By Vanessa Wolf

‘Umalu Restaurant’s Volcano Seared Ahi. Courtesy image.

Throughout October, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is featuring pink food and drink specials – as well as a special paddle event – to benefit Susan G. Komen Hawaii and its battle against breast cancer.

“Pink” offerings for the month of October include:

• Japengo restaurant will donate $1 for every pink Kazoo Roll (sake, mango, avocado, shiso leaf-crushed pistachio – soy wrap) sold to Susan G. Komen Hawaii.
• Poolside ‘Umalu restaurant will offer a special “Pink Menu” featuring items including a Strawberry Smoothie ($7), Lavender-Strawberry Cheesecake ($10), and Volcano Seared Ahi ($20), with a portion of proceeds from sales going to Susan G. Komen Hawaii.
• Son’z Steakhouse will offer a special beet salad, with $1 donated to Susan G. Komen Hawaii for every purchase.
• Select pink items will be available at the Pool Desk for purchase, with $1 of proceeds from each purchase going to Susan G. Komen Hawaii.
• Throughout the month of October, the resort will feature pink Susan G. Komen Promise bracelets for guests to purchase for $2, with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen.

In addition, the resort is holding its inaugural Maui Paddle for a Cure.

Presented in partnership with The Butterfly Effect, on Saturday, October 25, Maui Paddle for a Cure will take place starting at Hanakao’o Beach Park (Canoe Beach).

From 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., locals and visitors 18 years and older are invited to SUP, kayak or canoe from Canoe Beach to Whaler’s Village and back (approximately two miles), all to benefit the cause.

You’ll no doubt have worked up an appetite and the Hyatt will host an after party and silent auction at Sunset Terrace.

Featuring gourmet food and drink specials and a performance by Anuhea, the party is limited to 500 attendees.

For those that register prior to October 25, participation in the paddle event is $65 per person, $220 per four-person team, and $300 for a six-person team, and includes a pink rash guard (for first 200 participants), a goodie bag filled with surprises, admission to after party, and the chance to win a door prize.

After-party-only tickets can be purchased for $25 per person and those 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The Butterfly Effect is a worldwide movement hinged on empowering and inspiring athletic women to grow together as a community and to use their collective drive to give back to local charities. It began on Maui in 2007, has since held 30 events in 15 countries and is nominated for the Top Philanthropic Effort in the 2014 SUP Awards.

Susan G. Komen states that their mission is to “to save lives and end breast cancer forever.”

The Hawaii Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, established in 1999, helps raise money to fund screening, treatment and prevention for underserved and uninsured women of Hawaii, and to provide breast cancer education. To date, SGK Hawaii has funded locally over $3,400,000.00 for breast health and breast cancer education, screening and treatment throughout the state of Hawaii.