Last year, more than 3,000 walkers participated in the Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk at War Memorial Soccer Field.

WAILUKU – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) is celebrating 39 years of giving back to the community with its annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday, May 13, at the War Memorial Soccer Field.

Last year, over 3,000 walkers gathered at War Memorial Soccer Field for an amazing and fun-filled morning of exercise, camaraderie, good food, great prizes and fabulous entertainment. At the end of the day, a new fundraising total of $1,095,455 was raised in Maui County to benefit 101 nonprofit organizations.

Kick-off events are held throughout the islands to allow participants a chance to learn more about the event, how it works and to pickup their packet, which includes information on the charity walk, walker forms, posters, shells and flyers – everything needed to promote and collect funds for the charity walk.

This year’s kick-off events will be held on Monday, March 6, at 10 a.m. at the Grand Wailea; Tuesday, March 7, at 10 a.m. at The Westin Maui; Wednesday, March 8, at 11 a.m. on Lanai; Thursday, March 9, at 10 a.m. at Maui Beach Hotel; and Friday, March 10, at 11 a.m. on Molokai at Hotel Molokai.

Register by e-mailing info@mauihla.org or calling 244-8625. Charity walk participation forms can be found at mauihla.org/charity-walk/.

“This year, we are hoping to raise even more than last year, which has enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to 101 worthy Maui County nonprofit organizations,” said Lisa Paulson, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.

“We are already seeing a lot more competition among many of our business sectors, creating competitions within their own groups. This should prove to be an exciting year; we are hoping to show the state that Maui No Ka ‘Oi!”

For additional information, contact the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org, or visit their website at www.mauihla.org.