WAILUKU, MAUI – A shipment of 8 palettes of rice recently arrived at the Maui Food Bank’s receiving dock.Two of the palettes are earmarked for Molokai residents and the remaining will stay on Maui. Previously, half a palette of rice was given away to Lanai residents. The rice was donated by a grant from the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.In total, MHLA provided over 4,500 bags of rice for residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
“Rice
is a staple that will feed many of our residents and agencies. The Maui
Food Bank is grateful for MHLA’s generous donation during these tough
economic times,” said Richard Yust, Executive Director for the Maui
Food Bank. “The Food Bank exists to assure that no one in MauiCounty goes hungry. Thanks to MHLA for helping fulfill this mission.”
Carol Reimann (MHLA) and Richard Yust (Maui Food Bank) receive 8 palettes of rice for Maui & Molokai residents.
“One
of the Visitor Industry’s primary goals is to give back to the
community,” says Carol Reimann, MHLA Executive Director. “MHLA is
honored to give back to the residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. We hope to touch as many lives as possible.”
The
Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is a nonprofit organization
founded in 1987 to advocate for the Visitor Industry. The organization
also provides educational opportunities and scholarships, and gives
back to 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.
Posted 02/02/09
ANNUAL KUPUNA DINNER HONORS MAUI'S ELDERLY
- Visitor Industry Gives Back to the Maui County Community -
WAILUKU, MAUI – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association hosted their Annual Kupuna Dinner at the Wailuku Community Center on Thursday, December 4, 2008. This year’s holiday feast catered to 400 elderly and represents the visitor industry’s effort to give back and honor the Kupuna of Maui. Many of the guests include those who have no family to celebrate the holidays with and/or are homebound.
The Community Center was transformed into a festive “hotel-like” dining facility with fabulous entertainment and 200 door prizes. Each year, the kupuna look forward to an enjoyable evening of celebration with friends and partake in a scrumptious meal prepared by MHLA properties. Each participating hotel prepares 40 complete meals. This year’s menu included: corn chowder, fresh vegetables, rolls and butter, baked ham, steamed rice, pumpkin pie, fresh brewed coffee or tea prepared & served by the following MHLA property members:
Eleven Maui Hotel & Lodging Association hotel
properties prepared & served holiday meals for 400 senior citizens during
their Annual Kupuna Dinner held December 4, 2008
• Fairmont
Kea Lani, Maui
• Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
• Grand Wailea Resort Hotel
& Spa
• Ka'anapali Beach Hotel
• Marriott's MauiOcean
Club
• Maui Prince Hotel
• NapiliKaiBeach Resort
• Sheraton Maui
Resort
• The Westin KORV
• WaileaBeach
Marriott Resort
• The Westin Maui Resort
& Spa
In addition to the fabulous meal prepared by property members, 200 door prizes were given out throughout the evening. These prizes were generously donated by MHLA members, individual citizens and various dignitaries.
“The out pouring of support from the MHLA membership and the community for the Kupuna Dinner has been absolutely wonderful,” says Carol Reimann, Executive Director for MHLA. “All of the Kupuna walked away with a memento of the event. We are so touched to see the spirit of the giving during the holidays as we paid tribute to our Kupuna.”
Each year, MHLA partners with MEO to invite and provide transportation for the participants from the various senior clubs throughout the island. “MEO is proud to work with MHLA on this very worthy event,” says Agnes Groff, MEO’s Community Relations Liaison who coordinates the efforts of 44 senior clubs throughout Maui. “MEO has been “helping people...changing lives” for 42 years and we look forward to this Kupuna Dinner each year.”
MHLA also partnered with Maui Community College. Four MCC Hospitality and Tourism students assisted in the coordination of the event. MHLA is proud to give back to our Kupuna and provide valuable hands-on experience to our future business leaders. The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the Visitor Industry. The organization also provides educational opportunities and scholarships, and gives back to 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.
Posted: 1/8/09
RICE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
- Visitor Industry Gives Back to the Community –
WAILUKU, MAUI – The residents of Lanai were recently treated to frozen turkeys and 5-lb bags of rice for the Holidays. The Coon Family and the employees of Trilogy and Lanai City Service have been giving out turkeys on Lanai for many, many years, and when the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association heard of these philanthropic efforts, they offered to join in the spirit of giving with 5-lb bags of rice. A thousand turkeys and 500 bags of rice were handed out on November 22 to Lanai residents.
The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association will also be providing rice to Maui and Molokai residents in December through an effort with the Maui Food Bank. MHLA will pay for the rice and the Maui Food Bank will handle the distribution to families on Maui & Molokai. Nearly 3,000 bags for Maui and 1,000 bags for Molokai will line shelves of the Maui Food Bank during their especially busy holiday season.
“MHLA’s generous donation comes at a critical time for the Maui Food Bank as we are experiencing difficulties in keeping our shelves filled during this holiday period,” said Richard Yust, Executive Director for the Maui Food Bank. “The Food Bank exists to assure that no one in Maui County goes hungry. We are grateful that MHLA is helping us to fulfill this mission.”
Captain Jim Coon of Trilogy and Carol Reimann
of MHLA providing food for Lanai residents.
“It all started with Jim and Rand Coon allowing us to ride on their coattails on Lanai and now we are expanding our giving-back efforts to include the other islands of Maui County,” says Carol Reimann, MHLA Executive Director. “The Visitor Industry is honored to give back to the residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Rice is a staple for many and we hope to touch as many lives as possible during the holidays and especially during these tough economic times.”
The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the Visitor Industry. The organization also provides educational opportunities and scholarships, and gives back to 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.
