Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says, "Bring it on."

Caldwell is locked in a battle with other mayors across the state to see which island can raise the most for the 36th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, which takes place May 3 to 17 across all major islands.

The Mayor’s Challenge is a new twist on the charity walk, which has raised more than $26 million for local charities since its inception in 1978. Last year it collected a record $1.67 million when more than 14,000 walkers across the islands supported the event, said Kelly Hoen, general manager of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and statewide chairwoman of the 2014 HLTA Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

"This year we have a pretty audacious task to greatly increase our charitable contributions," Hoen said. "We’ll have over 15,000 walkers. I’ve also challenged the mayors to see if they can inspire their counties to raise the bar."

Hoen said that the county that realizes the highest percentage growth of charitable contributions will earn the right to have its mayor display a perpetual trophy, a koa wood slipper, for one year.

"This has been an incredibly popular addition," Hoen said. "Mayors Caldwell and Carvalho have already been duking it out. At our annual visitor industry employee awards, Mayor Caldwell jumped up on a chair and started pumping his chest, saying, Bring it on.’ It’s fun to see this new spirit brought to the event."

Caldwell said he enthusiastically supports the event, which is sponsored by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, individual lodging and travel partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Summit Media Hawaii.

"This really is the best kind of challenge, one that gets people moving to support good causes," he said. "The theme ‘Put your best slippah forward’ is fitting, with our visitor industry joining the city and the community once again to raise money for charities state wide."

To be sure, charities such as Aloha Independent Living, Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Honolulu Zoological Society, Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Special Olympics Hawaii, Waikiki Community Center and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii are among the past beneficiaries of the walk.

"Giving back to the community is part of HLTA’s mission," said George Szigeti, HLTA president and CEO. "The money raised in Hawaii stays here."

Walks will begin Saturday on Molokai and Lanai. They will take place on Maui and Hawaii island May 10, and on Kauai and Oahu on May 17.

The 6.2-mile Oahu walk kicks off at 7 a.m. at Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion. Participants will wind through 18 hotel checkpoints, which will provide entertainment and food along the route. Hawaiian 105 KINE radio host Bruddah Wade Faildo will be the honorary chairman calling in live updates to the radio station’s morning show. At the event’s end, Sheraton Hotels Waikiki will serve plate lunches and provide entertainment by Kaena and Audissey.