By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– Dust off your walking “slippahs” and get ready to walk the longest buffet line
during a fun-filled day at the 34th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk!
Under the theme “Put Your Best Slippah Forward,” the Charity Walk will take place by island on the following dates:
– Molokai and Lanai on May 5 (already occurred)
– Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island on May 12
– Oahu on May 19
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is sponsored by the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) in partnership with Hawaii’s lodging industry, numerous other travel partners, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and KCCN FM 100. This year’s chairman is Jerry Gibson, area vice president and managing director, Hilton Hawaii.
Proceeds benefit a variety of local charities each year, with the monies raised staying on each island. Last year more than 10,950 walkers statewide raised a record- breaking $1,155,100!
“The Charity Walk had an enormous showing of support in 2011 and we are ready to do it again this year,” said Mufi Hannemann, president & CEO of the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association. “We strongly believe in supporting our local community while having fun at the same time.”
On Oahu, Hawaiian 105 KINE radio host Billy V. will be the honorary chairperson. The 6-mile Walk begins at Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion at 7 a.m. and continues through Waikiki, along the Ala Wai Canal, through Waikiki Beach Walk and finishes back at McCoy Pavilion.
Walkers will be treated to ono foods such as Kalua pig sliders, spam musubis and DoubleTree by Hilton Alana’s famous chocolate chip cookies. There will also be live entertainment as walkers munch their way through 18 checkpoints.
At the finish, participants will enjoy a tasty plate lunch by Sheraton Hotels Waikiki. Adding to the festivities will be the music of Kalaeloa and Hawaiian Slice.
Since its inception in 1978, the Charity Walk has raised over $23 million for Hawaii’s charities.
Event participation is open to all, not just lodging industry employees. For more information and walker applications, visit www.charitywalkhawaii.org andwww.hawaiilodging.org or call the Charity Walk representative on your island.
Oahu: Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association – (808) 923-0407
Maui/Lanai/Molokai: Maui Hotel & Lodging Association – (808) 244-8625
Hawaii Island: Bambi Lau, Hilton Waikoloa Village (808) 886-2884 or
Freddy Lau, Kingsland by Hilton Grand Vacation Club (808) 881-3065
Kauai: Denise Wardlow or Julie Pavao, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas (808) 827-8726