Hawai‘i tourism authority continues to support communities through tourism

Thursday, February 1, 2024

These initiatives include Kahu ‘Āina, Kūkulu Ola, Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative, Signature Events, and Community Enrichment. In 2024, HTA is collaborating to allocate over $7.5 million in total funding to assist 163 nonprofit organizations, community groups, practitioners, projects, and events across the state.

“The community is the foundation of our visitor industry and the fabric of the experiences that mindful travelers want to have when they come to our shores,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA Board Chair. “To continue having a thriving, diversified industry that supports our other sectors we need to ensure that we strengthen what we all know makes Hawai‘i special — our people, our living cultures, and the places that we hold dear — as without them there is no future.”

“Reinvesting in Hawai‘i’s people, places and multi-cultural traditions remains central to HTA’s regenerative tourism mission,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO. “We look forward to working closely with such a diverse range of qualified organizations and practitioners on each island to deliver these programs to our community and our visitors.”

In 2024, as part of its dedication to destination stewardship, HTA has joined forces with Kilohana to oversee various programs and contracts. Selection criteria involve showcasing how the proposed initiatives align with the state’s Aloha+ Challenge and ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures principles, promoting a circular economy—a commitment that HTA continues to uphold.

These programs supplement HTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance workforce development within Hawai‘i’s visitor industry, offer support to nonprofits and small businesses through capacity-building tools, thereby enhancing their ability to participate in tourism, and deliver technical assistance training.

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