When organizations serving food at the state's Next Step shelter in Kaka'ako were informed they would need to prepare their meals in state certified kitchens, the homeless shelter saw a sharp dropoff in food donations.

Many who wanted to help feed the needy just couldn't find access to kitchens certified by the state, a requirement to prepare food offered for sale.

The added strain prompted those involved in the shelter to petition for an exemption to the rule that governs retail and wholesale operations that store, handle and serve food.

Yesterday, Gov. Linda Lingle signed an emergency exemption to the rule that will last 120 days while the state seeks a permanent administrative change.

"You are now permitted to serve our homeless brothers and sisters from your homes and from wherever else you prepare your food because I know you only prepare scrumptious and nutritious food for our brothers and sisters," said Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona at a press conference announcing the exemption.

"The way I see this change, it's phenomenal. I think we're going to see the effects of it in the next months to come," said Dallas Carter, the campus minister at St. Joseph School in Waipahu and the Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pearl City.

Carter sees this as a way for community-based groups to help with basic needs like food and clothing, freeing government agencies to concentrate on long-term solutions such as job placement and housing.

Health Director Chiyome Fukino said that while the state's sanitation rules are important to protect the public from illnesses, "we also realize they can be an obstacle for organizations that want to prepare food for those without a place to live, sleep, cook and the means to purchase food."

If they want to offer only food to the homeless at no cost, then these organizations can receive an exemption from the regulations that apply to other retail and wholesale food operations.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.