For generations, acres of loʻi kalo fed the people of Hawaiʻi. The regenerative water system created centuries of successful farming throughout the pae ʻāina. The loʻi kalo system borrowed water from streams, nourished acres of kalo fields, and returned the water saturated with nutrients from the fertile ecosystem. The system returned the water in a better condition than it was received. Even if the system ended there, it would have been regenerative. However, the water system's regeneration continued downstream. The nutrient rich water fed ʻoʻopu, iʻa, and limu throughout the streams. Not only were these gathered and eaten, but even further downstream these momona ʻoʻopu, iʻa, and limu fed schools of larger iʻa and other fish in the loko iʻa system creating even more opportunities for sustenance and a food security system that fed families for generations.

Just as the loʻi kalo system relies on the seamless flow of water from poʻowai to ʻauwai, through the loʻi, and back to the stream, the Technical Assistance & Capacity Building (TACB) programs ensure knowledge, resources, and opportunities flow through Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry to nourish and strengthen local businesses, communities, and ʻāina. Each program plays a distinct but interconnected role, helping to prepare, sustain, and expand regenerative tourism efforts that benefit Hawaiʻi and its people.

From the Foundational Technical Assistance (FTA) program, which serves as the poʻowai, introducing organizations to industry knowledge and support, to the Community Stewardship Community Tourism Collaborative (CTC-CS), the ʻauwai that ensures Hawaiʻi’s lands and resources are cared for, each initiative plays a role in maintaining the integrity of Hawaiʻi’s regenerative visitor industry. The Regenerative Experiences Community Tourism Collaborative (CTC-RE), like the hoʻiwai, ensures visitor experiences do not merely extract from Hawaiʻi but instead return value, knowledge, and stewardship, fostering a tourism model that sustains both the land and its people.

The TACB programs were designed to support Hawaiʻi businesses and nonprofts in their growth in the visitor industry and in furthering the regenerative direction of that industry. These programs provide targeted support, visitor industry connections, and other resources, ensuring businesses and organizations can develop sustainable tourism models, strengthen stewardship efforts, and create visitor experiences that prioritize both community well-being and ʻāina stewardship.