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Tourism

Hawaii Tourism Authority Supports Native Hawaiian Culture with $980,000 in Funding

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has awarded $980,000 in funding to 26 community-based organizations through its Kukulu Ola program, supporting and strengthening Native Hawaiian culture by providing genuine experiences for residents and visitors statewide. This program is part of HTA's destination stewardship efforts, administered in partnership with Kilohana, a division of the Hawaiian Council. The funded projects range from revitalizing a wahi pana along the Wailua River into a cultural sanctuary to promoting Hawaiian language and culture immersion programs for East Maui youth. The Kukulu Ola program enables HTA to invest directly in the people and organizations keeping Hawai'i's culture thriving, enriching the lives of Hawai'i's residents while giving visitors an opportunity to connect more deeply with the island home.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has awarded $980,000 in funding to 26 community-based organizations through its Kukulu Ola program to support and strengthen Native Hawaiian culture.
  • The Kukulu Ola program supports organizations that perpetuate Hawaiian cultural practices, provide educational programming, preserve cultural sites, and build community pride.
  • Many of the funded programs offer intergenerational learning opportunities, mentor emerging cultural leaders, and present authentic experiences that are accessible to both residents and visitors.
  • The program is one of HTA's destination stewardship programs, administered in partnership with Kilohana, a division of the Hawaiian Council.
  • Examples of funded projects include:

+ Statewide Kani a Ola: Economic Resilience for Mele Practitioners, organized by Kahuli Leo Le`a, which supports the financial sustainability of Kanaka `Oiwi mele practitioners.

+ Queen Lili`uokalani Keiki Hula Festival, organized by Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society, which honors Hawai'i's last monarch and perpetuates Hawaiian culture through hula.

+ Hawai`i, Kaua`i, O`ahu Mo`olelo Matters Speaker Series Screenings, organized by Aloha Kuamo`o `Aina, which will offer free film screenings exploring the cultural, spiritual, and environmental roles of food in Hawai`i.

+ Hawai`i Island and O`ahu Kaulele "Ho`onui `Ike" (Expanding Knowledge), organized by the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, which provides culturally grounded STEM learning for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth.

  • The programs aim to foster cultural stewardship, healing, and reintegration for kane, provide immersive and authentic experiences, and promote Hawaiian language and culture immersion programs for residents and visitors.

Statistics:

  • $980,000 in funding awarded to 26 community-based organizations through the Kukulu Ola program.
  • 26 organizations supported by the Kukulu Ola program.
  • 25 halau from Hawai`i and Japan participating in the Queen Lili`uokalani Keiki Hula Festival.
  • 22 OHCRA-affiliated canoe clubs, representing over 4,600 paddlers and 15,000 supporters, involved in the OHCRA Racing Program.

Sources:

  • Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) news release
  • Kahuli Leo Le`a
  • Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society
  • Aloha Kuamo`o `Aina
  • Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture
  • EA Foundation
  • Men of Pa`a
  • Volcano Arts Center
  • Pohaha I Ka Lani
  • National Tropical Botanical Garden
  • Pihana Ka `Ikena
  • Malie Foundation
  • Haleakala Conservancy
  • Hana Arts
  • Hawai`i Land Trust
  • Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center
  • Kalamaula Homesteaders Association
  • Waikiki Community Center
  • Manoa Heritage Center
  • The Friends of `Iolani Palace
  • Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
  • Young of Heart Workshop dba Pu`uhonua Society
  • Hika'alani
  • PA`I Foundation
  • O`ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA)
  • Kauluakalana
  • Trust for Public Land

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