Charity walk shatters fundraising goal

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Scissors cuts paper as Norman Acupan wins the trip to San Francisco grand prize by beating out Sharon Lasker of Regency at Puakea in a jan ken po showdown for the prize at the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk Saturday on the grounds of Vidinha Stadium.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Lillian Watari is congratulated by a fellow Hanalei Bay Resort walker as she goes up to claim the Golden Slippah award for the fifth consecutive year as the largest individual fundraiser Saturday at the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Kellie Hines of Hokuala finishes strong Saturday at the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk that raised $350,000 for nearly 60 local nonprofit organizations.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

An early finisher of the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk relishes the spray generated by Easter Seals Hawaii Saturday near Vidinha Stadium.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Beth Haddock of Gaylord’s at Kilohana and Brenda Sameshima of Kukuiula Development lead a line of walkers through the Hardy Street roundabout Saturday during the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

More than 2,200 walkers take off from the Vidinha Stadium soccer fields Saturday during the 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk that raised $350,000 to help the nearly 60 local nonprofit organizations.

LIHUE — The 40th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk shattered its 2018 goal of $280,000 Saturday at the North Vidinha soccer fields.

Co-chaired by Chip Bahouth of the Sheraton Kauai Beach Resort and Christina Gabriel of the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, the walk featured 2,200 walkers leaving the soccer fields under clear, cool conditions for a three-mile leisurely loop through Lihue.

As the walkers enjoyed the breakfast provided by several resorts and fine eateries, emcee Ron Wiley announced that Kauai walkers finished with $350,000, well beyond the $280,000 goal.

“This is what happens when everyone pulls together to help,” said Bahouth. “What a great feeling! Everyone needs to pat themselves on the back.”

During previous walks, Kauai had managed to squeak past its goals with late-event finagling and pocket digging to come up with its total.

“Surely, this has to be the best per capita amount,” said Wiley, emceeing the event since its inception. “This is Kauai strong!”

The ultimate goal was to raise funds that benefit nearly 60 local nonprofit organizations and their programs.

Topping the individual fundraising efforts, Lillian Watari of the Grand Pacific Resorts repeated as the Golden Slippah recipient for the fifth consecutive year, this year collecting more than $17,000.

The Silver Slippah award went to Lee Ann Malapit for $5,000 collected, and the Rubbah Slippah award went to Nick Nacion who finished with $1,700.

The resort earning the most funds went to the Grand Pacific Resorts, which finished with more than $44,000 collected.

Ross Robinson earned the inter-island getaway prize through the popular Heads or Tails selection process. The San Francisco grand prize package was taken by Norman Acupan who beat out Sharon Lasker in a jan ken po showdown after both competitors wanted the same side of the coin.

This was the first year the committee relocated the central site to Vidinha Stadium. The new site offered more room for greater involvement and participation by the beneficiary nonprofit organizations, better parking, and room to offer more breakfast selections.

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