Three Kauaʻi organizations have been awarded grant funding for projects dedicated to supporting and strengthening Native Hawaiian culture by providing genuine experiences for residents and visitors statewide.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has awarded $900,000 in funding to 30 community-based organizations through the end of the year as part of its Kūkulu Ola program, administered in partnership with Kilohana, a division of the Hawaiian Council (formerly the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement).
The organizations were selected for their ability to perpetuate Hawaiian cultural practices, provide educational programs, preserve cultural sites, and build community pride.
“These organizations are advancing Native Hawaiian culture through education, stewardship, and cultural practice,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. “Kūkulu Ola supports their work to strengthen connections to place and help residents and visitors better understand the culture and values that define Hawaiʻi.”
Many of the funded projects offer intergenerational learning opportunities, mentor emerging cultural leaders, and present authentic experiences accessible to both residents and visitors.
Kauaʻi
Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli received funding for the Kulāiwi Connection Project, an immersive, Native Hawaiian-led regenerative tourism and land restoration program focused on restoring traditional loʻi kalo (taro patches), native forests, and indigenous food systems in West Kauaʻi.
The Rice Street Business Association received funding for Hoʻokipa Kaiāulu, a series of cultural pop-ups and live performances designed to embed authentic Native Hawaiian culture and community values into local hospitality and commerce.
The Waipā Foundation received funding for Waipā Food & Farm Tours: Site Restoration and Erosion Mitigation, aiming to showcase how reviving traditional agricultural structures directly prevents environmental degradation and creates climate resilience.
Statewide
The Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Foundation received funding for Hawaiian History Month, which includes free public concerts, hula performances, historical walking tours, and film screenings.
The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture received funding for Kaulele, a program that creates informal science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities through indigenous Hawaiian knowledge.
Kāhuli Leo Leʻa received funding for Kani a Ola: Economic Resilience for Mele Practitioners, supporting the financial sustainability of Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) musical and oral historians..
