MAHALO to the thousands of walkers who’s every little step helped this year’s VISITOR INDUSTRY CHARITY WALK to raise a whooping $909,150. Since the Charity Walk began over 32 years ago, over $22 Million has been raised with the monies benefiting our local charities. 

 

  The following are the results of this year’s 32^nd Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk that was held on 5 islands:

 WHAT IS THE CHARITY WALK?

The CHARITY WALK is a statewide event that occurs simultaneously on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai on the 3rd Saturday in May (May 21, 2011). 

Over the last 32 years, HHLA's  annual walk has grown to become one of the largest single day fundraising events by a non-profit organization in the State of Hawaii. Since its inception in 1978, over $22 million has been raised and helped hundreds of local charities  throughout the State.

This year's theme is A TRADTION OF KOKUA.  We invite everyone to CHARITY WALK with us.  You do not have to be a hotel employee, member of the Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association, or part of the visitor industry to participate.  Invite your family, friends, neighbors, clinets, schools, club, visitors/tourist... to join us in a morning of food, fun, fabulous local kine entertainment and a little exercise to help raise funds for Hawaii's local charities.  

Walker forms can be requested from participating lodging properties and companies or by visiting www.charitywalkhawaii.org.  Cost to participate is $35 per walker or $25 for those under the age of 18 - regardless of age.  Kauai is $35 per walker regardless of age. 

As in the past,we will continue to support our island's local charities who help to make a difference.  The allocation recipients for 2010 have not yet been determined, nor are the charities preselected prior to the CHARITY WALK to receive funding.  Each year, non-profits organizations who are 501(c)(3) are eligible to request funding from the monies raised during the CHARITY WALK.  This includes corporations, associations, foundations, schools and organizations.  This is the ONLY time we consider allocating funds to non-profit organizations.  We also require that all funds received from our CHARITY WALK be spent within the State of Hawaii to benefit primarily the residents of the City/County the funds were raised in.  Allocations will be considered on basis of donation impact and may vary widely in scope and size.  Allocations from the CHARITY WALK are complete funding for any approved project and are NOT a source of guaranteed continuous funding.

To apply for funding from the CHARITY WALK, applications are on-line from March 1st of each year for all of the counties.  Forms can be downloaded from the side bar on the home page of this site.  Please note that you must apply to each county separately, and each county's applications and deadlines differ.  All CHARITY WALK Allocation Funding Applications are updated annually.  The Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association is NOT make any exceptions for late requests or applications.

Remember, you do NOT have to work in a hotel or be a part of the visitor industry to participate in the CHARITY WALK.  ANYONE CAN!  The CHARITY WALK is the only walk in the State where you can actually gain weight by helping to raise money for our local charities.