Today HLTA distributed nearly $330,000 across 120 charities on O‘ahu at the 38th annual post-Visitor Industry Charity Walk presentation ceremony at Blue Note Hawaii! The funds were raised in May of this year through the Charity Walk, in which 6,600 walkers enjoyed food, refreshments, and entertainment along a 5.25-mile route through Waikiki.
 
This year the statewide Charity Walk raised over $2 million for 346 charities, topping last year’s records for both the number of charities helped and monies raised. Since its inception, the Charity Walk has raised over $30 million. All of the money raised on each island stays on that island to benefit local charitable groups.
 
The following is a complete list of the O‘ahu Charity Walk recipients:
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AccesSurf Hawaii
Adult Friends for Youth
AFRICAN AMERICAN DIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTER HAWAII
After-School All-Stars Hawaii
Aloha Harvest
ALOHA INDEPENDENT LIVING HAWAII
Aloha Medical Mission
ALOHA WEEK HAWAII INC
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association Inc.
American Diabetes Association Inc.
American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific
American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION INC.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF HAWAII
Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii
Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii Inc.
Bobby Benson Center
Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
Catholic Charities Hawai`i
Center For Strategic And International Studies INC
Central Oahu Youth Services Association, Inc.
Common Grace
Corvette Center Ministries
Domestic Violence Action Center
Easter Seals Hawaii
ECOS
Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii
Family Programs Hawaii
Family Promise of Hawaii
Feeding Hawaii Together. Org
Franciscan Care Services - HBMDR
FRIENDS OF DIAMOND HEAD CLUBHOUSE
Girl Scouts of Hawai`i
Gregory House Programs
Hale Kipa Inc.
Hawai‘i Alliance for Arts in Education dba Hawai‘i Arts Alliance
Hawaii Autism Foundation
Hawaii branch of the International Dyslexia Association
Hawaii Children's Action Network (formerly Good Beginnings Alliance)
Hawaii Council on Economic Education
HAWAII ECOTOURISM ASSOCIATION
Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs
Hawaii Foodbank
Hawaii Literacy, Inc.
Hawai'i Meals on Wheels, Inc.
Hawaii Opera Theatre
Hawaii Symphony Orchestra
Hawaii Theatre Center
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii
Helping Hands Hawaii
Ho`ola Na Pua
Ho`omau Ke Ola
Ho‘omaka Hou Learning Center
Honolulu Community Action Program Inc. HCAP
Honolulu Habitat for Humanity
Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Hospice Hawaii
HUGS - Help, Understanding & Group Support for Hawaii's Seriously Ill Children & their Families
IHS, The Institute for Human Services, Inc.
ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY INC
JAPAN AMERICA SOCIETY OF HAWAII
Junior Achievement of Hawaii Inc.
Kick Start Karate
Kids Hurt Too Hawaii
Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Kupu
Lanakila Pacific
Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i
Make-A-Wish Hawaii Inc.
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE VALLEY OF RAINBOWS INC
MAKING ENDS MEET
MANOA SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS (APT) as chartering organization of, and on behalf
March of Dimes Foundation
Mental Health Kokua
MOANOLUA GARDENS FOUNDATION INC
National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii
ODKF SUPPORT INC
OPERATION HOMEFRONT INC
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES INC
ORI ANUENUE HALE INC
P.A.R.E.N.T.S. Inc.
PACIFIC AND ASIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
PACIFIC REGION BASEBALL INC
Papakolea Community Development Corporation
Partners in Development Foundation
People Attentive to Children
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands
PROJECT HAWAII INC
Project Vision Hawaii
Projets Inspired by Teens Changing Hawaii
RAINBOW AQUATICS SWIM TEAM INC
River of Life Mission
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii Inc.
Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii
SEEQS FOUNDATION
Special Olympics Hawaii Inc.
Sports Culture Academy Foundation Inc.
SURFING THE NATIONS
Sutter Health Pacific Kahi Mohala
TALK ABOUT CURING AUTISM
Teach For America, Inc.
The Arc in Hawaii
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS INC
THE PRIVATE SECTOR
The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii
United Church of Christ Transition House
USS MISSOURI MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION INC
Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii
Waianae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board, Inc
Waikiki Community Center
Waikiki Health
Waipahu High School
Winners at Work Inc., dba Abilities Unlimited
Winners Camp Foundation
Women in Need WIN
WOMEN OF WAIANAE
YMCA of Honolulu
Youth for Christ USA Inc.
YWCA of O`ahu

​On Saturday, 20 HYPE members went to Kualoa Ranch and Secret Island for HYPE's very first retreat. Starting with a movie tour on the Kualoa Ranch property, members got to learn a little about the history of the land and see the iconic landscape of movies and TV shows such as Jurassic Park, Lost, 50 First Dates, and George of the Jungle. Then they made their way to Secret Island for an awesome educational session by Meli James, Head of New Ventures at Sultan Ventures. Meli brought great insight on finding your passion, becoming a leader, and fostering a culture of "corporate entrepreneurship," among other tips for success. After the educational session and lunch, members partook in team-building games that strengthened communication and listening skills, and of course, teamwork. The games ended with a skit in which the team had to "sell" a product that was formed by random words: "Tahitian Gum," "Haberdashery Widget," and "Pepperoni Chair." All in all, the group had lots of fun and made quality connections with each other while enjoying the beautiful views of our island paradise.

HLTA Oahu Chapter members visited the beautiful and newly renovated Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina on Wednesday, September 21 for a well- attended Coffee Talk & Tour. Members enjoyed a lovely breakfast and presentations by Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina General Manager Sanjiv Hulugalle and Director of Marketing Nelson Hilton, as well as Mark de Reus, Marion Philpotts-Miller, Lowell Tom, and Drew Henmi of the architecture and design teams de Reus Architects and Philpotts Interiors. HLTA President and CEO Mufi Hannemann, who has enjoyed a long history of supporting Ko Olina projects shared his thoughts and expressed appreciation to master developer Jeff Stone and his team for leading the efforts to bring this remarkable project to fruition.

​Formerly the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort, the Four Seasons O’ahu at Ko Olina underwent a $500 million renovation and rebranding and opened in June 2016. The five-star resort has 371 luxury guest rooms and suites, three pools, four restaurants, a café and lounge, and an elevated tennis centre, among other amenities.

Mahalo for joining us at our September Hospitality Industry Pau Hana (HIP)! This month we teamed up with the University of Hawaii TIM Alumni Association and honored Kelly Sheather, TIM Alumna and Sales Manager at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, with the coveted Kahiau Award for her selfless generosity! Kelly is known in the Hawaii hospitality industry as always smiling, happy to help others and willing to go the extra mile. Congratulations Kelly!

HIP: Hospitality Industry Pau Hana is held every first Wednesday of the month at SKY Waikiki from 5-7pm. #GetHIP with us next month on October 5! Early birds can register here.