Big Island Visitor Industry Charity Walk Scheduled for May 13

The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association will hold its annual Visitor Industry Charity Walks event on the Big Island on Saturday, May 13.

The Visitor Industry Charity Walk brings together HLTA chapters, member hotels, businesses and other sponsors on six islands, with each county organizing its own walk.

In 2016, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised $2 million statewide, including more than $305,000 from Hawai‘i Island. Hawaii Island’s goal for 2017 is $315,000.

“We will have entertainment, children’s activities, and more than a dozen food stations hosted by our member hotel and restaurants,” said Hawaii Island Charity Walk Co-chair Steve Yannarell, general manager at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. “It is always great to see everyone come together to raise monies for many of our Island’s deserving nonprofit organizations.”

Each year, local charities that are qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for funding. All funds received by nonprofits from the Charity Walk are spent within the State of Hawai‘i to benefit residents of the county in which the funds were raised.

Registration for the 5k run and walk will be held at Waikoloa Resort’s Queens’ Marketplace.

Post-event festivities will be held in the Waikoloa Bowl.

The entry fee is $25 for children ages 5 to 12 and $35 for adults.

Runners will start at 6:45 a.m. and walkers begin at 7 a.m.

RELATED LINKS
Visitor Industry Charity Walk Seeks Sponsors
HLTA Announces Charity Walk on May 13

About the HLTA Charity Walk
The charity walk began in 1974, when the Hawaii Hotel Association, predecessor of the HLTA, organized a walk to benefit a major charity. In 1978, the event was expanded statewide. Since its inception, more than $30 million has been raised. Learn more or download a grant application, at www.charitywalkhawaii.org.

About the HLTA
The Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association is a nonprofit, statewide trade organization of lodging properties, lodging owners and management companies, suppliers, and related firms and individuals. It was founded in 1947 and is now the state’s largest private sector tourism organization. Today, HLTA consists of 700 members representing the state’s leading industry, 166 of which are lodging properties comprising almost 50,000 rooms. The HLTA is a partner state affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the largest organization of its kind in the world.