The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) announced today it is awarding funding to 95 events and programs in the Hawaiian Islands through its Community Enrichment program (CEP) for the 2020 calendar year, an increase from 74 recipients in 2019.
The funds are generated from tourism dollars through the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), which people pay when they stay in legal accommodations throughout the state.
HTA’s CEP funds a diverse array of festivals, events and year-round programs in support of culture, culinary arts, education, health and wellness, nature, agriculture, sports, technology and voluntourism. The festivals and events are often highly attended by Hawaii’s residents.
Funding recipients include nonprofit groups, community organizations and businesses with not-for-profit events. HTA issued a request for proposals on May 2 with the deadline of July 5 to submit applications. HTA staff held informational briefings about the submission process on all six main islands during the month of May.
“We are proud to support these programs and events that make Hawaii so special for our residents and communities. These experiences can be enjoyed by both locals and visitors, and showcase our islands’ rich heritage and multi-cultural communities. HTA is able to invest in these programs because of the TAT revenue generated from our visitor industry,” said Caroline Anderson, HTA’s Director of Community Enrichment.
HTA is also providing funding through its Kukulu Ola and Aloha Aina programs. The awardees for those programs for 2020 will be announced soon.
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