Lillian Watari of the Hanalei Bay Resort had to cut short her breakfast at Keoki’s Paradise on Thursday because she had to set up her stand of burgers and hot dogs, according to Samira Siale.
“She’s the top individual fundraiser,” said Siale, the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Kauai Chapter manager. “Just by selling dogs and burgers in Hanalei, this year, she raised more than $72,000. And, she’s been the top individual fundraiser for the past decade. We want to thank her manager, George Costa, for allowing her to do this.”
The annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk closed its 2025 chapter by raising more than $700,000, the final more than $20,000 contributed from the Kauai Poke Festival that was held at the Koloa Landing Resort with Chef Sam Choy and guests. Aaron Bambling, general manager of the Koloa Landing Resort, served as the Walk Chair.
This year, approximately 60 nonprofit organizations shared in $707,775 that was distributed during the breakfast gathering sponsored by Keoki’s Paradise in Poipu.
The HLTA announced the following nonprofits that received a portion of funds derived from this year’s Charity Walk that took place in May at the Vidinha Stadium soccer fields:
Alaka‘i O Kauai Charter School, the Alzheimer’s Association-Aloha Chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kauai, Boys &Girls Club of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Child &Family Service, Easterseals Hawaii, Equine Therapy, Inc., Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai, Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei, Hale ‘Opio Kauai, Inc., Hawaii Children’s Theater, Hawaii Foodbank Kauai, Ho‘ike Kauai Community Media, Ho‘okipa Kaua‘i, Hui O Mana Ka Pa Pu‘uwai Canoe Club, Kapaa Business Association, Kapaia Foundation, Kauai Christian Academy, Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, Kauai Habitat for Humanity, Kauai North Shore Food Pantry, Kauai Search and Rescue, Kauai Community Cat Project, Kauai Community College Culinary Arts Program, Kauai Independent Food Bank, Kauai High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Kauai Lifeguard Association, Kauai Mental Health Advocates, Kauai Planning and Action Alliance, Kauai Pop Warner Football League, Kauai Sailing Association, Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, Kauai Veterans Council, Kilauea Point Natural History Association dba Friends of Kauai Wildlife Refuges, KMS Choir Booster Club, Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola, Kumu’s Cupboard, Leadership Kauai, Life’s Bridges Hawaii, Inc., Make A Wish Hawaii, Nakoa Basketball, North Short Give dba Kauai North Shore Community Foundation, Nourish Kauai, Nuhou Corporation, Ohana Christian Fellowship, Olelo Christian Academy, PATCH, Performing Arts for All, Permanently Affordable Living Hwaii, Special Olympics Kauai, Swim Kauai Aquatics, The Kauai Humane Society, The Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation Scholarship Program, Waipa Foundation, and the YWCA of Kauai.
“This is like tradition for us,” said Darin Tan, Keoki’s manager. “We sponsor the event that closes the Charity Walk. The Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort sponsors the event that opens the Charity Walk.”
Siale said the title sponsors of the Charity Walk are Premier Restoration Hawaii and Southwest Airlines.
“They get help from many, many hands,” said Siale. “There are many sponsors that contribute to the success of the Charity Walk that helps our nonprofit groups who are trying to survive in this economic uncertainty.”
Michael Murphy, the general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, was named the 2026 Charity Walk Chair.
The Charity Walk, founded in 1974 and expanded statewide in 1978, is now Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraising event by a nonprofit organization. Since its inception, more than $47 million has been raised to support hundreds of local charities across the state.
The Charity Walk traditionally takes place in May on every major island in Hawaii. The monies raised on Kauai stay on Kauai.
Source: The Garden Island
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