LIHU‘E — More than 60 Zumba enthusiasts recently raised more than $1,300 to benefit the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk. Troy Allen Lazaro, the food and beverage manager at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, coordinated with
LIHU‘E — More than 60 Zumba enthusiasts recently raised more than $1,300 to benefit the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk.
Troy Allen Lazaro, the food and beverage manager at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, coordinated with Zumba instructor Anna Velasco of Ho‘olalahui to host the Zumba Challenge, a three-hour Zoomba “Get fit for a cause” event at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School covered court.
Supported by the Waiohai’s general manager, Christina Gabriel, also the Charity Walk chairperson, and Ron Gentile, the Waiohai’s director of operations, prizes were awarded throughout the three-hour zumba-thon.
Stan Lazaro earned the distinction of collecting the largest amount of pledges at $360 and the roller derby girls earned the distinction of being the best dressed (costume).
Sandra Muragin, the Waiohai executive administrative assistant, said the event would not have been possible without the contributions of many generous community sponsors who provided prizes for the Zumba enthusiasts, including Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures, Blue Dolphin Charters, Kaua‘i Sea Tours, Na Pali Explorer, Roy’s Po‘ipu Bar and Grill at Po‘ipu Shopping Village, Plantation Gardens Restaurant and Bar at Po‘ipu, Alexander Massage Cabanas at Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club and Tapas Bar and Grill at the Kukui‘ula Shopping Village.
Zumba is an aerobic fitness program created by Miami-based dancer and choreographer Beto Perez and two entrepreneurs, Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion, states an online source.
No one could have predicted the success of the Zumba program which is described as an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party moving millions of people toward joy and health.
Since its inception in 2001, the Zumba program has grown to become the world’s largest with more than 12 million people of all shapes, sizes, and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in more than 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries, states the Zumba.com website.
The Visitor Industry Charity walk was held last Saturday with more than 1,300 walkers raising $137,000 to help Kaua‘i’s non-profit organizations.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
