MHLA’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk Raises Over $800,000

Visitor Industry Charity Walk nonprofit agencies recognized (left to right): Declan McCarthy, 2015 Charity Walk chairman; Denise Thayer, Hale Makua; Lisa Paulson, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; Genevieve Ruvald, Westside Hoops; and Lisa Varde of Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association raised $863,268 for Maui County during its 37th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk.  

Held earlier this year, the events on Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i under the jurisdiction of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association drew 2,285 walkers. Preliminarily reports after island walks in May indicated that Maui County raised $800,000, but funds have continued to roll in, culminating in today’s grand total announcement.

The breakdowns of results by island are as follows:

• Maui – $821,520
• Molokai – $17,029
• Lāna‘i – $24,719

In a special reception held at the Mākena Beach & Golf Resort last night, Aug. 12, over 100 nonprofit organizations were honored in appreciation of their participation in the annual event, which emphasizes and validates the visitor industry’s commitment to the community. In addition, the following fundraisers were recognized for their top fundraising efforts:

Individual Raising the Most Funds

1st Place: Dan Williams, Westside Hoops: $17,220

2nd Place: Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services: $14,790

3rd Place: Peter Tierney, SPCA Maui: $13,387

Business Raising the Most

1st Place: Bank of Hawai‘i: $9,998

2nd Place: Maui Vacation Rental Association: $9,170

3rd Place: Enterprise, Alamo, National Rent a Car: $3,810

Nonprofit Raising the Most Funds

1st Place: Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation: $96,059

2nd Place: Hale Makua Health Services: $47,844

3rd Place: Westside Hoops: $36,026

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee

1st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $561.50/employee

2nd Place: Kahana Falls: $248.28/employee

3rd Place: Aston Mahana at Kaanapali: $155.05/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds

1st Place: Grand Wailea Resort & Spa: $33,634

2nd Place: Makena Beach & Golf Resort: $24,182

3rd Place: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: $23,482

Restaurant Raising the Most Funds

1st Place: Tri-Star Restaurant Group: $8,000

The charity walk is one of the largest single-day fundraising events in Hawai‘i. Statewide, in 2015 over a $1.8 million were raised via walks held on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i.

Maui continues to raise more dollars per capita than any other island; and for the sixth year in a row raised more money than any other island in the state.

Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association started hosting the event in 1980, Maui County has raised a cumulative total of $9.3 million, benefitting hundreds of nonprofit organizations on Maui, Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i. All of the funds raised on Maui, remains in Maui County to benefit the local community & its residents.

The annual Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk is the visitor industry’s way of giving back to the community. Many MHLA property and business members work year-round to raise funds for this worthy endeavor.

“Our industry remains committed to providing for and positively impacting the lives of our residents of Maui County,” says Lisa Paulson, executive director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. “This year, we are thrilled to have raised a significant amount of funds which has enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to over 100 worthy Maui County organizations. The range of services of these recipients touches many residents’ lives from children to the elderly, from athletic organizations to service-related agencies; from health to housing.”

MHLA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the Visitor Industry. The organization also provides educational opportunities via the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism and scholarships for UH Maui College students; and benefits the community via the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Excellence in Education golf tournament and Kupuna Dinner.  

For additional information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or send an email.

Next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk is scheduled for May 7, 2016, on Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i and May 14, 2016 on Maui.