

ʻUmeke Portal Closed!
‘Umeke Powered by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority are five funding opportunities for 501 (c)3 non-profit organizations, non-profit organizations with fiscal sponsors and government agencies. In addition, the Signature Event program is geared toward for-profit businesses planning large-scale, high-profile events that attract attendees and participants from outside the state of Hawaiʻi.
The deadline for all applications was Monday, November 13, 2023 at 11:59pm HST
He ‘ai leo ‘ole, he īpuka hāmama.
Food unaccompanied by a voice, a door always open.
This ‘Ōlelo Noe‘au is about the home of a hospitable person. The food can be eaten without hearing a complaint from the owners, and the door is never closed to any visitor.
Watch the Webinar
Listen in on our webinar with Kalani Ka’anā’anā and Tyler Iokepa Gomes as they review details and answer questions about ʻUmeke and the funding opportunities offered.
What is an ʻumeke?
In ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Language) ‘Umeke is a “gourd, bowl or repository” and there are various kinds of ‘umeke in Hawaiian culture. For example, an ‘umeke poi is a bowl for poi and a huewai is a specific ‘umeke with a top that was designed for holding water. In the context of these six funding opportunities, ‘Umeke Powered by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is a repository for financial support as a function of HTA’s six-year strategic plan.
HTA’s Four Pillars
At the start of 2020, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) introduced a six-year strategic plan to guide HTA’s vision and HTA’s responsibilities in support of Hawai‘i tourism through 2025. HTA has been reorganized around four interacting “Pillars” supported by research and other administrative functions: Natural Resources, Hawaiian Culture, Community, and Brand Marketing.
Under the goal for each Pillar, this plan establishes several objectives and specific milestones or measures for tracking success. The Pillars are intended to support an integrated destination management system, with four overall Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), representing the most important ways HTA will be accountable to our stakeholders: Resident Satisfaction, Average Daily Visitor Spending, Visitor Satisfaction, and Total Visitor Spending.
Natural Resources
Hawaiian Culture
Community
Brand Marketing
‘Umeke Powered By Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Programs
The deadline for all applications is Monday, November 13, 2023 at 11:59pm HST
Resort Area Hawaiian Cultural Initiatives (Maui only)
Provides support to displaced musicians and cultural practitioners who previously worked in impacted resort areas on Maui due to the Lahaina wildfires.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
Resort Area Hawaiian Cultural Initiatives (Statewide)
Provides support in 2024 to cultural practitioners providing authentic Hawaiian experiences and musicians providing Hawaiian entertainment and music in resort areas throughout Hawai`i.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
Kahu ʻĀina
Formerly known as Aloha ʻĀina, provides funding support in 2024 to responsible community-based entities with an emphasis on ʻāina-Kānaka (land-human) relationships and knowledge that manage, preserve, and regenerate Hawaiʻi’s natural resources and environment.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
Kūkulu Ola
Provides funding support in 2024 to community-based awardees that enhance, strengthen, and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through genuine experiences for residents and visitors alike.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
Community Enrichment Program
Provides funding support in 2024 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.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
Signature Event
This funding program is open to entities putting on events in 2024 that attract attendees and participants from outside the state of Hawaiʻi with extensive national and international marketing. They are typically high-profile events larger in scale than those in the Community Enrichment Program. These events also have a high media value, i.e., print, online, and broadcast impressions.
Click here to download the Request For Proposal PDF
FAQs
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply to the funding opportunity programs?
Can my organization apply to all six of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Community Enrichment, Kūkulu Ola, Kahu ʻĀina, Signature Event, and Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative programs?
My organization is a current HTA grantee. Can we apply for the 2024 HTA programs?
My legal entity is an LLC and a social enterprise. Am I eligible to apply for CEP or SEP funding?
For the Community Enrichment program, you must be a non-profit 501(c)(3) or government agency. For-profit entities, such as an LLC social enterprise, may apply for Signature Events.
My 501(c)3 is based outside the State of Hawai‘i. However, the project will take place on Kaua‘i and will involve partners from the island. Am I eligible to apply for funding?
