The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is looking for applicants for two programs promoting Hawaiian culture and preserving natural resources.
The HTA is restarting its Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs for 2022. The programs, which fund the efforts of nonprofit businesses and community organizations, were paused last year due to the pandemic and lack of funding.
"Kūkulu Ola, for Hawaiian culture, and Aloha ʻĀina, for natural resources, are really two programs that we have the intention to make reinvestments in people and place," said Kalani Kaʻanaʻana, the HTA’s chief brand officer.
"Our tourism economy is incredibly important to the overall economic impact. But beyond that, we know that it’s important to mitigate some of those impacts. And so we know that communities, and community-based nonprofits, who are closest to these challenges often have the best solutions," Kaʻanaʻana said. "These two programs are really our attempt at making those investments."
The HTA is hosting informational webinars for interested businesses and organizations on every island. The next meetings are for Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi on Thursday.
HTA has selected the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to administer its programs.
More information can be found at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/hta
