Pictured at the Charity Reception are (from left): Declan McCarthy, 2015 Charity Walk chairman; Denise Thayer of Hale Makua; Lisa Paulson of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; Genevieve Ruvald of Westside Hoops; and Lisa Varde of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

WAILUKU – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association last week announced that the 37th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised an impressive $863,268 for Maui County.

Held earlier this year, the events on Maui, Molokai and Lanai under the jurisdiction of the MHLA drew 2,285 walkers. The results by island are: Maui, $821,520; Molokai, $17,029; and Lanai, $24,719.

In a special Charity Reception held at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Aug. 12, more than 100 nonprofit organizations were honored in appreciation of their participation in the annual event that emphasizes and validates the visitor industry’s commitment to the community.

In addition, the following fundraisers were recognized for their outstanding efforts: Individual Raising the Most Funds – Dan Williams, Westside Hoops, $17,220; Mitch Mitchell, Hale Makua Health Services, $14,790; Peter Tierney, SPCA Maui, $13,387; Business Raising the Most Funds – Bank of Hawaii, $9,998; Maui Vacation Rental Association, $9,170; Enterprise, Alamo, National Rent-a-Car, $3,810; Nonprofit Raising the Most Funds – Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, $96,059; Hale Makua Health Services, $47,844; Westside Hoops, $36,026; Hotel Property Raising the Most Per Employee – Maui Condo & Home Vacations, $561.50/employee; Kahana Falls, $248.28/employee; Aston Mahana at Kaanapali, $155.05/employee; Property Raising the Most Funds – Grand Wailea Resort & Spa, $33,634; Makena Beach & Golf Resort, $24,182; Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, $23,482; Restaurant Raising the Most Funds – Tri-Star Restaurant Group, $8,000.

The charity walk is one of the largest single-day fundraising events in Hawaii. Statewide, in 2015, more than $1.8 million was raised via walks held on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Since the MHLA started hosting the event in 1980, Maui County has raised a cumulative total of $9.3 million to benefit hundreds of nonprofit organizations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

“Our industry remains committed to providing for and positively impacting the lives of our residents of Maui County,” said Lisa Paulson, MHLA executive director. “This year, we are thrilled to have raised a significant amount of funds, which has enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to over 100 worthy Maui County organizations. 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.”

Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk: May 7, 2016 on Molokai and Lanai, and May 14, 2016 on Maui. For information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org.