Members of the Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve team receive a donation from the Board of Directors of Kapalua Maui Charities; pictured (from left) are: front — Makale‘a Ane, Nancy Cross, Pomaika‘i Kaniaupio-Crozier, Karin Sagar, Kainoa Pestana and Kekoa Range; second row — Garrett Anchetta, Hookahi Alves, Mike Kass, Richard Holtzman, Alex Nakajima and Paul Subrata.

KAPALUA – The Board of Kapalua Maui Charities, the oversight body for the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival, announced a record amount of charitable donations on behalf of their 2018 event.

A longtime charitable beneficiary, the University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts Program, was awarded a $10,000 donation to assist with scholarships for deserving students and Maui’s rising culinary stars. This represents another record donation on behalf of the event to the culinary program, which has been the main event beneficiary for many years.

Additionally, this year the board approved adding several new charities as beneficiaries that directly benefit the West Maui community, including:

Puu Kukui Watershed-Living Pono Project ($10,000), for preservation efforts on behalf of the Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve, home to some of the rarest endangered flora and fauna in the islands. This pristine area is a vital water source for Maui?s community and one of the wettest spots on Earth.

Hui O Wa’a Kaulua ($2,000) – The hui is overseeing the renovation of Mo’olele, Hawaii’s first double-hull, single-mast sailing canoe built in 1975 and used for education of youth on Maui on historical sailing techniques and practices.

Theatre Theatre Maui ($2,000) – TTM provides a full spectrum of hands-on theatre experiences for the children and adults of the West Maui community while also cultivating and nurturing local artists in the production of their original works.

Boys & Girls Club of Lahaina ($2,000) inspires and enables all young people, especially those who need the club the most, to realize their full potential to become productive, responsible and caring citizens.

Lahaina Complex After School Tutoring Program ($2,000) provides much-needed free tutoring to West Maui’s public school students. ?

Lahaina Strong ($2,000), for recovery and relief assistance for victims of Hurricane Lane impacts.

President of Kapalua Maui Charities, Richard Holtzman, commented, “We are pleased to provide ongoing financial assistance to support the University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts Program, Puu Kukui-The Living Pono Project, a critical entity for water preservation based here in the backyard of our own Kapalua Resort, and several other entities that support culture, education and community in West Maui.

“The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival is one of the resort’s signature annual events, and we are thrilled that this year we were able to significantly increase our donations to several very worthy Maui causes.”

Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve Conservation Manager Pomaika’i Kaniaupio-Crozier stated, “This generous donation will help us in our efforts to conserve the critical water source and bio-diversity of the watershed for generations to come.”

The 2019 festival is scheduled for June 6-9, and tickets are projected to be on sale after Jan. 15, 2019, with kama’aina tickets offered for a limited time.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.kapaluawineandfoodfestival.com.