Hawai‘i Tourism Authority seeks community partners for natural resource, cultural events

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) is seeking community partnerships to support natural resources, culture, community festivals, and signature events statewide through June 2025. An information session for interested Maui applicants will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Kāko‘o Maui Resource Center, Maui Mall.

“Regenerative tourism plays a crucial role in driving positive change within our communities and is essential to our wellbeing and a more diversified economy that uplifts our islands’ people, culture and places,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA board chair. “These HTA programs strategically direct tourism’s economic benefits back into community-based initiatives with a visitor nexus, thus strengthening our industry’s contributions throughout the state.”

HTA will engage with nonprofit organizations, community groups and practitioners to support projects and events occurring in Hawai‘i from Jan. 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. Another solicitation will be held in early 2025 for projects and events occurring from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, bringing the programs into alignment with the state’s fiscal year.

Applications for each program will be available online on HTA’s digital portal, ‘Umeke, Powered by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, starting Thursday, Aug. 1.

Kilohana, the tourism division of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is working with HTA to administer the following programs as part of its focus on destination stewardship:

• The Kahu ‘Āina program supports responsible community-based entities with an emphasis on ‘āina-kānaka (land-human) relationships and knowledge that manage, preserve and regenerate Hawai‘i’s natural resources and environment.
• The Kūkulu Ola program supports community-based awardees that enhance, strengthen and perpetuate Hawaiian culture through genuine experiences for residents and visitors.
• The Ho‘okipa Malihini Initiative (formerly known as Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative) provides support to cultural practitioners and musicians providing culturally appropriate greetings and experiences in resort areas.
• The Community Enrichment program supports unique, authentic and highly valued visitor-related experiences, and represents activities that are developed by the community, for the community. These are experiences that the community desires to share with visitors.
• The Signature Events program supports major festivals and events that attract attendees and participants from outside the state and have extensive opportunities for national and international marketing. They are typically high-profile events that are larger in scale than those in the Community Enrichment program and have opportunities for marketing globally. 

In 2024, HTA awarded more than $7.5 million in total funding through these programs supporting 163 partner nonprofit organizations, community groups, practitioners, projects and events across the islands.

“HTA’s multi-faceted approach to destination stewardship uplifts the community at all levels,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO. “In addition to providing funding support to qualified nonprofits and groups, we are also addressing the community’s needs through destination management, workforce development programs and scholarships, Foundational Technical Assistance training, and Community Tourism Collaboratives.”

In-person informational sessions will also be held on all islands:

• O‘ahu: Monday, Aug. 12, 5 to 6 p.m. | Location: TBD
• Maui: Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5 to 6 p.m. | Kāko‘o Maui Resource Center, Maui Mall
• Kaua‘i: Wednesday, Aug. 14, Noon to 1 p.m. | Līhu‘e Public Library  
• Island of Hawai‘i (East Hawai‘i): Thursday, Aug. 15, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Location: TBD
• Moloka‘i: Friday, Aug. 16, 5 to 6 p.m. | Lanikeha Community Center
• Lāna‘i: Monday, Aug. 19, 5 to 6 p.m. | Lāna‘i Youth Center
• Island of Hawai‘i (West Hawai‘i): Tuesday, Aug. 20, 5 to 6 p.m. | Location: TBD

The deadline to submit applications on ‘Umeke (umeke.kilohana.com) is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. HST. To register for a webinar or in-person session and for more information, visit www.kilohana.com.