39th Annual Charity Walk Final Tally

Visitor Industry Gives Back $1,212,066 to the Maui County Community

WAILUKU, MAUI – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association has announced its Charity Walk final amount raised for Maui County during the 39th Annual Visitor Industry Charity which broke records across the State and exceeded their one-million- dollar goal for a second year by reaching an impressive $1,212,066. 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.

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.

The breakdowns of results by island are as follows:

• Maui - $1,134,642
• Molokai - $34,109
• Lanai - $43,315

In a special Charity Reception held at the Maui Beach Hotel today, August 10, over 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 Hawaii: $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 Hawaii. Statewide, in 2017 over a $2.2 million was raised via walks held on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, Maui, Lanai and Molokai. 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, benefitting hundreds of non-profit organizations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. And most importantly, all the funds raised on Maui, remains in Maui County to benefit the local community & its residents.

The annual Charity Walk is the Visitor Industry’s way of giving back to the community. Many MHLA property & 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. For additional information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or [email protected]. Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – May 5, 2018 on Molokai and Lanai and May 12, 2018 on Maui.