The 36th annual Hawai’i Lodging & Tourism Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised a record $1.9 million, or 12.9 percent more funds, for local charities than it did last year.

Some 14,281 walkers on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii island participated in the fundraiser, which was held May 3, 10 and 17. Maui County walkers raised $926,141 — the most of any county — for charity. Walkers on Kauai raised $215,241 and walkers on Oahu raised $469,410.

"Our visitor industry did an outstanding job this year to raise funds for Hawaii’s nonprofit charities and organizations," said Kelly Hoen, this year’s Charity Walk chairwoman and general manager of The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort. "We appreciate everyone’s generosity in creating a lasting difference in the community."

Hoen said Thursday that Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi would take home the coveted "koa slippah" plaque because walkers on his island bolstered their year-over-year collections to $276,218, which was a 21 percent gain over the 2013 walk. Kenoi is the first recipient of the plaque, a new charity walk initiative to drive higher islandwide contributions. Although Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho and Maui County Maui Alan Arakawa did not win, each spurred increases in generosity throughout the isles. Oahu walkers raised nearly 3.9 percent more than last year, while Kauai walkers collected 7.1 percent more and Maui walkers showed a gain of 17.8 percent.

The event has raised more than $24 million for local charitable institutions since its inception in 1978. In addition to HLTA, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk was sponsored by individual lodging and travel partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Summit Media Hawaii

"Hawaii’s support is vital in making the Charity Walk an annual success. These walks have a positive impact on the islands, and our visitor industry takes pride in sharing the aloha to the community," said George Szigeti, president of the HLTA.