Inspire 2023

CMN: Miracle Moments

“We try to be as creative as we can every year so we can raise as much as we can.”

Lianne Shimaoka-Lopez, Kailua-Kona Costco general manager

Panda Express associates at Moanalua Shopping Center celebrating their fundraising success for CMN.

Best in the Country

Being the best is challenging. Being the best two years in a row requires serious dedication and hard work.

Panda Express at Moanalua Shopping Center knows exactly what it takes. In 2022, the restaurant was the No. 1 fundraising Panda Express out of more than 2,300 locations nationwide for the second straight year. Through the generosity of guests and associates, the Moanalua Panda Express raised $42,561 for Kapiolani.

Panda Express supports many programs and services at Hawaii’s only Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospital, including the Panda Cares Center of Hope. The center, known by many as “The Playroom,” is a place that promotes healing and inspires hope for children undergoing treatment.

“Our Child Life team loves being able to be in a space that is open and welcoming like the Panda Cares Center of Hope,” said Amanda Price, Hawaii Pacific Health’s director of Philanthropy. “The center is where our pediatric patients can feel safe and have fun through toys, games and activities.”

Hawaii’s Panda Express restaurants year-round collection of donations totaled more than $439,000 for Kapiolani in 2022.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide visited Kapiolani bearing holiday gifts for the keiki.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide employees visited Kapiolani bearing holiday gifts for the keiki.

Back in Action

As a year-round fundraising partner for CMN, Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MVW) experienced the effects of the pandemic on donations. Normal campaigns had to be canceled. Fortunately, in 2022, the spirit of giving was at an all-time high. MVW resorts raised more than $263,000 for Kapiolani, a whopping 91% increase in fundraising compared to 2021.

MVW resorts hold a wide range of events for their associates, guests and vacation club owners including golf and pickleball tournaments. People are also encouraged to round up their purchases of food and drink to the nearest dollar, with the spare change going to CMN.

MVW has raised well over $1 million for Kapiolani since the partnership began in 2008. MVW’s support goes beyond monetary fundraising. In December, resort leaders stopped by Kapiolani to surprise young patients and their siblings with gifts of toys.

Giving in Bulk

Costco knows how to do it big.

In 2022, Costco Wholesale raised a record-breaking $751,718 for Kapiolani. Costco was the top fundraising partner for Kapiolani last year and has raised more than $7 million for the medical center since 1995.

In May, Costco encourages shoppers to donate at the register. Many stores go far beyond to support their local children’s hospitals. Last year, the Kailua-Kona Costco also held several in-house fundraising events, including bingo and bowling nights and bake sales. The warehouse hosted food trucks in its parking lot one night, with the vendors’ fees going to CMN. The location raised nearly $150,000 for Kapiolani, ranking seventh of all Costco warehouses nationwide.

“Here on the Big Island, kids who get really sick need to be medevaced to Kapiolani, so we feel like we’re all connected even though we’re on different islands,” said Lianne Shimaoka-Lopez, Kailua-Kona Costco’s general manager. “We try to be as creative as we can every year so we can raise as much as we can.”