The 37th annual Charity Walk kicks off this May with statewide walks to benefit local charities. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.
By Staff Reports
(Hawaii) – The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) is encouraging everyone across the Hawaiian Islands to Put Your Best Slippah Forward this year during its statewide Charity Walk in May, which benefits hundreds of local non-profit organizations and charities.
Now in its 37th year, more than 14,000 Hawaii residents and visitors statewide are expected to turn out for a great cause as follows:
- Saturday, May 2 – Lanai and Molokai
- Saturday, May 9 – Maui and Hawaii Island
- Saturday, May 16 – Oahu and Kauai
“The Charity Walk is the hospitality industry’s signature fundraising event each year and makes incredible contributions to our local communities across the state by providing valuable funding to hundreds of worthwhile causes,” said Ben Rafter, statewide chair of the HLTA Charity Walk. “It is rewarding to see the collective efforts of Hawaii’s number one industry making a lasting difference, with more than $27 million given since the walk’s inception in 1978.”
Last year’s Charity Walk drew 14,281 walkers across the Hawaiian Islands and raised a record $1.88 million benefiting more than 200 local charities. Monies raised on each island stay on that island.
“It has been a great privilege for us to be a partner and beneficiary of the Charity Walk for more than 20 years,” said Dennis Brown, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. “The Charity Walk helps us sustain our important programs that match big brothers with little brothers and big sisters with little sisters to enable them to realize their potential in our effort to build stronger and supportive communities.”
HLTA is also putting out a call for more charities to apply for assistance and inviting them to get involved in the Charity Walk program.
“The Charity Walk offers non-profits and charities a really efficient platform and effective opportunity to raise money for their causes,” said George Szigeti, HLTA president and CEO. “All an organization needs to do is rally their supporters to participate and we do the rest of the coordination in putting on a great event. All monies raised by each organization goes back to them with a little extra provided by HLTA. It’s a win-win for everyone who gets involved.”
On Oahu, the walk has been shortened to four miles and kicks off at 7 a.m. from Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion and continues through Waikiki, along the Ala Wai Canal, through Waikiki Beach Walk and finishes back at McCoy Pavilion. Krater 96.3 HammerTime! hosts Gregg Hammer, Shawnee, and Davey D. will serve as the honorary chairs calling in live updates to the radio station’s morning show.
In addition to entertainment along the route, walkers will munch their way through 15 checkpoints, enjoying delicious grinds, such as kalua pig sliders, chocolate covered strawberries, watermelon and shave ice, fried rice, and cookies. At the McCoy Pavilion finish line, participants will be treated to hours of live entertainment.
Cost to participate is a minimum $40 donation for adults and $25 for those under 18 years old. Event parking is available at Ala Moana Center, Ward Village, and the Hawaii Convention Center on a first come, first served basis. Pets are not allowed.
In addition to HLTA, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk is sponsored by individual lodging and travel partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Summit Media Hawaii.
Since its inception in 1978, the Charity Walk has raised more than $27 million for nonprofit organizations and hundreds of smaller Hawaii’s charities such as Aloha Independent Living, Alzheimer’s Association – Aloha Chapter, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, Honolulu Zoological Society, Institute for Human Service, Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Special Olympics Hawaii, the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and many more.
Event participation is open to all, not just lodging industry employees. Follow updates about HLTA on Twitter (@HawaiiLodging) and become a fan of its Facebook page (Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association – HLTA). Also follow and use Charity Walk’s official hashtag #charitywalkhi.
For more information and walker applications, visit www.CharityWalkHawaii.org and www.HawaiiLodging.org or call the Charity Walk representative on your island:
- Statewide/Oahu – Jared Higashi, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, 808-923-0407
- Maui, Lanai, Molokai – Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, 808-244-8625
- Hawaii Island – Darren Matsumoto, Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, 808-887-7333
- Kauai – Marc Bennor, The Westin Princeville Resort Villas, Kauai Beach Resort, 808-827-8720