PO‘IPU — Liz Steiner of the Pu‘uwai Canoe Club missed the paddling regatta in Hanalei Saturday, and Kaua‘i Police Department Capt. Mark Ozaki couldn’t make the department’s Touch A Truck event because they were volunteering at the Second annual Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk Golf Tournament at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
“This is proof I had a good reason I couldn’t be in Hanalei,” Steiner said.
Ozaki was helping the Kaua‘i High School
Academy of Hospitality and Tourism students with breakfast for the 144 golfers participating in the tournament.
Samira Siale, the Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association Kaua‘i Chapter director, said the sold-out tournament of 36 teams will raise at least $25,000 towards the walk’s $300,000 goal.
The tournament, with Premier Restoration Hawai‘i as its title sponsor, emerges from the grip of COVID-19 restrictions to return to a more-normal event, with lunch being sponsored by Keoki’s Paradise instead of the pandemic-regulated to-go bento lunches.
What remained from the pandemic-modified play was the experience of numerous relief stations set up throughout the 18 holes of play, anchored by the Premier Restoration cigar and lychee bar.
The experience was enhanced through the number of sponsors, including Koloa Rum sponsoring a hole in one contest, Wyndham Destinations sponsoring closest to the pin prizes on the Par 3 holes, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa providing the continental breakfast, and the Koloa Landing Resort providing golfer goodie bags.
A host of other sponsors provided the relief-station goodies.
The annual Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk that benefits nearly 60 of Kaua‘i’s nonprofit organizations returns to an in-person format this year when walkers take off from the Vidinha Stadium soccer fields on Aug. 20 from 7 a.m.
“We need walkers,” Siale said. “There’s a few days remaining before the July 15 early deadline for registration.”
Early bird registration earns walkers a opportunity to win prizes that include a night’s stay at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa, daily pool passes from different Kaua‘i resorts, a night’s stay at the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Lihu‘e, a night’s stay at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach, a night’s stay at ISO, and $100 gift cards to various eateries including the Bull Shed Restaurant, Duke’s Canoe Club and Keoki’s Paradise.
There are several other charity walk special events leading to the Aug. 20 walk, including a bowling tournament and two additional Countdown to Charity Walk events at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e, one taking place July 23 at the center’s Summer Fun Day, and the final Countdown taking place Aug. 13, a week before the walk starts.
Last year, as the island reopened from the pandemic shutdown, the HLTA jumped on whatever opportunities that opened between the end of August through mid-September to raise more than $261,000 that was shared among 46 nonprofits.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
