Alvin Imada, Chairperson of 2013 Heart Walk and Kauwela Bisquera, Regional Director of AHA and Mayor Arakawa. Photo courtesy of County of Maui/KIT ZULUETA.
By Staff Reports
(Maui)– This year, Mayor Alan Arakawa took an unusual path to raise the funds for the annual Heart Association’s Heart Walk: he simply walked 8 miles in under 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Mayor Arakawa formed a team from Maui to join approximately 22,000 runners at the Great Aloha Run this past President’s Day in Honolulu. For the Mayor’s participation, race co-founder Carole Kai presented Mayor Arakawa a check in the amount of $3,500 which he could then donate to the charity of his choice, the American Heart Association (AHA). Mayor Arakawa presented the $3,500 check to local organizers at the opening of the 15th Annual Maui Heart Walk and Health Fair this morning at Keopuolani Park.
“We have raised about $9.6 million over the years, funds that have gone to various charities thanks to the support of our local communities,” Carole Kai said. “This year, we were very thrilled to have the participation of Mayor Arakawa and the County of Maui, and we look forward to exploring future partnerships with other neighbor islands as well.”
Mayor Alan Arakawa was the first mayor to complete the 8.15 mile route from Nimitz Highway to the Aloha Stadium. He was joined by his team, County of Maui Managing Director Keith Regan and his wife Lynn Araki-Regan, Deputy Parks Director Brianne Savage, the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Office Kit Zulueta and her partner Deron Furukawa, as well as Monsanto Hawaii’s Community and Government Affairs Manager-Maui, Carol Reimann.
“As a senior over 60, I told my team to go ahead at their own pace, but I promised to finish and meet them at the finish line,” Mayor Arakawa quipped. At the finish line at Aloha Stadium, the Mayor made a few remarks to the thousands of walkers, runners and volunteers, saying that we are “very blessed to have opportunities like this to raise monies for the non-profit community and at the same time, raise awareness about staying fit and healthy.”
The $3,500 that Mayor Arakawa and his team raised for the American Heart Association will go toward educating Maui residents how to live longer by avoiding obesity and reducing the risks of stroke and heart diseases. The donation will also allow AHA to save more lives through the distribution of innovative “CPR Anytime” kits to community partners.
“The American Heart Association is very thankful for the continued support from the County of Maui and from Mayor Arakawa,” said AHA Regional Director Kauwela Bisquera. “The Mayor went a long way – literally- to raise funds that will help change the future of heart disease and stroke on Maui.”
The County of Maui has a strong Health and Wellness Policy which includes programs like Walking on Wednesdays, Workplace Wellness Fairs and a first-time event dubbed the Mayor’s Challenge: A Healthy Adventure on Saturday, April 20th. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at 270-7855.