From left, Carlayna Nakamura and Tony Krieg of Hale Makua, Carol Reimann of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Michael Jokovich of the Hyatt Regency Maui, Donna Gomes of Hawaii Canines for Independence, and Lani Correa and Wes Lo of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation were recently honored at a special reception for their top fund-raising efforts during the 2010 Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

WAILUKU — The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced last week that the final tally for the 32nd annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Maui totaled an impressive $357,673. 

Held in May, the event drew more than 1,200 walkers. The first total reported was $344,149, but additional funds were contributed following the walk.

The charity walk is one of the largest single-day fund-raising events in Hawaii. Statewide, $926,000 was raised via walks held on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, Maui and Molokai.

Maui continues to raise more dollars per capita than any other island, and this year Valley Isle participants raised more money than any other island in the state.

Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association started hosting the event in 1980, Maui raised a cumulative total of $5.7 million to benefit numerous nonprofit organizations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

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

In a special reception held at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa on Aug. 18, more than 70 nonprofit organizations were honored in appreciation of their participation in the event.

The following non-profits and businesses were singled out for their top fund-raising efforts: Nonprofit Agency — Hale Makua ($25,517), Hawaii Canines for Independence ($15,805) and Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation ($15,362); Business — HC&S ($8,377), Bank of Hawaii ($7,658) and Oceanic Time Warner Cable ($3,610).

The top individual fund-raiser was Mitch Mitchell, representing Hale Makua, who collected $5,862.

The Hyatt Regency Maui took first place for the property bringing in the most at $22,961.

 The annual charity walk is the visitor industry’s way to give back to the community. Many MHLA property and business members work year-round to raise funds for this worthy endeavor.

“Our industry remains committed to providing for and positively impacting the lives of the people of Maui County,” said Carol Reimann, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.

“This year, we are pleased to have raised $46,000 more than last year, which has enabled us to award significant funds to over 70 worthy Maui County organizations from the event’s proceeds. The range of services of these recipients touches many residents’ lives, from children to the elderly, from athletic organizations to service-related agencies, from health to housing. It is our goal to impact many lives by supporting a variety of charitable organizations that provide valuable services, and to ultimately improve our community.”

The 2011 Visitor Industry Charity Walk will be held May 21. For information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org.