Holo Holo Blog

Hawaiʻi’s 45th Annual Charity Walk Gives Back to the Islands in Major Ways

Are you looking for a way to give back to Kauaʻi, get involved with projects that positively impact our island ʻohana, and support critical community non-profit organizations that are up to big things? Look no further.

The 45th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, hosted by the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association, took place on May 4, 2024, across Kauaʻi, Maui, and Oʻahu, and on May 11, 2024, on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, raising $3 million statewide through the Charity Walks, resorts, and various service industry leaders.

Charity Walk Kauaʻi showed up big, with 2,000 donors, 1,000 walkers, and over 60 sponsors. The event raised over $602,000 this year, benefitting 67 local organizations and bringing much-needed resources to those who need it most. Sponsorship, fundraising, and auction items, including sideline tickets to the Rams VS. 49ers game, add to the excitement of this event. (1)

Holo Holo Sponsorship & a Big Mahalo

Holo Holo is committed to community, fundraising, and giving back to Kauaʻi, the environment, and our local ʻohana. How do we do this? We invest in the land, ocean, people, and community programs that build resiliency, sustainability, vitality, leadership, and environmental stewardship.

This year, Holo raised $17,248.37 for the Charity Walk; over $4,000 of that money was donated by our guests (mahalo) and matched by us. The other funds were from employee fundraising and Holo Holo’s sponsorship. With the incredible kōkua of our dedicated team, guests, and community, we plan to exceed this donation amount next year.

Read on as we highlight three highly impactful Kauaʻi non-profits and share how Charity Walk Kauaʻi is a catalyst for local change that gives back to the island in significant ways.

ʻAina Alliance

ʻAina Alliance was established in 2020 as a community-led Wildfire Prevention Initiative in Anahola to combat the constant vegetation fires engulfing abandoned vehicles, household trash, and appliances. These fires release toxic smoke into the community, creating a high-risk fire area for nearby homes. The surrounding fallow lands carry a massive fire-load of nearly 400 vehicles and hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash. ʻAina Alliance has taken action, organizing cleanup efforts and creating fire breaks to isolate fires should they occur. They have removed 72 vehicles from the beaches and approximately 140,000 pounds of pollution.

ʻAina Alliance protects Hawaiʻi land, culture, and resources, stewarding over 400 acres of coastal land. Their work needs heavy machinery to lift cars and other large objects. These tasks are impossible with volunteers alone. Funding from the Charity Walk helps fuel their machines, remove abandoned vehicles and heavy pollution, decrease the toxins that seep into the soil and runoff into the ocean, and clear flammable vegetation to reduce the threat of fire and toxic smoke.

Join their upcoming cleanup day on 9/26/24 (equipment fuel donations are welcome). Kids will learn to use the machines from heavy equipment officers. Through this pilot project, ʻAina Alliance will educate the future workforce and provide opportunities to improve the environment and community.

https://ainaalliance.com/

Kauaʻi Sailing Association

Kauaʻi Sailing Association (KSA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach life skills through marine awareness by providing sailing instruction, marine education, and community outreach. KSA helps individuals develop life skills such as teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, self-awareness, and integrity.

The funding from the Charity Walk helps support their after-school sailing club, camps during school breaks, scholarships for deserving individuals who need financial assistance (for camps, clubs, and school field trips), high-quality marine education materials (including microscopes, water-testing kits, and new technology), updates to KSA’s fleet of boats, and their building.

KSA programs are crucial for providing continuous engagement and learning opportunities for local youth, fostering a sense of community and belonging, a deeper understanding of marine environments, and promoting environmental stewardship and awareness.

https://kauaisailing.org/

Leadership Kauaʻi

In 2003, the founders of Leadership Kauaʻi (LK) committed to identifying, nurturing, and empowering individuals to lead Kauaʻi into the future. In 2024, they created the annual Leadership Kauaʻi Annual Adult Program. This program joins a cross-section of 15-20 qualified diverse leaders in a ten-month comprehensive course to develop collaborative leadership skills, address community issues, and network with current executive leaders. LK serves non-profits, civic clubs, large and small businesses, education, government, youth clubs, and community organizations on the island and statewide.

https://www.leadershipkauai.org/

The Charity Walk award supports non-profit leaders and small business owners in joining the annual program, helping to ensure diversity at the table of leaders. Read on for first-hand testimonies from LK graduates, showing how beneficial Charity Walk funding is to this prestigious program:

Tamara Duterte, County of Kauaʻi – Transportation Agency Fixed Route Operations Manager, LK 2020:

Growing up on Kauaʻi, I have always considered myself a leader. However, my time with LK helped me understand what a leader truly means. The relationships and friendships that I made with LK are something that can never be replaced. LK helped me during the COVID pandemic by teaching me to challenge the process. Everything we know as normal has changed, and LK helped prepare me to lead by thinking of ways to define our new normal.

Tyler C. Saito, Kauaʻi County, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, LK 2022

LK provided me with the opportunity and space to reflect, identify, and embrace my values and then equipped me with a framework to put those values to work in my job, with my family, and with every interaction in the community. Most importantly, LK challenged me to use these new tools to help make Kauaʻi a more vibrant and prosperous place for generations to come.

Maryjane “Mj” Akuna, YWCA, HR Director, LK 2023

LK has played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today and has significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. The experience of connecting with like-minded individuals has fostered a sense of teamwork that is truly exceptional. I encourage everyone to consider LK. You’ll be amazed at the invaluable connections you’ll make and the lifelong friendships that will become an integral part of your journey.

Charity Walk Kauaʻi is one of the most significant ways to make a positive contribution to Kauaʻi and the people who call Kauaʻi home. And with all proceeds staying on island, this event is a big win-win for everyone. Mark your calendars; the 2025 Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk will be the best yet!

(1): https://hltakauai.org/