NUKOLI‘I — Can we raise $1 million?
“Last year, the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised $457,000,” said Samira Siale, the Kaua‘i director for the Hawai‘i Tourism &Lodging Association. “Maui raised $1.3 million, but we finished second to Maui in fundraising. We were ahead of O‘ahu, and the Big Island. We want it that way — ahead of O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island.”
Siale said the goal for the 2023 Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk is $400,000. The event will take place on May 6 at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu‘e.
On Tuesday, HLTA hosted the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk kickoff breakfast at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort that offered a Hawaiian blessing and prayer by Robert Ancheta and Kapule Kaona.
“Ike Cockett of the Hilton Garden Inn Kaua‘i, this year’s chair of the charity walk ‘23 wanted it higher,” Siale said. “But the turnaround from the 2022 walk in the fall to this year’s walk is just too short.”
Cockett hit the ground running in fundraising, saying there will be a tent set up at the monthly Wailua Bay Creators Fair, where Chef Raphael Camarillo will be offering bento and other appropriate food with part of the proceeds benefiting the charity walk.
That is just one idea on HLTA fundraising that included the annual golf tournament that was held recently at the Ocean Course at Hokuala, and the highly-anticipated Premier Restoration golf tournament coming up at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Premier Restoration is the title sponsor for the 2023 charity walk, where all monies raised on Kaua‘i stay on Kaua‘i to help more than 60 nonprofit organizations.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Sponsors include NoKaOi Landscape Services, Hilton Garden Inn Kaua‘i Wailua Bay, Kipu Ranch Adventures, Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union, Tire Warehouse, Holoholo Charters, Koloa Rum Company, Kaua‘i Shores, JD Painting &Decorating, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hawai‘i Gas, Layton Construction, Office
Depot, The Shops at Kukui‘ula, Y. Hata &Company and others.
“This year, the HLTA, Kaua‘i Chapter is proud to coordinate ‘Koku‘a i na ‘ohana o Kaua‘i,’ or ‘helping the families of Kaua‘i,’ in the 45th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk,” states the Kaua‘i Charity Walk website, charitywalkhawaii.org/kauai.
“With all of us working together — families helping families — we have the ability to support more than 60 nonprofit organizations who can positively impact those in our community whom need it the most. With your help, we have an opportunity to make a difference for everyone on Kaua‘i.”
To donate to, register or submit a grant award application, visit charitywalkhawaii.org/kauai.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
