2017 Maui County Charity Walk Exceeds $1 Million Goal

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association’s 39th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised a final total of $1,212,066, exceeding their one-million-dollar goal for a second year.

Charity top non-profit agencies recognized (l-r): Denise Thayer, Hale Makua;
Genevieve Ruvald, Westside Hoops; Lisa Paulson, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; Lisa
Varde, Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

Held earlier this year, the events on Maui, Molokai and Lanai under the jurisdiction of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association drew over 3,000 walkers.

While it was preliminarily reported immediately after island walks in May that Maui County raised $1,159,053, funds have continued to roll in, culminating in today’s grand total announcement.

• The breakdowns of results by island include: $1,134,642 on Maui; $34,109 on Molokaʻi; and $43,315 on Lānaʻi.

In a special Charity Reception held at the Maui Beach Hotel today, Aug. 10, more than 100 non-profit 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: $48,325
2nd Place: Genevieve Ruvald, Westside Hoops: $45,200
3rd Place: Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services: $31,175

Business Raising the Most Funds:
1st Place: Bank of Hawaiʻi: $12,454
2nd Place: Maui Vacation Rental Association: $10,277
3rd Place: VIP Food Service: $4,423

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:
1st Place: Westside Hoops: $109,570
2nd Place: Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation $84,523
3rd Place: Hale Makua Health Services: $81,955

Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee:
1st Place: Maui Condo & Home Vacations: $360/employee
2nd Place: Kahana Falls: $260/employee
3rd Place: Maui Beach Hotel: $136/employee

Property Raising the Most Funds:
1st Place: Grand Wailea Resort & Spa: $54,000
2nd Place: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: $32,848
3rd Place: Marriott Maui Ocean Club: $20,330

Restaurant Raising the Most Funds:
1st Place: Tri-Star Restaurant Group: $6,500

The Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraising events in Hawaiʻi. Statewide, in 2017 over a $2.2 million was raised via walks held on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, the Big Island, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. Maui continues to raise more dollars per capita than any other island; and for the eighth 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 $11.6 million, benefiting hundreds of non-profit organizations on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. And most importantly, all the funds raised on Maui, remains in Maui County to benefit the local community and its residents.

The annual 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. “We are thrilled to have surpassed the one-million- dollar mark for the second year in a row. The additional funds enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to 112 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.

Next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk is scheduled to take place May 5, 2018 on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi and May 12, 2018 on Maui.