Empty Bowl Project is an international effort to fight hunger that was started in Michigan in the 1990s. Local artists make bowls which are later filled with soup and bread from neighborhood restaurants to support a designated local food organization.

Ceramic classes have worked since the beginning of the semester to create 300 handmade bowls to sell at the Empty Bowl Hawaii Student Exhibit. All proceeds will go towards Meals on Wheels and St. George’s church in Waimanalo.

“The Empty Bowl Project is when potters, educators and others in the community work to create handcrafted bowls. When the bowls are completed, the community is invited to a simple meal of soup and bread for a monetary donation and the bowl is a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world,” said ceramics teacher, Kaycie Baltunado.

This is the second year the Academy ceramic classes have participated.

“It was kind of stressful because we had due dates, but we were able to do it. We worked for two weeks straight on just making bowls,” said junior Sharnelle Sagun.

The bowls will be sold at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana on Apr. 26 starting at 6 p.m. Advance tickets sell for 20 dollars, but on the day of the event, tickets will sell for 25 dollars. Soup and bread from 20 different restaurants, including Roy’s, Alan Wong’s, Le Bistro and Mariposa, will be available. With bowls made by Iolani School, Kalani High School, La Pietra School for Girls, Mid-Pacific Institute, Punahou School and the Academy, it is estimated that 5,000 bowls will be available for purchase.