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Charity Walk returns to help Maui Nui non-profits

By Staff | Jul 30, 2021

The Charity Walk’s Maui County chair is Westin Nanea Ocean Villas General Manager Chris Rabang.

WAILUKU — The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) is pleased to announce that after having to cancel the 2020 Visitor Industry Charity Walk due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event is back this year and completely online.

Instead of a physical event as has been held in the past, the 2021 Visitor Industry Charity Walk will be launched on a digital platform that participants and donors can download on their mobile devices.

Walkers will have a two week “Walk Window” to track their steps and keep connected to the event.

From Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, online “walkers” will be able to see their progress on a virtual map, as well as take part in fun challenges and be eligible to win prizes, including the grand prize trip to Anaheim, CA.

For more information, and to register and/or donate, just text MAUI to 71777.

The Charity Walk’s Maui County chair two years running is Westin Nanea Ocean Villas General Manager Chris Rabang.

“Our non-profits really depend on these Charity Walk funds, but last year the industry was shut down and there was a statewide decision to hold off on the event in 2020,” Rabang said.

“This year we can go back to our industry giving our community a helping hand, and we are very happy to do so again.” In 2019, Maui County raised $1.3 million for community non-profits through the Charity Walk event.

For the last ten years, Maui has raised more money than any other county statewide, and more money per capita since 1981.

“Chris and I were both born and raised on Maui, and giving back to the community means helping people we know, so it is a great pleasure to be able to do this,” said MHLA Executive Director Rod Antone.

“Charity Walk funds will benefit up to 100 local non-profits in Maui County, including MEO, the Maui Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters and many more.”

“While we could not hold the event during the pandemic, the visitor industry gave as much as we could to our non-profits before shutting down our operations, including handing out food, bedding, cleaning materials, masks and other resources.”

The Charity Walk is one of the largest fundraising events in Hawaii. Statewide in 2019, over $2.6 million was raised via walks held on Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association started hosting the event in 1980, Maui County has raised a cumulative total of $14.2 million, benefitting hundreds of nonprofit organizations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

All funds raised on Maui remain in Maui County to benefit the local community and its residents.

MHLA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the visitor industry. The organization also provides educational opportunities via the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism and scholarships for UH Maui College students, and MHLA benefits the community via the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Excellence in Education golf tournament and Kupuna Dinner.

Nonprofit grant applications are still available for nonprofit organizations that want to participate and receive funding from the Charity Walk. They can be found online at www.charitywalkhawaii.org/maui.

Additional information can be received by e-mailing info@mauihla.org or calling MHLA at 244-8625.