Visitor Industry Charity Walk Breaks Fundraising Goal

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The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association celebrated 38 years of giving back to the community in grand style with its annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday, May 14. A notable 2,595 walkers gathered at the War Memorial Soccer Field for an amazing and fun-filled morning of exercise, camaraderie, good food, great prizes and fabulous entertainment. At the end of the day, an impressive total of $974,773 was raised on Maui, $213,612 more than last year! The week prior, MHLA hosted walks on Molokai and Lanai bringing in $40,356* and $18,254* respectively for a GRAND TOTAL for Maui County of $1,033,383.

Participants in the Walk include visitor industry workers, non-profit agencies and business representatives. Many of these hard working walkers begin their fundraising efforts months prior to the event by collecting pledges, hosting bake sales, chili & stew cook-offs, benefit luaus, car washes, golf tournaments, tug-of- war competitions, a kick-ball tournament, even dunking booths and concerts.

The Grand Wailea Resort & Spa took top honors for the property bringing in the most with $48,281.

Bank of Hawaii was the business who raised the most at $15,750. Winning the award for non-profit raising the most was West Side Hoops who collected $91,730. Top individual fundraiser was Mitch Mitchell of Hale Makua who collected $31,175. Property raising the most per capita was Maui Condo & Home Vacations at $590.00 per employee. And for the fourth year in a row Tri-Star Restaurant Group took first place in raising $6,400 for the restaurant category.

Top fundraisers include:

Individual Raising the Most Funds:

1 st Place: Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services: $31,175

2 nd Place: Dan Williams, Westside Hoops: $20,710

3 rd Place: Shane Cunanen, Westside Hoops: $15,755

Business Raising the Most Funds:

1 st Place: Bank of Hawaii: $15,750

2 nd Place: Maui Vacation Rental Association: $11,050

3 rd Place: VIP Food Service: $6,045

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:

1 st Place: Westside Hoops: $91,730

2 nd Place: Hale Makua Health Services: $86,513

3 rd Place: Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation: $54,072

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee:

1 st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $590/employee

2 nd Place: Kahana Falls: $255/employee

3 rd Place: Montage Kapalua Bay: $124/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds:

1 st Place: Grand Wailea Resort & Spa: $48,281

2 nd Place: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: $35,296

3 rd Place: Montage Kapalua Bay: $32,462

Restaurant Raising the Most Funds:

1 st Place: Tri-Star Restaurant Group: $6,400

“Today was a beautiful 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 shown their generosity, volunteerism and compassion in raising funds for 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. “Our ability to provide for Maui’s non-profits is a direct reflection of the integrity & philanthropic conviction of the visitor industry. I set a goal of one million two years ago and today we surpassed that goal. This community is so strong and committed to caring for everyone – our island continues to raise more funds per capita than any other island in Hawaii.”

The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is a statewide event that takes place on Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. The Charity Walk is one of Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraiser with thousands of walkers and typically raises almost $2 million annually to benefit charity. Funds will continue to roll in throughout this month. Final amounts raised will be announced at the Charity Walk Reception on August 10.

Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – Saturday, May 13, 2017.

For additional information, please contact the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org .

Maui Hotel and Lodging Association Charity Walk 2016. Courtesy photo.

Maui Hotel and Lodging Association Charity Walk 2016. Courtesy photo.

Maui Hotel and Lodging Association Charity Walk 2016. Courtesy photo.

Maui Hotel and Lodging Association Charity Walk 2016. Courtesy photo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSfN8QSkTY