Cyclists round their way toward Lahaina during last year’s Pedal Imua.

KAHULUI — Imua Family Services announced plans for its fifth annual Pedal Imua, the organization’s yearly 60-mile Gran Fondo cycling event that takes participants on a journey around the entirety of West Maui.

Though named as one of the 10 Best Rides in the World by Bicycle Magazine, the significance of this year’s event reaches far beyond the beautiful coastal scenery due to the tragic wildfires that devastated Maui earlier this year.

Pedal Imua raises funds for Dream Imua, a decades-old program that grants child-directed “dream” days to children in crisis or who have experienced life-altering circumstances.

Registration is now open at discoverimua.com/pedal.

The Pedal Imua Committee alerts motorists to be aware of cyclists on the road on Saturday, Dec. 2, leaving from Imua Discovery Garden in Wailuku and looping around the West Maui Mountains.

Organizers anticipate over 100 cyclists beginning their ride at 7 a.m., with organizers expecting all participants to complete the course by noon. Cyclists will be traveling on the right side of the highway and following the rules of the road. Please share the road and encourage them on their long trek!

This year, Imua Family Services welcomes title sponsor Athletic Brewing Company. Through generous support like theirs, participants in the 60-mile benefit ride will end their ride under the sprawling shade of Imua Discovery Garden’s massive monkey-pod trees to enjoy breakfast, giveaways and the aloha spirit. The public is welcome to join in the festivities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Our Dream Imua program goes far beyond wish fulfillment. While each individual Dream is child-directed, a major component of the program is to expose families to supportive organizations and resources right here on Maui,” said Executive Director Dean Wong. “We anticipate this year will be the most demanding that Dream Imua has ever had, and we applaud the cycling community for their support, especially as many of them have been impacted personally by the recent fires.”

Pedal Imua sponsors include Athletic Brewing Company, Minit Medical, Maui Health, Odom Corporation, Stable Road Foundation, Alaska Airlines, Pacific Media Group, Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union, Baur Pacific Builders, Lauf Cycles, Deep Relief/Peak Performance, Hammer Nutrition, Krank Cycles, Maui Cyclery, West Maui Cycles, Maui Sunriders Bike Company, Gravel Worlds, Maui Bicycle League and Aloha State Bicycle Racing.