August 2025 — Diamond Head Theatre is proud to kick off its 2025–2026 season with the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Come From Away — a heart-lifting, true story about the power of community during one of the darkest moments in modern history. In a powerful connection between real life and storytelling, the cast recently met with Honolulu chef Vikram Garg, whose extraordinary experience in Gander, Newfoundland, helped inspire a character in the show.
On September 11, 2001, as the world reeled from the terrorist attacks, 38 commercial flights carrying approximately 6,600 passengers and crew were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, after U.S. airspace was abruptly closed. The arrival of thousands of stranded travelers nearly doubled the population of this small town overnight.
Chef Garg was among them.
At the time, he was traveling alone from the Caribbean to Frankfurt for work with Rosewood Resorts. His wife, who worked for Lufthansa, was not with him. As he told the cast, the confusion and uncertainty of that day was overwhelming:
“We were told mid-flight that we were being diverted. Hours later, we finally deplaned at 1:30 a.m., in complete darkness. None of us knew what had happened or what to expect.”
With no access to their luggage, passengers were brought to emergency shelters in local schools and gyms. They slept on cots, used group showers, and relied entirely on the kindness of the Gander community — who responded instantly with open hearts and extraordinary generosity.
One of the biggest challenges quickly became clear: how to feed thousands of people, three times a day, with limited supplies and no commercial infrastructure.
“It was daunting for everyone — passengers, crew, and the volunteers. That’s when I stepped forward to help lead the kitchen efforts,” Garg explained.
With his background in hospitality, he became instrumental in organizing the food operation. Working with available ingredients like eggs, cod, fruits, and vegetables, he helped plan and prepare meals — ensuring thousands of people were fed every single day.
“We cooked with whatever we could find — we made it work. It wasn’t fancy, but it came from the heart.”
And it wasn’t just the volunteers in shelters who showed up with generosity. Local businesses across Gander opened their doors and gave freely.
“Wherever you went — whether to pick up supplies, grab a toothbrush, or even to have a beer — no one would take your money,” Garg recalled. “Business owners simply provided for all. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.”
Before the passengers left, the town hosted a farewell barbecue — a final celebration of life, generosity, and the deep bonds that had formed over just a few days.
Though personally invited to stay with the mayor of Gander, Garg chose to remain in the gym with the rest of the passengers.
“I wanted to stay with everyone. We had gone through this together — that shared experience brought us close.”
When asked what message he hoped the Come From Away cast would carry into their performances, Garg offered a powerful and deeply human insight:
“This is what humanity looks like at ground zero in an international crisis — when you’re completely alone, uncertain, and vulnerable. No one has anything except who they are. It didn’t matter the color of your skin, your nationality, or whether you were rich or poor. Everyone becomes equal.”
Though he has not seen Come From Away live, watching the filmed version was so emotional, it took him three days to get through it.
Now, thanks to his visit, the cast at Diamond Head Theatre brings a deeper connection and emotional truth to the story — helping Hawai‘i audiences feel just how real, and how powerful, Come From Away truly is.
Come From Away opens soon at Diamond Head Theatre.
Don’t miss this unforgettable season opener — a story that proves that even in the darkest moments, kindness takes flight.
Tickets available at diamondheadtheatre.com