Yes, you are eligible to apply for HTA programs, as long as your projects take place within the State of Hawai‘i.
My organization is a 501(c)4. Am I eligible to apply for funding?
Differences in HTA Programs
What is the difference between the Community Enrichment, Kūkulu Ola, Kahu ʻĀina, and Signature Events, Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative, and Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative (Maui) programs?
(1) The purpose of the Community Enrichment Program is to seek community-based projects, programs, and events that provide diverse, unique, authentic, and highly-valued visitor experiences and resident-visitor interaction. (2) The purpose of the Kūkulu Ola program is to seek community-based projects and programs that enhance, strengthen, and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community. (3) The purpose of the Kahu ʻĀina program is to seek community-based projects and programs that help manage, improve, and protect Hawai‘i’s natural environment and areas frequented by residents and visitors. (4) The purpose of the Signature Events Program is to attract attendees and participants from outside the State of Hawaiʻi with extensive national and international marketing and have a significant economic impact as measured by the number of out-of-state participants. (5) The purpose of the Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative is to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community by supporting cultural practitioners who provide authentic Hawaiian experiences and musicians who provide authentic Hawaiian entertainment and music in resort areas throughout Hawai`i. (6) The purpose of the Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative (Maui) is to support the musicians and cultural practitioners affected by the Lahaina wildfires. This program is to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community by supporting cultural practitioners who provide authentic Hawaiian experiences and musicians who provide authentic Hawaiian entertainment and music in resort areas throughout Maui.
My organization would like to propose a hula performance that runs every Friday night during the summer of 2024. Do I apply to Community Enrichment Program or Kūkulu Ola?
If the objective of your program is to share hula with residents and visitors and is a performance for a set amount of time (series), then apply to the Community Enrichment program.
I have a 2-day Hawaiian Steel Guitar event to celebrate the music and instrument. Should I apply to the Community Enrichment program?
Yes, since this is a stand-alone event you should apply to the Community Enrichment program.
We would like to offer free hula classes to malihini every Saturday morning throughout the year. What HTA program should I apply to?
My organization produces a festival to celebrate Japanese culture. Am I able to apply under Community Enrichment program?
Are only festivals and events eligible for Community Enrichment funding?
- Agricultural tours
- Weekly educational programs
- Voluntourism activities
- Theatre & musical productions
- Audio/App Tours
- Community sports events
- Arts & Culture festivals & exhibits
- Culinary events
- Walking tours
- Signage to provide cultural/historical significance
- Ethnic festivals
- Film festivals
- Rodeo celebrations
- Sports events
Who manages each program?
Application
How do I apply for the different HTA programs?
Applications must be submitted online through ʻUmeke portal available at www.kilohana.com. New users must register for an account. Registered users may login to their account to submit an application. Please give yourself adequate time before the submission deadline to access the system and familiarize yourself with the application process and requirements.
Can I mail in a paper application?
No, applications must be submitted online. Only under certain circumstances of technology, language, or disability barriers, we will consider alternatives to the online application portal. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be requested by contacting us at umeke@kilohana.com or at (808) 596-8155.
If we want to propose an event for O‘ahu and one for Hawai‘i Island, do we submit one large proposal or two separate for each Island?
If the events are different, you should submit two (2) separate proposals – one for O‘ahu and one for Hawai‘i Island. However, if these two (2) events are part of an overall event, then you should submit one proposal and check off each island in the “Project Location” in the ʻUmeke Application.
Will I get a confirmation that our proposal was received?
Yes, you will receive an email confirmation that your proposal was submitted and received.
Does the Grants Portal accept diacritical marks?
No, although we recognize the significance and importance of diacritical markings in written Hawaiian as pronunciation guides; the ʻUmeke Portal cannot accept diacritical marks and therefore have been omitted throughout the online application portal.
How long will it take to complete an application?
This depends. We recommend you thoroughly review the RFP you are interested in and locating the required documents prior to starting the application process in the `Umeke portal. All questions from the application can be found on the coinciding RFP. All RFPs can be downloaded at www.kilohana.com. Once an application is started, you will be able to track your progress in the `Umeke portal.
Timeline/Range/Awards
If I apply to an HTA Program, when can I expect to hear a decision?
