Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Reinvests $3.78 Million to Support Community Projects, Festivals, Events Statewide
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Signature Events and Community Enrichment programs demonstrate its longstanding commitment to reinvesting in the community and implementing its Strategic Plan and Destination Management Action Plans. HTA today announced it is awarding $3.78 million in funding to support 76 community projects, festivals, and events throughout the state as part of its Signature Events and Community Enrichment programs in 2023.
“The festivals and events being supported by our Signature Events and Community Enrichment programs are integral to Hawai‘i’s multi-cultural community and contribute to a stronger, diversified economy,” said John De Fries, HTA’s president and CEO. “By providing funding assistance to these programs on each island, we are vigorously supporting our kama‘āina – cultural practitioners, musicians, artists, athletes, production staff, nonprofit groups, and volunteers – who are sharing meaningful experiences with residents and visitors alike.”
Since 2017, HTA has invested more than $11 million to over 411 community projects and events. HTA’s Signature Events program supports major festivals and events that provide a unique and enriching experience, preserve Hawai‘i’s natural resources, perpetuate Hawaiian culture, and celebrate the islands’ multi-cultural diversity and community. HTA’s Community Enrichment program supports community-based projects and experiences that encourage tourism diversification in the areas of agriculture, culture, culinary, education, health and wellness, nature, sports, and voluntourism. Both programs seek to build kamaʻāina leadership capacity in Hawaiʻi’s communities and organizations.
HTA has partnered with the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and Island Chapters to administer its 2023 Signature Events and Community Enrichment Programs. Funded by HTA, five program project managers have been appointed to administer the awardee contracts in each county.
- Christy Calabrese has recently re-joined HVCB. She is responsible for managing the statewide Signature Events and Community Enrichment awardee contracts. With years of experience, she has a background in travel trade and tourism.
- Michelle Pope has joined the Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau. A dynamic professional who is driven by clear communication and efficient workflows, she is passionate about building community and supporting local non-profit organizations.
- Sumithra Balraj has joined the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau encompassing Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Most recently, she served as the director of public relations at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.
- Taryn Pascua has joined the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau. Born and raised on O‘ahu, she has more than eight years of experience in project management, communications, and marketing. Pascua has partnered with various nonprofits and stakeholders to create impactful campaigns that support the community.
- Lani Kaui joined the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau in 2015. In addition to managing the Community Enrichment Program on Kaua‘i for 2022 and 2023, she handles a range of responsibilities including coordinating familiarization programs, travel and tradeshows, webinars, and presentations.
HTA 2023 SIGNATURE EVENTS PROGRAM AWARDEES
Multiple Islands
|
Organization |
Project |
Islands |
Award Amount |
|
Epic Sports Foundation |
Moloka‘i 2 O‘ahu Paddleboard World Championships (M20) |
Moloka‘i, O‘ahu |
$35,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Ag & Culinary Alliance dba Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival |
Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival |
O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island |
$350,000 |
|
Hawai‘i International Film Festival |
43rd Annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival |
Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island |
$150,000 |
|
Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai |
Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai 2023 – Annual Women’s Moloka‘i to O‘ahu Outrigger Canoe Race |
Moloka‘i, O‘ahu |
$20,000 |
|
O‘ahu Hawaiian Racing Association |
The 72nd Annual Moloka‘i Hoe |
Moloka‘i, O‘ahu |
$100,000 |
Hawaiʻi Island
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
The IRONMAN Foundation |
2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship |
$500,000 |
Maui
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Maui Jim Maui Invitational |
$200,000 |
Oʻahu
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Aloha Week Hawai‘i, Inc. dba Aloha Festivals |
Aloha Festivals 2023 |
$100,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts |
46th Annual Nā Hokū Hanohano Awards |
$50,000 |
|
Kalihi Palama Culture & Arts Society |
Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition and Hō‘ike |
$100,000 |
|
Moanalua Gardens Foundation, Inc. |
46th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, Ola ka Hula I ka Po‘e Hula |
$100,000 |
|
ODKF Support, Inc. |
2023 Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival |
$65,000 |
|
Teach for America, Inc. |
ESPN Events – Hawai‘i Bowl and Diamond Head Classic |
$300,000 |
HTA 2023 COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AWARDEES
Multiple Islands
|
Organization |
Project |
Islands |
Award Amount |
|
Kaikeha, Inc. |
5th Annual Garden Island Boogie Board Classic 15th Annual Hubb Keiki Fest Turtle Bay Pro |
Kaua‘i, O‘ahu |
$25,000 |
|
Kanu Hawai‘i |
"Give Back December" – Visitor Volunteer Engagement Program |
Statewide |
$40,000 |
|
Kī Hō‘alu Foundation |
32nd Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Maui Style 41st Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Waikīkī Style 31st Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Kaua‘i Style 26th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Kona Style |
Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island |
$48,000 |
|
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame |
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame |
O‘ahu, Maui |
$25,000 |
Hawaiʻi Island
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum |
Island Science Lecture Series |
$10,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Island Pacific & Asia Cultural Celebrations |
Hawai‘i Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival |
$30,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival, Inc. |
Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival - 2023 Season |
$60,000 |
|
Hawaiian International Billfish Association |
61st Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament |
$30,000 |
|
Kai ʻŌpua Canoe Club |
Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Races 50th Anniversary |
$50,000 |
|
Kailua Village Business Improvement District |
Street Eats, A Kailua Village Food Truck Festival |
$15,000 |
|
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival |
52nd Kona Coffee Cultural Festival |
$75,000 |
|
Nāʻālehu Theatre |
Aloha Shirt Festival, Vintage Era Exhibit and Fashion Week Hawai‘i |
$10,000 |
|
Nāʻālehu Theatre |
Hilo Hawaiian Music Festival |
$14,000 |
|
Volcano Art Center |
Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Trail Program & Forest Fair |
$14,000 |
Maui
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Arts Education for Children Group |
2023 Maui Music Festival Series |
$25,000 |
|
Hāna Arts |
Hāna Arts Presents! – An Events and Workshops Program for East Maui |
$25,000 |
|
Hawaiian Kamali'i, Inc. dba Hawaiian Canoe Club |
2023 Pailolo Challenge |
$20,000 |
|
Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society |
Gathering Of The Voyagers |
$30,000 |
|
Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center |
“Celebrating the Visual Arts of Hawai‘i” Hui No‘eau Exhibitions |
$25,000 |
|
Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center |
”Captivate the Artist in You” Art Workshops with Hui No‘eau |
$20,000 |
|
Lōkahi Pacific |
Festivals of Aloha |
$60,000 |
|
Lōkahi Pacific |
Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival |
$20,000 |
|
Maui Arts & Cultural Center |
Maui ‘Ukulele Festival 2023 |
$20,000 |
|
Maui Arts & Cultural Center |
Visual Arts Exhibitions 2023 |
$20,000 |
|
Maui Pops Orchestra, Inc. |
Maui Pops Orchestra 2023 Holiday Pops Concert |
$6,000 |
|
The Lahaina Restoration Foundation |
Moku‘ula Experience |
$36,000 |
Molokaʻi
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Youth In Motion |
Molokai Holokai Ho‘olaule‘a |
$67,322 |
Lānaʻi
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center |
Preserving and Honoring Lānaʻi’s Japanese History |
$25,000 |
Oʻahu
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
AccesSurf Hawai‘i, Inc. |
17th AccesSurf Hawai‘i Anniversary |
$33,000 |
|
Bishop Museum |
Moonlight Mele 2023 |
$30,000 |
|
Haleiwa Waialua Historical Society |
Waialua Town Interpretive History Signage, & Walking Tour |
$10,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Bicycling League |
2023 Honolulu Century Ride & Aloha Fun Ride |
$35,000 |
|
Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation |
Honolulu Pride |
$35,000 |
|
Hawai‘i Forest Institute |
2023 Hawai‘i’s Woodshow, Na Lā‘au o Hawai‘i |
$8,500 |
|
Hawai‘i Korean Chamber of Commerce Foundation |
19th Annual Korean Festival |
$50,000 |
|
Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association |
41st Annual Okinawan Festival |
$50,000 |
|
Kala Foundation |
2023 Hawai‘i ‘Ukulele Festival |
$30,000 |
|
Kumu Kahua Theatre |
Mendokusai |
$20,000 |
|
Lanikai Athletic Club, dba 7Gen Culture |
The Lū‘au – Hawai‘i’s Largest Grass Volleyball Tournament |
$15,000 |
|
Mauka to Makai Makaha Foundation |
West O‘ahu Ocean Safety Project |
$30,000 |
|
Mauka to Makai Makaha Foundation |
Braddah Mel’s Waterman Surfing Championship |
$30,000 |
|
Mōʻiliʻili Hongwanji / Mōʻiliʻili Summer Fest |
10th Annual Mōʻiliʻili Summer Fest 2023, Honolulu’s Largest Bon Dance |
$15,000 |
|
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association |
Ka Huina 2023 |
$50,000 |
|
Nurture Cultivate, Inc. |
2nd Annual Ehuloa Health & Wellness Festival |
$15,000 |
|
Oahu Intertribal Council |
47th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow |
$5,000 |
|
Waimea Valley (aka Hi‘ipaka LLC) |
Waimea Valley Summer Concert 2023 |
$25,000 |
Kauaʻi
|
Organization |
Project |
Award Amount |
|
Anaina Hou Community Park |
Live On The Lānai |
$8,000 |
|
Arts Kaua‘i |
Kaua‘i Songwriters Music Festival |
$7,500 |
|
Hanapēpē Economic Alliance |
2023 Kaua‘i Chocolate & Coffee Festival |
$45,000 |
|
Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center |
Emalani Festival – Eō e Emalani i Alaka‘i |
$51,600 |
|
Ka Imi Na‘auao o Hawai‘i Nei Institute |
Heiva I Kaua‘i 2023 |
$11,000 |
|
Kapa‘a Business Association |
Old Kapa‘a Town 1st Saturday Ho‘olaule‘a Multi-Cultural Celebrations |
$5,000 |
|
Kaua‘i Economic Development Board |
Kōloa Plantation Days 2023 "Uniting Cultures as One ‘Ohana" |
$43,500 |
|
Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji |
Soto Zen Bon Festival |
$10,000 |
|
Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society, Inc. |
Kaua‘i Matsuri Festival 2023 |
$25,000 |
|
Kaua‘i Yoga & Peace Festival |
Aloha Kaua‘i Yoga Festival & Worldwide Peace Meditation Summit |
$5,000 |
|
Mālie Foundation |
2023 Hawaiian Cultural Events and Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival |
$25,000 |
|
Po‘ipū Beach Foundation |
New Year’s Eve Celebration |
$25,000 |
|
Po‘ipū Beach Foundation |
Po‘ipū Food & Wine Festival |
$45,000 |
|
Rice Street Business Association |
2nd Saturday Downtown Līhu‘e Night Market |
$8,500 |
|
Rice Street Business Association |
Rice Street Block Party |
$10,000 |
|
Rice Street Business Association |
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot |
$5,000 |
|
The Kaua‘i Marathon |
The Kaua‘i Marathon & Half Marathon |
$49,800 |