Visitor Industry Charity Walk Raises Over $290K

An estimated 2,500 walkers and runners took part in the 38th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk at Waikoloa Beach Resort on Saturday.

The walk was one of several across the state and is Hawai’i’s largest single-day fundraising event held by a non-profit organization.

Over $27 million has been raised to support hundreds of local charities throughout the state since its inception in 1978.

Each May, the event is held on the Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai, and Oahu. Funds raised on each island remain on that island.

On the Big Island, the 2016 event began and ended at the Queens’ MarketPlace. Participants also had the opportunity to sample food selections from 14 of the resort’s restaurants on the grass of the Waikoloa Bowl.

Top judging chefs Mark “Gooch” Noguchi of the Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival and chief-mixologist Devis Everett Power, were also on hand for a food competition which included Executive Chef Peter Abacar Jr. from Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, who won the resort side of the competition, and Chef Felix of Lava Lava Beach Club, who won on the restaurant side for tastiest dish.

DJ Tiger played music, Beyond Paradise performed, and several live broadcasts and live remotes took place by local radio stations, including Native FM.

The Big Island event raised over $290,000. One-hundred percent of the money will remain on the Big Island.