100 years

Hawai‘i Community Foundation
HTA: Kūkulu Ola & Aloha ‘Āina Awards

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The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) have partnered to administer the Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs. The HTA is committed to reinvesting in Hawaiʻiʻs most cherished resources, its people and place. After 15 years, these two programs represent HTA’s strategic focus on funding the community through tourism reinvestment from the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT) as well as incorporating new destination management plans.

Destination Management Action Plans

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), in partnership with the four counties and respective visitor bureaus, have developed community-based Destination Management Action Plans (DMAPs) that aim to rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism over a three-year period. Each county plan was guided by an island-based Steering Committee that collaborated with the community, visitor industry, and other key sectors. The input provided helped to identify areas of need and to build actionable solutions aimed at improving the lives of residents and enriching communities across the state.

The Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs are aligned with the Strategic Plan and plays a key role in helping to meet the DMAP action items found in each county plan. Applicants should read through their respective county DMAP that aligns best to the project or program being proposed for funding support. County-specific DMAPs can be found on HTA’s website with six to 10 overall anchor actions for each island accompanied by sub-actions, timelines, and roles of stakeholders and agencies that are responsible for implementation.

Kūkulu Ola Program

The purpose of the Kūkulu Ola Program is to seek community-based projects and programs that honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community. The Kūkulu Ola funds support programs that help honor and preserve the Hawaiian culture; demonstrate collaborative efforts with a high degree of community support and involvement; strive to nurture the culture by creating unique experiences and activities that are respectful and accurate; and support cultural practitioners, craftsmen, musicians, and other artists within the sector.

Kūkulu Ola Program Awardees

Total distributed: $1,475,000
Grants Awarded: 30

ʻAha Kāne Foundation for the Advancement of Native Hawaiian Males
Tena Project
Island served: O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island

City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation
Lei Day Celebration
Island served: O'ahu

Hāna Arts
Hāna Arts: Hana Noʻeau
Island served: Maui

Hawaiʻi Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experience
Steel Guitar Festivals and Showcases
Island served: Statewide

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust
Maunawila Heiau Cultural & Ecological Preservation & Education Program
Island served: O'ahu

Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation
NATIVE Act Stewardship Training for Native Hawaiian Site Protection and Restoration
Island served: Statewide

Hōlani Hāna
Kūkulu Hale Hawai'i
Island served: Maui

Honolulu Theatre for Youth
‘Imi Ā Loa‘a: Search and Find
Island served: O'ahu

Ho‘okua‘āina
Kupuohi Education and Kupuna Program
Island served: O'ahu

Ka Pā o Lonopūhā FS: Hui Mauli Ola
Hoʻolālā
Island served: Statewide

Ka‘ala Farm, Inc.
ʻAi Pono
Island served: O'ahu

Kāhuli Leo Le‘a
Kani Kuaola: Amplifying Livelihoods in Mele
Island served: Statewide

Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi
Hoʻoulu Hoi
Island served: O'ahu

Kamāwaelualani Corp.
Mo'olelo Murals
Island served: Kaua'i

Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy
Kū Paʻa Mau - Living the Legacy
Island served: O'ahu

Kauluakalana
Pili Mai 2022
Island served: O'ahu

Ke Kula ‘o Pi‘ilani
Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu
Island served: Maui

Kealakai Center for Pacific String Traditions
Pacific String Museum & Pūmanamana Project
Island served: O'ahu

Kimokeo Foundation
Ke Ala Kupuna 2022
Island served: Maui

Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Mai Uka Ku‘u Wa‘a
Island served: O'ahu

Kua'āina Ulu 'Auamo
Year of the Limu 2022
Island served: Statewide

La‘i‘ōpua 2020
Ola ka Lāhui
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike Building Program
Nā Mamo O Hāloa
Island served: Maui

Mānoa Heritage Center
Cultural-Based Programs for Residents and Visitors
Island served: O'ahu

Multiplier/NEST
Text-based Support for Hawaiian Language and Cultural Practices in Hawai‘i Households
Island served: Statewide

Pa‘a Pono Miloli‘i
Revitalize Traditional Kūkulu Hale Waʻa
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Pa'i Foundation
PA'I Presents
Island served: O'ahu

