MEDIA RELEASE

May is the time of year to put on your walking “slippahs” for another fun day with family, friends and coworkers at the 36th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, sponsored by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA).

Take part in a unique experience where you can eat your way through ono grinds while making a difference in Hawaiiʻs community.

Proceeds benefit hundreds of local charities, with the monies raised staying on each island. Last year, more than14,000 walkers statewide raised a record-breaking $1.67 million.

“Joining the annual Charity Walk is a wonderful way to give back to our community. It is our opportunity as an industry to show our commitment to our island home and to each other,” said Kelly Hoen, General Manager of The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, and statewide chair of the 2014 HLTA Visitor Industry Charity Walk. “It is remarkable to see thousands of industry members getting involved in this statewide fundraiser. And the prize gained from spending a fun Saturday with friends and family is truly invaluable.”

Under the theme “Put Your Best Slippah Forward,” the Charity Walk will take place by island on the following dates:

* May 3 – Molokai and Lanai
* May 10 – Maui and Hawaii Island
* May 17 – Kauai and Oahu

In addition to HLTA, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk is sponsored by individual lodging and travel partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Summit Media Hawaii.

Since its inception in 1978, the Charity Walk has raised over $26 million for Hawaii’s charities such as Aloha Independent Living, Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Honolulu Zoological Society, Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Special Olympics Hawaii, and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.
Event participation is open to all, not just lodging industry employees.

For more information and walker applications, visit www.CharityWalkHawaii.org and www.HawaiiLodging.org or call the Charity Walk representative on your island.

Statewide/Oahu
Brandon Barbour, HLTA, (808) 923-0407

Maui, Lanai, Molokai
Lisa Paulson or Laura Echiverri, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, (808) 244-8625

Hawaii Island
Jaisy Jardine or Mew Seto, Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, (808) 886-2884

Kauai
David Sosner or Maile Lewis, Kauai Beach Resort, (808) 246-5502