Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 12, 1 December 2019 — Tourism Authority Awards Funding to Hawaiian Cultural Programs [ARTICLE]

Tourism Authority Awards Funding to Hawaiian Cultural Programs

The Hawaii Tourism Authority ; (HTA) announced in October it is | awarding funding to 43 programs | in the Hawaiian Islands through its ; Kūkulu Ola program for the 2020 eal- ! endar year. This is in addition to the 95 ! programs and events HTA is funding ! through its Community Enrichment ! program, and 34 programs through ! its Aloha 'Āina program. The money ! comes from tourism dollars through ! the Transient Accommodations Tax ! (TAT), whieh people pay when they ! stay in legal accommodations through- ! out the state. HTA's Kūkulu Ola program funds ! community-based nonprofit orga- ! nizations whieh represent cultural ! practitioners, craftsmen, musicians and ! artists committed to perpetuating and ! strengthening a broader understand- ! ing and appreciation of the Hawaiian ! culture. One of HTA' s goals is to reinvest in ! the Hawaiian community. "It's imperative that the tourism ! industry recognizes the importance of ! perpetuating the Hawaiian culture. The ! culture here is what makes the Hawai- ! ian Islands unique and undeipins the ! authenticity of the visitor experience. ! As we support these practitioners in ! strengthening and perpetuating eul- ! tural practices in their communities, ! it's important for tourism to do its part ! to give back," said Kalani Ka'anā'anā, ! HTA's Director of Hawaiian Cultural ! Affairs. ■