A FREE, PUBLIC WORKSHOP SERIES SPOTLIGHTING FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS INTERESTED IN THE VISITOR INDUSTRY.
REGENERATIVE TOURISM CARES FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
For generations, the people of Hawaiʻi have thrived through systems designed not just to sustain — but to regenerate.
At the heart of these systems is the loʻi kalo: fed by mountain streams, rich in nutrients, and teeming with life. As clean, fresh rainwater makes its way from mauka to makai, it passes through the poʻowai — the “headwaters” that serve as the introduction of resources that feed and nourish the entire ecosystem. The poʻowai is the genesis of that which comes after, a reminder that the start of any system depends on the essential, foundational nutrients that continue to sustain it well beyond its genesis.
The Foundational Technical Assistance program by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority carries this ethic forward.
Hawaiʻi’s economy and ecosystems are deeply intertwined. The same businesses that nourish our communities also shape how we care for land, food systems, and culture. The Foundational Technical Assistance program exists to support the people behind those businesses — those who grow local food, create local products, and offer experiences grounded in place. These farms, vendors, and community-rooted enterprises are not just economic actors — they are stewards of waiwai (abundance), keeping value circulating within Hawaiʻi and nourishing the systems that sustain us.
They are the poʻowai of today — sustaining communities, ecosystems, and futures well beyond their own.
EXAMPLES OF WORKSHOP TOPICS
Hosted throughout the pae ʻāina and available to stream virtually, the Foundational Technical Assistance program is a free, public workshop series providing foundational knowledge to nonprofits and businesses interested in engaging with or participating in the visitor industry. Topics may include:
CONNECTING TO THE VISITOR INDUSTRY
MARKETING & MESSAGING
ACCURATELY SHARING HAWAIIAN CULTURE
FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
PARTNERING WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES
2024 WORKSHOP TOPICS
Click the corresponding image below to explore more details and view the full-length workshop recording.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS BY
To support development of a more regenerative tourism industry, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority introduced a suite of three new programs in 2024, collectively known as the Technical Assistance & Capacity Building (TACB) programs. Click below to learn more about how these programs are impacting businesses and nonprofits across Hawaiʻi.
The Foundational Technical Assistance program seeks to connect local businesses and nonprofits with foundational knowledge and connections with the visitor industry through a series of free, public panels, workshops, and seminars held across Hawaiʻi and streamed virtually.
The Community Stewardship program is a cohort based initiative aiming to assist local nonprofits that care for ʻāina and wahi pana (sacred places) taxed by tourism by connecting them with the visitor industry, expert assistance, and increased ʻike (knowledge) to build their internal capacity.
The Regenerative Experiences program is a cohort based initiative that aims to expand Hawaiʻi’s regenerative visitor industry by working with local businesses and nonprofits to develop more culturally-based, sustainable experiences for visitors that support local communities.
CONTACT US
Hoping to learning more about the move toward a more regenerative visitor industry for Hawaiʻi?
Interested in joining one of HTA’s cohort programs, or learning more about upcoming Foundational Technical Assistance workshops?
Fill out the contact form to the right, and we will be in touch soon.