."

She said some kupuna receive Social Security incomes to cover basic living expenses but can’t afford more.

"It’s just simple things they’re asking for, like pajamas or a blanket or house slippers that they won’t buy for themselves," she said. "It’s really sad. "They try to take care of each other. But you can only take care of so much."

Many Hana residents commute from the community daily for work, Juan said.

Others have been affected by the military deployment of family members who won’t be home for the holidays.

"There’s a lot more strain on the families," she said.

William Juan, who with his wife and family started the food and toy drive when he began his police career in Hana in 1994, returned to the community last year when he was promoted to sergeant.

The population has grown, he said. But with a shortage of jobs and rising gas prices, some families struggle to survive. "There are a lot of extended families living paycheck to paycheck," he said.

"Some live in tents on property." For the last few weeks, officers in the district that includes Keanae, Kipahulu and Kaupo have been talking to residents to identify families that need help this Christmas, he said.

The effort is relying more heavily on volunteers since the 700 Club closed its doors last year, Juan said, and members of Kaikua’ana ne Kaikua’hine Pupukahi I Holomua Hula Halau in Wailuku are joining in the effort. Lanai police officers have undertaken similar efforts, in some cases finding residents who can afford food but not toys or gifts this Christmas, said Lt. Tivoli Faaumu, commander of the Lanai Patrol District. "We just want to make sure everybody enjoys and gets into the spirit of the holidays," Faaumu said.

He said Lanai officers will distribute donations shipped by ferry to the island. In addition to Hana officers led by Lt. Michael Kaho’ohanohano, some police officers who formerly worked in the community plan to return Dec. 18 to help distribute the food and toys, Juan said.

In past years, volunteers have awakened at 2 a.m. to deliver seven to 10 truckloads throughout the community, Juan said. Kimberly Kuloloia Juan said her mother, Amy Kuloloia, inspired the volunteer effort, which is now in its 11th year.

Even though both her parents worked hard, "we were homeless ourselves as young kids," Juan said. "My mom always tells us never waste, you always know what’s on the other side.

"We have a lot. If we can give a little bit more, that’s what Christmas is all about."

Anyone who wants to donate to the effort can call Kimberly Kuloloia Juan at 283-3168.