2014 Charity Walk Raises $863,542 for Maui County

2011 Maui Visitor Industry Chairty Walk, courtesy file photo.

By Wendy Osher

The Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk held in Wailuku on Saturday raised $767,495, according to preliminary figures released by event organizers.

When combined with walks on Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi, preliminary totals indicate the annual event raised $863,542 for Maui County, according to information released by Maui Hotel & Lodging Association Executive Director, Lisa Paulson.

“Today was an amazing day of the community coming together to raise funds for Maui County, enjoy time with friends, wonderful entertainment, good food and fantastic prizes. The Maui community has once again surpassed their generosity and raised more funds than any other year in the 36-year history of the Charity Walk on Maui; and most importantly, all monies raised on Maui, stays in Maui County,” said Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association in an press release.

“Our ability to provide for Maui’s non-profits is a direct reflection of the integrity & philanthropic conviction of the visitor industry. Maui has always done it in extraordinary fashion – our island continues to raise more funds per capita than any other island in Hawaiʻi,” Paulson said.

A total of 3,196 walkers participated in the Maui event, with a majority of participants comprised of visitor industry workers, non-profit agencies, and business representatives.

The individual raising the most funds this year was Randall Desloover of the SPCA Maui who raised $28,582; the most funds raised by a business was the Bank of Hawaiʻi with $11,349; the most funds raised by a non-profit was the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation with $90,008; and the most funds raised by a restaurant was Tri-Star Restaurant Group with $7,131.

The property that raised the most funds this year was the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa which brought in $25,888.  The property that raised the most per capita was Maui Condo & Home Vacations, which brought in $316.40 per employee.

A complete list of top fundraisers for the event this year are listed below in various categories:

Individual Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Randall Desloover, SPCA Maui: $28,582
• 2nd Place: Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services: $21,820
• 3rd Place: Dan Williams, Basketball Maui: $12,100

Business Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Bank of Hawaii: $11,349
• 2nd Place: VIP Foodservice: $4,374
• 3rd Place: Maui Vacation Rental Association: $3,808

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation: $90,008
• 2nd Place: Maui High Band Boosters: $56,000
• 3rd Place: Hale Makua: $55,000

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee:

• 1st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $316.40/employee
• 2nd Place: Kahana Falls: $241.38/employee
• 3rd Place: Aston Mahana at Kaanapali: $95.64/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: $25,888
• 2nd Place: Grand Wailea Resort & Spa: $22,000
• 3rd Place: Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas: $21,025

Restaurant Raising the Most Funds:

• 1st Place: Tri-Star Restaurant Group: $7,131

The next Maui Charity Walk is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 9, 2015.