LIHU‘E — Sandi Kato-Klutke, the Kaua‘i representative to the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association, celebrated her birthday in style Saturday. Kato-Klutke, normally assisting Moloa‘a Bay Coffee at the Kaua‘i Community Market at the Kaua‘i Community College, took advantage of the
LIHU‘E — Sandi Kato-Klutke, the Kaua‘i representative to the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association, celebrated her birthday in style Saturday.
Kato-Klutke, normally assisting Moloa‘a Bay Coffee at the Kaua‘i Community Market at the Kaua‘i Community College, took advantage of the HLTA, Kaua‘i golf tournament to present a grant to the Kaua‘i Community College culinary arts program.
“This is funds for scholarships for the culinary arts students,” Kato-Klutke said. “They not only are helping us by preparing lunch for the golfers and anyone who wants to join us, they do good work in the community, hosting the American Culinary Federation breakfast, Feb. 13 at the college.”
Kato-Klutke said many of the graduates from the Kaua‘i CC culinary program are now working in the restaurants and resorts of Kaua‘i, and it is important to support the students’ efforts.
The golf tournament, beyond the scholarships, provides for the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, which will take place later in the year.
“We have nearly 150 golfers in this tournament, and Chip Bahouth, general manager for the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort in Po‘ipu and the golf tournament chair, did an excellent job with this eighth annual tournament,” Kato-Klutke said.
Bahouth, in welcoming the golfers to the annual fundraising event, did an outstanding job getting prizes and gifts for the participating golfers, said Annette Wong of the Starwish Foundation, the fundraising wing of the Sheraton Kaua‘i.
The top prize for the team finishing in eighth place, celebrating the eight years of the tournament, pocketed a two-night stay at the Sheraton Waikiki, ocean view, with breakfast as well as a round of golf at the Puakea Golf Course. Other prizes included special Taylormade clubs which have yet to be released, Bahouth said.
In addition to helping the charity walk and the Kaua‘i CC culinary programs, participating golfers also assisted with the Kaua‘i Jr. Golf Association in special jackpot holes where portions of an entry fee collected by KJGA golfers and volunteers benefited the local youth golfing program.
Wong recently spearheaded a $4,000-plus award to the American Red Cross, Kaua‘i Branch, derived from proceeds from the Sheraton Kaua‘i’s RumFire, Table 53. The Table will enjoy a break in January, but in February, proceeds from Table 53 for the month will benefit the Visitor Industry Charity Walk as well, Wong added.
“This golf tournament is only the start,” Kato-Klutke said. “For those who missed this event, there’ll be more ways people will be able to have fun while helping the charity walk. We still have the Malama awards, which recognizes outstanding people in the hotel and visitor industry, and the bowling tournament coming up.”
Traditionally held on the third Saturday of May, the Hawai‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraiser in the state, inviting everyone — adults, children, families, visitors, residents — to walk to help raise money for Hawai‘i’s charities, according to the Visitor Industry Charity Walk website.
The HLTA sponsored a charitable “Superwalk” in 1974 to benefit one major charitable organization.
In 1979, the HLTA members voted to extend the reach of support offered by the walk’s fundraising capabilities. All Hawai‘i nonprofit charities are eligible to benefit.
Walkers are treated to food, drink, and entertainment by HLTA hotels and allied organizations.
Stay tuned for notices announcing the registration for the 2013 Visitor Industry Charity Walk, which on Kaua‘i, starts and ends at the historic County Building in Lihu‘e.
