Tens of thousands of dollars are going toward conservation and educational programs at two of the state’s national parks.
The money is from the state’s specialty license plate program, which started in 2015.
Last week, the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association presented $153,000 from the program’s revenues to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks.
HPPA executive director Mel Bohel said the money is significant for the park, which had financial challenges prior to the pandemic.
"It’s primarily going to pay for a film project," Bohel told HPR. "And right now it’s the Ike Hana program, which is cultural demonstrations in the park. They’re filming vignettes for each one of those. They also have a bigger project on the horizon to redo the film that’s shown in the theater at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. But it certainly can go to other projects as well – endangered species, youth programs, volunteer programs."
Bohel says Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has received more than $600,000 from the specialty license plate program, and Haleakalā National Park has received more than $200,000.
