Maui County Charity Walk Raises $1.2 Million

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association celebrated 41 years of giving back to the community with its annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday, May 11. Over 2,400 walkers gathered at the War Memorial Soccer Field for an amazing and fun-filled morning of exercise, good food, great prizes and fabulous entertainment. At the end of the day, an impressive total of $1,123,209 was raised on Maui alone – breaking the million-dollar mark for the third time. The week prior, MHLA hosted walks on Molokai and Lanai bringing in $23,311 and $62,214 respectively for a GRAND TOTAL for Maui County of $1,208,302.

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 Hyatt Regency Maui took top honors for the property bringing in the most with $35,790. PWC Hawaii was the business who raised the most at $5,701. Winning the award for non-profit raising the most was Na Hoaloha who collected $72,430. Top individual fundraiser was Dr. Mary Trotto of Hale Kau Kau who collected $36,159. Property raising the most per capita was Maui Condo and Home at $436 per employee.

Top fundraisers include:

Individual Raising the Most Funds:

1st Place: Dr. Mary Trotto, Hale Kau Kau: $36,159

2nd Place: Joyce Kawakami, Feed My Sheep: $32,819

3rd Place: Dan Williams, West Side Hoops: $28,800

Business Raising the Most Funds:

1st Place: PWC Hawaii: $5,701

2nd Place: VIP Food Service: $5,465

3rd Place: SGS Landscaping: $4,000

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:

1st Place: Na Hoaloha: $72,430

2nd Place: Hale Makua $63,610

3rd Place: West Side Hoops: $55,827

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee:

1st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $436/employee

2nd Place: Kahana Falls: $262/employee

3rd Place: Wailea Point Village AOAO: $144/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds:

1st Place: Hyatt Regency Maui: $35,790

2nd Place: Grand Wailea: $30,461

3rd Place: Ka’anapali Beach Hotel: $24,316

“Today was an amazing day of the community coming together to raise funds for Maui County, enjoying time with friends, 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 philanthropic conviction of the visitor industry. 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 Hawaii Island. The Charity Walk is one of Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraiser with thousands of walkers and raises over $2 million annually to benefit charity. Funds will continue to be received throughout this month. Final amounts raised will be announced at the Charity Walk Reception in August.

Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – Saturday, May 9, 2020.

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

Charity Walk Check Presentation, (L-R): Tetsuji Yamazaki, Maui County Charity Walk Chair and GM at The Sheraton Maui; Lisa Paulson, MHLA Executive Director; Maui Mayor Mike Victorino; Shane Kahalehau, KPOA. Photo Credit: Pacific Dream Photography

Charity Walk Walkers at the starting line. Photo Credit: Pacific Dream Photography.