The Hawai\u2018i Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) in partnership with the Institute for Human Services (IHS) and the County of Hawai\u02bbi has awarded grants totalling $35,000 to two nonprofit agencies serving the homeless on Hawai\u02bbi Island.<\/p>\n
HOPE Services of Hawai\u02bbi Island and Hawai\u02bbi Rise Foundation were each presented with awards of $20,000 and $15,000 respectively, during a reception on August 31 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.<\/p>\n
\u201cHLTA is a statewide organization, and while we are headquartered in O\u2018ahu, we have a chapter in each county and support each island, whether it be through our annual Charity Walk, or special presentations like today,\u201d said HLTA President and CEO Mufi Hannemann during the reception.<\/p>\n
HOPE Services Hawai\u02bbi Inc. will receive the $20,000 award through a matching grant from HLTA and IHS to help fund their transitional housing program.<\/p>\n
The Hawai\u02bbi Rise Foundation will receive $15,000 from HLTA through the recommendation of Hawai\u02bbi County Mayor Harry Kim. The funds will be used for a certified kitchen at Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini, also known as Ulu Wini, a low-income housing project built by the County of Hawai\u2018i in 2011 in Kona.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank the Hawai\u02bbi Lodging & Tourism Association for supporting county partnerships such as this,\u201d said Will Okabe, managing director of Hawai\u02bbi County. \u201cThe certified kitchen will open numerous opportunities for the Ulu Wini residents and public participants, starting with training individuals in the transitional housing community to lead a healthy lifestyle and become more self-sufficient by preparing and cooking nutritious food on a budget.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Hawai\u02bbi Rise Foundation would like to thank the Hawai\u02bbi Lodging & Tourism Association for its generous donation,\u201d said Mike Sohriakoff, president of Hawai\u02bbi Rise Foundation. \u201cThe certified kitchen this grant will fund will be used to not only feed the needy in the community, but potentially teach job skills and techniques to help individuals learn the culinary skills needed to find jobs in the travel and tourism industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The grant awards were presented in conjunction with HLTA Hawai\u02bbi Chapter\u2019s Charity Walk grant allocation ceremony. During the event, $276,000 was dispersed between 60 Hawai\u02bbi County nonprofit organizations. The Charity Walk is an annual statewide fundraiser put on by HLTA and the visitor industry to raise funds for various nonprofit agencies. The 2017 Charity Walk raised $2.27 million for over 360 charities statewide.<\/p>\n
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