Kilauea Lighthouse receives $25K from National Hotel Chain Competition

L-R: Shannon Smith, Refuge Manager for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex; Gary Smith, KPNHA Capital Campaign Co-Chair; Sue Boynton, KPNHA Board President. As part of the phase II restoration work  on the lighthouse, it’s covered to protect the environment from lead paint removal. USFWS Photo by Jennifer Hahn

On Saturday, Sept. 29, Hampton Hotels, through its Save-A-Landmark program, donated $25,000 toward the restoration of the Kilauea Lighthouse in honor of National Public Lands Day.

“We are thrilled to be able to help aid the preservation of the Kilauea Lighthouse as it prepares for its centennial celebration in 2013,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing, Hampton Hotels.  “This donation to one of Hawai‘i’s most iconic landmarks signifies the realization of our goal to help at least one landmark in each state. It’s a momentous milestone in our brand’s history – one we’ve worked toward for nearly 12 years.”

The Kilauea Lighthouse is one of the most visited attractions in Hawai‘i with more than 500,000 visitors each year.  The lighthouse was selected as a Hampton Hotels landmark during a national voting campaign hosted by the company which attracted more than 60,000 votes from communities across the country.

Hampton Hotels presented the donation to Kilauea Point Natural History Association (KPNHA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a local celebration of National Public Lands Day. On site to accept the donation on behalf of the Kilauea Lighthouse were Sue Boynton, KPNHA Board President; Gary Smith, KPNHA Capital Campaign Co-Chair; and Shannon Smith, Refuge Manager for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

After more than a decade dedicated to refurbishing historical, cultural and iconic landmarks across the Americas, Hampton Hotels announced the achievement of its long-term goal to preserve one landmark in each U.S. state through its Save-A-Landmark program.

To date, Hampton Hotels has preserved 60 historic sites in 50 states and three countries and has donated more than $2.5 million and more than 8,000 volunteer hours towards the research and refurbishment of roadside landmarks.