The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) announced today it is awarding funding to 34 programs in the Hawaiian Islands through its Aloha Aina program for the 2020 calendar year, an increase from 28 recipients in 2019. This is in addition to the 95 programs and events HTA is funding through its Community Enrichment program, which was announced earlier this month. The money comes from tourism dollars through the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), which people pay when they stay in legal accommodations throughout the state.
HTAโs Aloha Aina program funds community-based nonprofit and government programs helping to manage and protect Hawaiiโs natural resources. The Hawaiian proverb, โHe alii ka aina, he kauwa ke kanakaโ means โthe land is a chief, man is its servant,โ and therefore if we care for our natural resources, they will care for us.
HTA issued a request for proposals on May 2 with the deadline of July 5 to submit applications. HTA staff held informational briefings about the submission process on all six islands during the month of May.
โOur Aloha Aina program is focused on the lasting value of stewardship by responsible community-based entities with an emphasis on aina-kanaka (land-human) relationships and knowledge. The collective objective is to reinvest tourism dollars to manage, conserve and revitalize Hawaiiโs natural resources,โ said Kalani Kaanaana, HTAโs Director of Hawaiian Cultural Affairs.
HTA is also providing funding through its Kukulu Ola program, which helps to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. The Kukulu Ola awardees for 2020 will be announced soon.
Note to media: Interviews with Kalani Kaanaana and an awardee are available upon request.
Click here to download a few photos of the Aloha Aina program awardees.
Full List of HTA 2020 Aloha Aina Awardees
Statewide
โข DLNR – Division of Forestry and Wildlife
โข Mokuhalii: Covering the Islands in the Rapid Ohia Death Outreach Network
โข Hawaiian Islands Land Trust
โข Cultural & Ecological Restoration Program
โข Kupu
โข Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps
โข University of Hawaii
โข Rapid Ohia Death Seed Banking Initiative 2020
Oahu
โข Hawaii Marine Animal Response
โข Stewardship and Conservation of Hawaiiโs Protected Marine Animals
โข Hui o Koolaupoko
โข Malama Muliwai o Heeia: Phase 2
โข Kauluakalana
โข Kukanono
โข Malama Maunalua
โข Site Model of Marine Restoration at Maunalua Bay
โข Malama Na Honu
โข Malama Na Honu Conservation through Education Project 2020
โข Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center
โข Establishing Roots of Community Stewardship and Native Landscapes
โข North Shore Community Land Trust
โข Sunset Beach Park Community-Based Dune Restoration
โข Protectors of Paradise
โข Makua & Keawaula Revitalization and Education Awareness Program
โข Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
โข The Pilina Pledge: From Plastics to Soil
Hawaii Island
โข Coral Reef Alliance
โข Hawaii Wai Ola
โข Edith K. Kanakaole Foundation
โข Makawalu a Kanaloa
โข Hawaii Forest Institute
โข Restoration and Education at Palamanui and Lai Opua Dry Forest Preserves
โข Pohaha I Ka Lani
โข Liko No Ka Lama
โข The Kohala Center, Inc.
โข Malama Kahaluu: Restoring Our Coral Reef Ecosystem
โข Volcano Art Center
โข Niaulani Rain Forest Preservation & Education Program
Kauai
โข DLNR – Division of Forestry and Wildlife
โข Alakai Boardwalk Replacement & Trailhead Interpretive Signs
โข Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.
โข Strengthening Visitor Capacity at Makauwahi Cave Reserve
โข Giving Back: Protecting Native Forest
โข Kokee Natural History Museum
โข Kokee – Nature Interpreted 2020
Maui
โข Coral Reef Alliance
โข Engaging Community Volunteers in Watershed Restoration – West Maui
โข Friends of Auwahi Forest Restoration Project
โข Planting together
โข Friends of the DT Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe, Inc.
โข Pahana Hoola – Seeds of Hope 2020
โข Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike
โข Wailua Nui Restoration Project
โข Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
โข Seed Banking, Crop Storage, and Public Access to Maui Nui Plants
โข Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, Inc.
โข Fire and Oysters: Improving Maalaea Bay’s Ocean Water Quality
โข Na Koa Manu Conservation
โข Pohakuokala Gulch Community Forest Restoration Project
โข The Nature Conservancy
โข Expanding Marine Conservation in Maui County to Meet 30×30 Targets
โข University of Hawaii
โข Into the Darkness: Protecting Na Manu o Ke Kai and the Night Skies
Molokai
โข Aina Momona
โข Aina Momona 2020 Aloha Aina Fellowship Program
โข Molokai Land Trust
โข Expanding Habitat Restoration for Ground Nesting Seabirds & Endangered Species