44th Maui Charity Walk Raises Over $1 Mil For The 7th Year

WAILUKU, MAUI – (May 6, 2023) The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) celebrated its 44th year of giving back to the community with the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday, May 6. Over 1,700 walkers registered for the War Memorial Event of fun-filled early morning exercise, ‘ono breakfast and delights, giveaway prizes, and local entertainment, including band, NuffSedd. An impressive total of $1,215,700 was raised so far, surpassing the previous year and continuing the 7^th year of breaking $1 million for Maui County’s communities.

Participating walkers included visitor industry employees, non-profit agencies, business representatives and even some hotel property guests. Organizations began their fundraising efforts months before the event by collecting pledges from friends, family, and neighbors hosting night club events, spa specials, bake sales, dinners, canine contests, golf tournaments and more.

The Westin Maui took top honors for hotel properties with $75,923.68 in donations received. AMP Restaurants was the business that raised the most at $13,849. Winning the award in the non-profit category was the team at Feed My Sheep, which collected $150,410.

Overall top fundraisers include:

Non-profit Raising the Most Funds:

•1st Place: Feed My Sheep $150,410

•2nd Place: Hale Kau Kau $105,168.04

•3rd Place: Maui Economic Opportunity $93,993.40

Business Raising the Most Funds:

•1st Place: AMP Restaurants $13,849

•2nd Place: VIP Foodservice $12,716.67

•3rd Place: Fukumoto Engineering $2,989.38

Property Raising the Most Funds:

•1st Place: Westin Maui $75,923.68

•2nd Place: Grand Wailea Maui $60,660

•3rd Place: Hyatt Regency Maui $31,291.51

“Every year our amazing community comes together to raise funds for Maui County and it never fails to impress. Maui again has raised more funds per capita than any other island in Hawaii. It is always so good to have everyone encouraging each other’s goals, enjoying the day together and supporting our nonprofits,” said Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. “All monies raised today stay in Maui County and it’s beautiful to see Maui take care of our own. Maui’s visitor industry has again shown its generous aloha spirit in this fundraising success.”

The Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraising events in Hawaii, with walks held on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, and Maui and raising over $2 million annually to benefit charity. This marks the 14^th year of Maui raising more money than any other county in Hawaii. Funds will continue to be received throughout this month. The final amounts raised will be announced in summer.

Photo credits: Maui Photohub and Hawaii Media Collective

PhotoCaption: Check Presentation at Charity Walk: Mayor Richard Bissen, Chairman Michael Pye – GM of Fairmont Kea Lani , Lisa Paulson – Executive Director of MHLA, Shane Kahalehau of KPOA.

Full album available HERE.