Central Maui is lacing up again. The Visitor Industry Charity Walk returns to Wailuku on Saturday, May 9, sending hospitality workers and community volunteers on a 2.5-mile loop that starts and finishes at the War Memorial Special Events Arena. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m., the walk steps off at 8 a.m., and the morning wraps with food, prize drawings and festivities that stretch into the late morning. The event is billed as one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest single-day fundraisers and is designed to funnel visitor-industry support directly to local nonprofits.
Event details and route
The walk route is listed as a 2.5-mile loop with volunteer marshals and aid stations along the course, and finish-line activities are set to include live entertainment and a breakfast spread provided by local hotels. A $50 registration fee gets walkers into the prize drawings, with on-site registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. on event day, according to the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.
Statewide reach and fundraising
Across Hawaiʻi, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk is organized by the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association and its nonprofit arm. The statewide program, which expanded in 1978, has raised more than $51 million so far, and HLTA leaders say the money is kept close to home. HLTA president and CEO Mufi Hannemann has emphasized that the program directs contributions back into Hawaiʻi nonprofits, as reported by Maui Now.
Local impact last year
Maui County set a recent high-water mark in 2025, pulling in roughly $1.75 million for more than 70 island nonprofits. Top contributors included the Maui Humane Society and Hale Makua. Organizers credited nearly 1,900 participants, hotel teams and volunteer-run aid stations for the big total, which helped push the statewide haul past $2 million, according to Maui News.
How to join
Would-be walkers can sign up online or text “MAUI” to 71777 to get in on the action. The MHLA event listing also outlines prize partners and how to volunteer. This year’s title sponsor is Southwest Airlines, and the Maui County chair is Michael Pye, regional vice president of Fairmont Hawaii and general manager of the Fairmont Kea Lani. Registration details, prize information and volunteer sign-ups are available through the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.
Where the money goes
Grant rules require that money raised in a given county stays in that county. Nonprofits must apply for grants and follow deposit procedures set by local organizers. The statewide Charity Walk site includes grant applications, deposit instructions and contact information for county coordinators, per the Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association.
Logistics and safety
Organizers are asking drivers to use extra caution in Central Maui on the morning of the walk and are encouraging walkers and volunteers to arrive early to check in and pick up their materials. Route maps, volunteer shift details and prize-eligibility rules are available through the event and Charity Walk resource pages linked above.
