We of the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii present our annual Thanksgiving Eve Dinner. Our friends at Govinda’s Restaurant warmly welcome us back to their Nuuanu Mansion and Temple and will do their best again to make the evening memorable.

This event is well known for bringing together the diverse arms of our vegetarian community, including animal rights activists, environmentalists, health vegetarians, ethical vegetarians, and people of various religious groups. We are the Honolulu Vegetarian Family.

Millions of people across the U.S. are celebrating Thanksgiving in this way. “Gentle Thanksgiving” is a program of FARM (Farm Animal Reform Movement). People use mock meats, substitute a few ingredients, and bingo, Thanksgiving has been made Gentle. Baked yams, cranberry sauce, corn, and peas were always whole vegan fare, and, with a small change to the ingredients list, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the stuffing, and the pie become that also. (Some of us have already said goodbye to the mock meats.)

Vegans, vegetarians, their friends and families, and anyone else interested in a healthy holiday meal are welcome at our Thanksgiving Eve Dinner just as the VSH welcomes nonmembers to its free monthly lectures. The cooks at Govinda’s never disappoint, and, with their family-style table arrangements, you are likely to make some new friends.

As always, the buffet meal will be cruelty-free, healthy, low-fat, and vegan. No hydrogenated oils, no MSG, no preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors will be used. The ingredients will be organic wherever possible, and the traditional fare will be nearly entirely homemade.