You should expect to hear a decision in the week of December 18, 2023. If you are awarded, you will receive an award letter with award terms and conditions.
If I receive an award, when can I start my project/program?
Applicants who are awarded will receive funding for projects/programs within the 2024 calendar year (January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024). You may start your program/project according to the approved workplan you submitted to Kilohana.
What is the maximum amount I can apply for?
For the Community Enrichment, Signature Events, and Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative, there are no award limit imposed. For both the Kūkulu Ola and Kahu ʻĀina program, applicants can apply for amounts up to $100,000, with projects generally awarded within the $25,000 to $75,000 range.
What if we are awarded less than the amount requested and, as a result, cannot do the work that we had originally proposed?
The award letter will include a list of what we need from you. If you are awarded less than the amount requested, we will ask you for an updated budget, an updated budget narrative, and an updated proposal/workplan if the reduced award amount affects what you are able to achieve.
Should I expect to complete reports for HTA to Kilohana on my program?
Yes, if you are awarded, you will be required to submit a mid-year progress report and a final report along with a final expenditure report, to Kilohana. If you do not submit these reports, you may not be able to receive future funding from the HTA programs.
What if we experience a major delay in programming once awarded?
Communicate with your designated Kilohana contact as soon as you experience an obstacle in meeting deliverables. Anytime you experience a crisis near your event date, contact Kilohana with a courtesy call. Your consideration goes a long way.
Timeline/Range/Awards
Can I amend the budget categories on the “Itemized Budget” form?
No, you cannot amend the budget categories on the “Itemized Budget” form, but you are welcome to provide additional categories according to your project expenses.
Is there a match requirement?
Signature Events match requirement – a minimum of one-to-one (1:1) in matching funds to the amount of funds awarded by the HTA is required. At least 50% (.5:1) of the match must be in the form of cash. An additional 50% (.5:1) match is required but may be in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of cash and in-kind contributions.
Matching funds shall not come from other state government sources including other HTA programs or the HTA’s major contractors such as, but not limited to, the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau or its Island Chapters. The project may be supported by other state government funds, but these funds may not be used as part of the required match to the HTA funds.
Can I adjust my budget during the awarded program year?
Yes, submit revisions and explanations to your designated Kilohana contact for review and approval.
If a proposal is approved by the committee, is the full amount in the proposal budget automatically funded? Or is there a possibility for negotiation to a lesser funding amount?
Funding amounts are determined by the evaluation committee. Some projects are funded for the full amount while others are partially funded. The committee considers the needs of the community and the reasonableness of the request when determining the award amount. They also look very closely at the budget spreadsheets and budget narratives and will sometimes adjust award amounts by subtracting from the HTA funding column line-item costs that are not aligned with the goals, objectives, and requirements of the RFP.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Do I fill out the entire Key Performance Indicator section?
Yes, please complete the sections that directly relate to your program goals and outcomes. If you are awarded funding, you will be required to complete actual measures of success and submit it with your final report to Kilohana. Please be as detailed as you can in this section.
Do Key Performance Indicators need to align to HTA’s Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP)?
Key Performance Indicators should capture the deliverables and outcomes you expect over the course of your one-year program. Where appropriate, it would be helpful to identify any indicators listed on your KPI form that align to the action items within the respective Destination Management Action Plans, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures, Aloha+ Challenge, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is not required for funding but rather serves to help track activities in alignment to HTA.
Attachments
Can I submit videos/photos of my program as part of my application?
No, there is no section to upload videos or photos in the online application.
Can I submit recommendation and/or support letters for my program?
While it is not required, you may submit up to three recommendation and/or support letters as part of your application.
Review Panel
Who reviews the application proposals?
Application proposals are evaluated by a selection committee, whose members are selected by Kilohana and include representatives of Kilohana, HTA, community members, business representatives, and subject matter experts throughout the state.
Who makes the final decisions?
Final decisions are made by HTA and Kilohana staff.
For any additional questions regarding the 2024 HTA programs, please contact Kilohana, a division of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, by email at umeke@kilohana.com or by phone at (808) 596-8155.