Las Vegas? The Cosmopolitan hotel?
The lure was too strong for Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad Tuesday morning as she rushed into the Kukui Grove Center office of the Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union to pick up her “slippahs” that could earn her the grand prize of the trip for two to Las Vegas that comes with a three-night stay at the Cosmopolitan.
Samira Siale, the Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association Kaua‘i Chapter executive director, had just received a $5,000 award toward the 43rd Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk, representing the Hawai‘iUSA FCU sponsorship of the Slippah Drop that will take place during the walk on Saturday, Aug. 20, starting and ending at the Vidinha Stadium soccer fields.
“I’ve already bought 1,000 pairs of slippahs,” said Morgan Lopez of the Hawai‘iUSA FCU. “We’ll be attaching non-removable wristbands with each purchaser’s name and a number to correspond. Hopefully, when the crane dumps its load of slippahs, yours will be the one that drops in the bucket.”
No slippahs will be harmed in the Slippah Drop, and the slippers will be turned over to the state Department of Education to be used in schools for students needing footwear.
Morgan said even if the grand prize valued at $2,000 eludes a slippah owner, the runner-up prizes are really good, with the second-place prize being a three-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa, including a $100 dining certificate for a package valued at $1,800, and the third prize being a two-night stay at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort, including a $100 dining certificate.
Prospective slippah owners at $10 donation for a pair can drop by the Hawai‘iUSA office during regular business hours, and as the Aug. 20 walk date approaches, Siale said slippahs will be available Saturday during the final Countdown to Charity Walk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at KGC.
In addition to some of the beneficiary nonprofits spreading awareness about their individual campaigns, Siale said there will be a silent-auction table with a lot of great bargains, and walkers who have not registered to walk can do so at the countdown event.
“We’re looking for at least 1,000 walkers on Aug. 20,” Siale said. “Our goal is to raise $300,000 that will be shared among nearly 60 Kaua‘i nonprofits.”
Supplementing walkers’ efforts, special events such as the Slippah Drop, the Charity Walk Golf Tournament, the recent Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Lihu‘e open market and craft fair and the walk Bowling Tournament scheduled for Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Kaua‘i Bowl help make a dent in the goal, where all money raised on Kaua‘i stays on Kaua‘i.
For information or to register for the walk or buy a slippah, visit hltakauai.org.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
