Virtual fitness challenge to inspire thousands
to holoholo (go out) while benefiting the
nonprofit Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife
Refuge
HONOLULU, Sept. 1,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all runners, joggers and
walkers to the starting line! Beginning today, athletes of all
levels can sign up for the third annual Hawaiian Airlines Holoholo
Challenge. The Hawaiʻi inspired fitness experience runs throughout
October and invites participants worldwide to track their progress
with virtual routes inspired by scenic roads that wind through
Hawaiʻi Island – also known as the Big Island.
"Each year, the Holoholo Challenge has been a fun way for
Hawaiʻi lovers to commit to their personal wellbeing while
virtually exploring the Hawaiian Islands – no matter where they are
in the world," said Rob Sorensen,
vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. "The Big Island
is considered a world-class destination for endurance fitness,
making it the perfect place for Holoholo athletes to get inspired
and go BIG with their challenges."
Participants can take on one of two virtual courses: a solo
50-mile run/walk on Saddle Road, the high-elevation highway that
stretches from Hilo to
Waimea, passing between
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, or a 125-mile solo run/walk
or team relay across the southern section of Hawai'i Belt Road,
starting in the rainforests of Hilo, through Kaʻū, and ending in the lava
fields of Kona. Holoholo Challengers will also be encouraged to
donate to Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, a
nonprofit working to protect a 32,830-acre parcel on the Island of
Hawaiʻi that is home to 29 critically endangered species
including seven birds, one insect, one mammal and 20 plants found
nowhere else in the world.
"The Holoholo Challenge continues to expose Hawaiʻi nonprofits
to new audiences and bring awareness to their important role in
sustaining our islands' environment, culture and communities. We
are inspired by the Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife
Refuge and excited to support their work," added Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director of community
and cultural relations at Hawaiian Airlines.
Those embarking on this year's month-long challenge can stay
motivated by creating a team, printing a bib to add to their race
memorabilia, challenging friends or working out to Spotify
playlists curated by Hawaiʻi's hometown airline. Registrants can
also learn about Hawaiʻi Island's rich culture, history and unique
geography on the Holoholo Challenge website, sign up for
regular emails notifying them of their progress along the digital
route, and join the popular Holoholo Challenge community on
Facebook. Participants posting about their journey on social media
can also use #HoloholoChallenge for a chance to be featured on
Hawaiian Airlines' channels.
Finishers of the challenge will receive a collectible Hawaiʻi
Island Holoholo Challenge medal, a choice of a limited-edition
apparel item and an exclusive postcard map designed by POW!
WOW! Hawaii Artist Aaron Kai. Those
who refer friends to join the Holoholo Challenge can earn up to
40,000 bonus HawaiianMiles. HawaiianMiles members and Hawaiian
Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite
Mastercard® cardholders will receive 20% off
registration. Cardholders can also earn three HawaiianMiles for
every dollar spent during sign-up.
Hawaiian introduced the Holoholo Challenge in October 2020 to foster wellness and connection
amid times of heightened isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The virtual race debuted with two Oʻahu courses
and attracted nearly 12,000 participants from Hawaiʻi and
the U.S. mainland who completed approximately 852,700 miles. In
2021, the carrier introduced four new Maui routes and brought in 8,333 participants
who completed nearly 595,000 miles. Since the Holoholo Challenge's
inception, participants have raised nearly $120,000 for nonprofits in Hawaiʻi.
To learn more, visit HoloholoChallenge.com.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time
performance for each of the past 18 years (2004-2021) as reported
by the U.S. Department of Transportation and consumer surveys by
Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the
top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiʻi. In 2022, the carrier
topped Travel + Leisure's 2022 World's Best list as the No.
1 U.S. airline and was named Hawaiʻi's best employer by
Forbes.
Now in its 93rd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is
Hawaiʻi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers
approximately 130 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily
nonstop flights between Hawaiʻi and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more
than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New
Zealand, South Korea and
Tahiti.
The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by
offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes
and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium
Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with
miles that never expire. As Hawai'i's hometown airline, Hawaiian
encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely
and respectfully.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings,
Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available
at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates
(@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and
follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and
updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online
newsroom.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/start-stretching-hawaiian-airlines-debuts-its-third-annual-holoholo-challenge-with-hawaii-island-inspired-routes-301616777.html
SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines