The winning team (in 19th place), Honua Kai Resort & Spa/HI Care & Cleaning Inc., was comprised of (from left): Steve Aheong, Carlo Antiado, Jeramiah Kamaunu and Claudio Andrade.

WAILUKU – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association’s 19th annual “Excellence in Education presented by Southern Wine & Spirits of Hawaii” golf tournament took place on Aug. 21 at the Maui Nui Golf Course. The sold-out event raised $22,000 to support youth scholarships

While the top teams took home some great prizes, the real winners of the event are Maui’s youth. The popular visitor industry event celebrated 19 years of giving back to Maui’s future business leaders by raising significant scholarship funding to the following programs: Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Academies at Baldwin, Lahainaluna and Maui High School; University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts and Hospitality & Tourism Programs; MHLA Member Scholarship Program; and Maui Junior Golf.

“The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is committed to giving back to the community, and one of those ways is by providing scholarship opportunities to Maui County’s future business leaders,” said Lisa Paulson, executive director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.

“We are thrilled that we are able to raise much-needed scholarship funds to invest in our youth.”

The top teams received prizes ranging from hotel stays to dining certificates to golf rounds to merchandise. The team that placed 19th, Honua Kai Resort & Spa/HI Care & Cleaning, received special honors and noted as the “winning” team – a tribute to the 19th annual event.

Top ten finishers include: 1) Sunshine Helicopters; 2) Meadow Gold Dairies; 3) The Ing Law Firm; 4) Ordonez Electric; 5) Kaanapali Beach Hotel; 6) Chris Suzuki & Friends; 7) Monsanto; 8) Oceanic Time Warner Cable; 9) KONE Elevators & Escalators; 10) Enterprise Rent A Car.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the visitor industry. For additional information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org.