MEDIA RELEASE

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows has announced the winners of the 17th annual Charity Trees:

1st Place ($2,000) – Friends of the Children’s Justice Center – West Hawaii
2nd Place ($1,000) – Waikoloa Lions Club
3rd Place ($500) – West Hawaii Mediation Center

In addition to Mauna Lani’s donation, $5,400 was raised from public votes and split evenly among participating charities (excluding the winners):

* advoCats, Inc.
* Aikido of Hilo
* American Cancer Society
* Big Island Retired Military Association
* Brantley Center, Inc.
* Community Enterprises – Kona Town
* Friends of the Children’s Justice Center – West Hawaii
* Friends of the Future/Earl’s Garage
* Friends of the Libraries, Kona
* Gathering of Eagles
* Hale Hoola Hamakua
* Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation
* Hawaii Island Humane Society
* Hawaii Montessori School at Kamuela
* Hawaii Montessori School at Kona
* Hookakoo Corporation
* Hualalai Academy
* Hui Pono Holoholona
* Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
* Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Women’s Association
* Kamuela Seniors Baseball Club
* Kealakehe Intermediate School PTO
* Klein Chiropractic Center (for Aikido of Hilo)
* Kona Festival Chorale
* Konawaena Elementary School
* Mental Health Kokua
* Mokuaikaua Church
Portuguese Heritage Club of Hamakua
* Punana Leo o Kona
* Punana Leo o Waimea
* Rotary Club of Kona
* Seagull School at Mauna Lani
* United Jr. YBA of Hawaii
* University of the Nations – Kona Campus
* Waikoloa Lions Club
* Waimea Outdoor Circle
* West Hawaii Mediation Center
* WVOC – Waikoloa Future Foresters

The Charity Trees will be displayed until Jan. 2, 2011.