Saturday, May 19 —
Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association To Host 34th Annual Charity Walk
Dust off your walking “slippahs” and get ready to walk the longest buffet line during a fun-filled day at the 34th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk.
Themed “Put Your Best Slippah Forward,” the Charity Walk will take place on Oahu on May 19. Walks were held on the Neighbor Islands during the previous weekends in May.
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is sponsored by the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) in partnership with Hawaii’s lodging industry, numerous other travel partners, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and KCCN FM 100. This year’s chairman is Jerry Gibson, area vice president and managing director, Hilton Hawaii. Proceeds benefit a variety of local charities each year, with the monies raised staying on each island. Last year more than 10,950 walkers statewide raised a recordbreaking $1,155,100.
Hawaiian 105 KINE radio host Billy V. is the honorary chairperson.
The six-mile walk begins at Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion at 7 a.m. and continues through Waikiki, along the Ala Wai Canal, through Waikiki Beach Walk and finishes back at McCoy Pavilion. Walkers will be treated to ono foods such as Kalua pig sliders, spam musubis and DoubleTree by Hilton Alana’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
Live entertainment will be provided as walkers munch their way through 18 checkpoints. At the finish, participants will enjoy a tasty plate lunch by Sheraton Hotels Waikiki. Adding to the festivities will be the music of Kalaeloa and Hawaiian Slice.
Since its inception in 1978, the Charity Walk has raised over $23 million for Hawaii’s charities. Event participation is open to all, not just lodging industry employees. For more information and walker applications, visit www.charitywalkhawaii.org and www.hawaiilodging.org or call the Charity Walk representative on Oahu, the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, (808) 923-0407.
Sunday, May 20—
2012 Arthritis Walk at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park
To Raise Awareness and Funds
The Arthritis Foundation will host its annual walk on Sunday, May 20 at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. Registration at 7:30 am and Start Time at 9:00 a.m. Arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the United States, affects 236,000 adults and 1,200 children in Hawai‘i.
The event features a one-mile or three-mile course along the scenic Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park Boardwalk with activities for the entire family, a Keiki Zone, live entertainment, food, beverages and arthritis information. Four-legged furry friends (dogs) are also welcome on a leash.
Leading the 2012 Arthritis Walk will be Chuck Sted, CEO of Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and Dr. Ken Arakawa, a rheumatologist at Queen’s Medical Center. Sted is Honorary Chair of this year's walk.
Dr. Arakawa is the Arthritis Walk Medical Honoree. Voted as one of Hawai‘i’s best doctors, Dr. Ken Arakawa strives to eliminate chronic pain for his patients at the Queen’s Medical Center.
The Arthritis Walk® is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual nationwide signature event that raises funds and awareness to find a cure for the nation’s leading cause of disability. Participants walk as individuals or in teams in honor of a friend or family member with arthritis. The Arthritis Walk is a nationwide movement that encourages people to move to prevent or control arthritis. People with arthritis wear blue hats to signify their action in taking control of their condition.
For more information about the Hawai‘i Arthritis Walk, see 2012 Arthritis Walk or visit www.HIarthritisWalk.org.
Honolulu Zoo Has New Mosaic Mural
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts bought a tiger.
Okay, not an actual tiger, but an image of a tiger that is part of a beautiful new mosaic wall mural located at the main entrance of the Honolulu Zoo, according to Kathy Hansberry, Outrigger PR rep. From left, Honolulu Zoo Society board member Barry Wallace, Kathy Hansberry, Heather Doeringer and Artist Leah K. Rigg in front of “Outrigger’s tiger.” —Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Photo.
Honolulu Zoo is sporting a new mosaic by Artist Leah Rigg at the front entrance. The 10’ x 7’ mural was unveiled to the public in April. The art piece was made possible by contrinbutions from a number of businesses and individuals including Band of Hawaii Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Hilton Hawaiian Village & Resort, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, Law Offices of Ian Mattoch, Mercedes-Benz of Honolulu, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, Tiki's Grill & Bar, The Conley Family, The Daley Family, The Fincke Family, Joanne Morioka, Toby, Luke & Max Tobin, and Goro Uehara and his grandchildren.
The Honolulu Zoo Society invites everyone to view the colorful mosaic and to save Sept. 28, 2012 for the Annual Zoofari Fundraiser. Reserve table or individual seats by calling Brenda Suzao at (808) 926-3191, ext. 155.
Hawaii Ranks Second on Travel + Leisure's World's Cleanest Air List
Travel + Leisure magazine lists Hawaii among the top ten destinations with the "world"s cleanest air." Hawaii ranked second on the list, bested by Tasmania.
Here are the clean air destinations, according to Travel+Leisure: 1. Tasmania, 2. Hawaii, 3. Iceland, 4. Cape Peninsula, South Africa, 5. Tahiti, 6. Samoa, 7. Antarctica, 8. Easter Island, 9. Patagonia’s Lakes, 10. South Island, New Zealand
DLNR Reminder: Ulu Papapa (Lobster) and Kona Crab Season Closed
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reminds the public that the season for taking ula and ula papapa (spiny and slipper lobsters) and Kona crabs in state waters closed on May 1, 2012 and continues through the end of August.
Hawaii Administrative Rules prohibit the taking, killing, sale or offering for sale, or possession of any ula, also known as spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus, P. marginatus) and ula papapa or slipper lobster (Scyllarides squammosus, S. haanii) from state waters during the closed season. It is also illegal to take, possess, or sell Kona crab during May through August. See story Ula Papa Season.
Oahu Park Hours Switch To Summer Schedule
Summer hours are in effect for eight O‘ahu state parks, continuing until Labor Day, Sept. 3, according to Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
The following parks open at 7 a.m. and now close an hour later, at 7:45 p.m.: Keaiwa Heiau, Malaekahana, Pu‘u ‘Ualaka‘a, Sand Island, Wa‘ahila Ridge, Wahiawa Freshwater, Ka Iwi Shoreline (and Makapu‘u Lighthouse). The new hours started on Sunday, April 1.
For information visit the State Parks website at www.hawaiistateparks.org.