Pōhāhā I Ka Lani
Ka Lau O Ke Kahuli
Island served: Hawai'i Island

The Kohala Center, Inc.
Puana lauhala a paʻahia: Sharing the process of hana lauhala until it becomes sustainable
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Ulu A'e Learning Center
Ulu Aʻe Kaiāulu
Island served: O'ahu

Aloha ‘Āina Program

The Aloha ʻĀina Program seeks to fund community-based projects and programs that work to respect, enhance, and perpetuate Hawaiʻi’s natural resources. The Aloha ʻĀina funds support programs that improve value-added amenities at natural resource sites; explore innovative means to repair, maintain and improve Hawaiʻiʻs natural resources; increases collaboration among government agencies, the visitor industry, and the community; and raise awareness of commercial operators, information providers, and others regarding the responsible use of natural resources.

Aloha ‘Āina Program Awardees

Total distributed: $1,575,000
Grants Awarded: 31

808 Cleanups
Community Empowered Stewardship Program
Island served: O'ahu

‘Āina Momona
Keawanui Food System Revitalization Project
Island served: Moloka'i

Auwahi Forest Restoration Project
Auwahi, community-enacted protection of Hawai`i’s irreplaceable natural and cultural resources
Island served: Maui

Big Island Invasive Species Committee
Protecting Wahi Pana of Hawaiʻi Island from Invasive Species
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Garden Island Arts Council
ʻEle'ele Endangered Wildlife Mural
Island served: Kaua'i

Hawai‘i Forest Institute
Mahalo ‘Āina Discovery Forest Projects
Island served: O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island

Hawaiʻi Marine Mammal Alliance
Stewardship & Conservation of Hawaii's Protected Marine Animals
Island served: O'ahu

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust
Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Cultural & Ecological Restoration at Kapoho
Island served: Maui

Ho'oulu Lāhui
'Ike Honua o Keahialaka
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Hui Aloha Kīholo
Mohala i ka Wai: Empowering our community to support a thriving Kīholo
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Ka‘ala Farm, Inc.
Pua Kaiāulu
Island served: O‘ahu

Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission
Spreading Aloha 'Aina through Community Engagement on Kaho'olawe
Island served: Kaho'olawe

Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi
Ho‘oulu He‘eia Uli
Island served: O'ahu

Kalanihale
Protecting Marine Natural Resources through Cultural & Traditional Management
Island served: Hawai'i Island

Kauluakalana
Hoi Ka Wai Nui
Island served: O'ahu

Koke'e Resource Conservation Program
Mālama Ka ʻĀina No Nā Hanauna Mua
Island served: Kaua'i

Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Kalihi Valley Kīpuka Revitalization Initiative
Island served: O'ahu

Kūleana Coral Reefs
West Oʻahu Community Coral Restoration
Island served: O'ahu

Kupu
Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps
Island served: Statewide

Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center
Lānaʻi Biocultural Landscape Program
Island served: Lana'i

Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke Building Program
Mālama Hāloa
Island served: Maui

Mālama Maunalua
Community-Led Coral Reef Restoration
Island served: O'ahu

Mālama Nā Honu
Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle Education Program
Island served: O'ahu

Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea
Improving the Health of Natural and Cultural Resources at Pūpūkea Through Community Stewardship
Island served: O'ahu

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Inc.
Bringing Kanaloa to light: the collaborative rescue of critically endangered Hawaiian plants
Island served: Maui

Molokaʻi Land Trust
Critical Habitat Improvements within the Anapuka Predator Proof Fence Project
Island served: Moloka'i

O‘ahu Invasive Species Committee
OISC miconia control in Kaʻalaea Watershed
Island served: O'ahu

State of HI-Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Oʻahu Offshore Islets
Island served: O'ahu

The Kohala Center, Inc.
Aloha ʻĀina Kahaluʻu: Caring for a cherished place
Island served: Hawai'i Island

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi
Aloha ʻĀina Mauka to Makai
Island served: Maui, Lāna‘i

Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative
Waikōloa Biocultural Program
Island served: Hawai'i Island

For questions, please email hta@hcf-hawaii.org