Kahu ʻĀina Program

Kahu ʻĀina Program is sponsored by Hawaii Tourism Authority. The Kahu ʻĀina Program aims to improve and enhance the management of Hawaii's natural resources. It supports projects that align with sustainable tourism and cultural stewardship practices.

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development's Regenerative Tourism Program is pleased to share important information from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Stewardship team regarding the**ʻUmeke****Request for Proposals (RFP) process**and upcoming**Community Information Sessions**for projects and events occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

These sessions will provide key updates and guidance for interested stakeholders.

📌**Initial RFP Release Date:**Monday, February 10, 2025, at 9:00 am HST 📌**Deadline for Proposal Submissions:**Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 4:30 pm HST 📌**Evaluation Period:**April 1 – May 30, 2025 📌**Award Notifications & Subcontractor Agreements:**June 5, 2025 (pending availability of funds) The programs offered in FY26 are: **Signature Events Program:** Invests in projects that protect and enhance Hawai‘i’s globally competitive brand in a way that is coordinated, authentic, and market appropriate while also enriching our communities, supporting better relations between communities and the tourism industry, and create positive resident-visitor interaction.

**Community Enrichment Program:** Provides funding support to unique, authentic and highly valued visitor-related experiences, and represents activities that are developed by the community for the community and are things the community is willing to and wants to share with our visitors.

**Kahu****ʻĀina Program:** Formerly known as Aloha ʻĀina, focuses on supporting community initiatives that contribute to the responsible management, improvement, and protection of Hawai‘i’s natural resources in areas frequented by residents and visitors. **Kūkulu****Ola Program:** Provides funding support to community initiatives that contribute to protecting and enhancing the Hawaiian culture within the tourism industry.

**Ho‘okipa Malihini Initiative :** Provides support to Hawaiian programs and cultural practitioners, craftsmen, musicians, linguists and/or other artists in resort areas and harbors statewide to help preserve and perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture in a way that is respectful and accurate, inviting, and educational to our visitors. For the latest updates, times, and locations, visit:www. hawaiiancouncil.

org/kilohana **C****ommunity Information Sessions** 📅 Tuesday, February 11, 2025 ⏰ 10:00 am – 11:30 am HST 📅 Wednesday, February 26, 2025 ⏰ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm HST 📅 Wednesday, February 12, 2025 ⏰ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 📍 Kilohana Office, 680 Iwilei Rd Suite #600, Honolulu, HI 96817 – KALO Conference Room 📅 Thursday, February 13, 2025 ⏰ 10:00 am – 11:30 am 📍 Lānaʻi Youth Center, 717 Fraser Ave, Lanai City, HI 96763 📅 Tuesday, February 18, 2025 ⏰ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm 📍 Moikeha Building Conference Room 1 (Mohihi Room), 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, HI 96766 📍**Hawai‘i Island – Kona** 📅 Wednesday, February 19, 2025 ⏰ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 📍 West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Keahokalole Hwy Building G, The Community Hale, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 📍**Hawai‘i Island – Hilo** 📅 Thursday, February 20, 2025 ⏰ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 📍 Department of Hawaiian Home Land Meeting Room in Keaukaha, 160 Baker Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 📅 Friday, February 21, 2025 ⏰ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm 📍 Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Ainoa St, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 📅 Monday, February 24, 2025 ⏰ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm 📍 Kako‘o Maui Resource Center, 153 E Kamehameha Ave Suite 101, Kahului, HI