Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Celebrates 50 Years with 50 Acts of Aloha

In celebration of its 50^th anniversary, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has launched a 50 Acts of Aloha giving campaign.

From donating 50 sleeves of balls to random golfers to creating the new My Mauna Kea forest stewardship program, thoughtful acts of kindness will continue by the iconic hotel throughout 2015. The acts of aloha have been organized by hotel employees and their families.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 50 years of timeless tradition than to pour love, or aloha, back to the community,” said Phyllis Branco, hotel manager at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. “Our employees are very excited and, just like with our guests everyday, are the heart of planning and executing the campaign.”

A number of acts by the hotel have already taken place, including the donation of 50 golf bags to the Big Island Junior Golf Association and 50 Target gift cards to three charitable non-profits in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Additional acts are planned throughout the nation, although hotel officials say that the majority of acts will benefit the Big Island community and environment.

One of the acts is the new My Mauna Kea collaborative forest stewardship program.

Founded in 1965 by venture capitalist and passionate conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller, preserving the environment and honoring his legacy has always been important to the Mauna Kea Beach a Hotel, according to hotel officials. With that spirit in mind, the hotel has partnered with Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project and Hawai’i Forest and Trail to launch an exciting environmental and cultural stewardship program.

The program invites employees, visitors, and guests to participate in various ways, some of them include bird watching that includes time to plan mamane trees, or the collection of tree seeds in an effort to restore the habitat and food source of the critically endangered Palila bird.

These volunteer trips cost $147.02 per person and include round-trip transfer, access fees to the site, deli-boxed lunch, guide, and all necessary equipment. The next excursions will be held on March 16 and April 6.

For further information about the 50 Acts of Aloha campaign or the My Mauna Kea stewardship program, visit the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel website.