HŌʻIHI Grant Program

The Office of Native Hawaiian Relations' (ONHR) Heritage (Tourism) Opportunities in Hawaiʻi (HŌʻIHI) Grant Program serves to implement the provisions of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act), 25 U.S.C. 4351 et

The HŌʻIHI Grant Program is an innovative initiative aimed at leveraging Hawaiian traditional knowledge to support economic development within the NHC, promote economic growth in Hawaiʻi, and provide Native Hawaiian organizations (NHO) with the needed resources to transform tourism into a regenerative and collaborative industry. Through the HOIHI Grant Program, NHOs lead the way in creating authentic experiences that reflect their values, knowledge, and practices, ensuring that cultural traditions are honored and transmitted in ways that are meaningful to the Community itself. By restoring decision-making regarding hoʻokipa (hospitality) practices to the Native Hawaiian Community, this program fosters a future where tourism serves as a platform for integrity and self-determination, rather than simply commodification. The HŌʻIHI Grant Program additionally seeks to increase economic development within the NHC by expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship among members, increasing innovation potential on the usage and incorporation of traditional knowledge, and ultimately increasing growth of new businesses within the Community. This, in turn, broadens the ability of Native businesses to flourish and contribute to lowering unemployment and expanding economic growth. ONHR will fulfill the core principles of the HŌʻIHI Program by providing grant funding to successful NHO applicants who meet the criteria for one or more of the following priorities: 1) Enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of the NHC by developing business opportunities in the visitor industry, providing business development training, or stimulating economic activity; 2) Uplift, perpetuate, and in some cases revive, traditional Hawaiian practices (e.g., ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, kapa making, lauhala and kaula weaving, hula, amongst many others, including lesser-known practices) by creating opportunities for demonstrations, visitor education on history, usage, and protocols, or hands-on visitor participation experiences in the cultural practice; 3) Undertake related activities with visitors that convey respect and reaffirm the principle of reciprocation to the place, resources, and traditional knowledge holders and practitioners; AND/OR 4) Support the maintenance, enhancement, and protection of Hawaiʻi's natural resources, wahi kūpuna (ancestral places), and wahi pana (sacred sites) at areas impacted by tourism while enhancing visitor services to promote respect and reciprocity.

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments). Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. Additionally, applicants must meet the definition of and criteria for a "Native Hawaiian Organization" as defined in the NATIVE Act, 130 STAT. 847, Section 3(3), codified at 25 U.S.C. §4352(3). Criteria include: A nonprofit organization; that serves the interests of Native Hawaiians; in which Native Hawaiians serve in substantive and policymaking positions; and that is recognized for having expertise in Native Hawaiian culture and heritage, including tourism.

Assistance will support efforts of Native Hawaiian organizations to do the following: share about the Native Hawaiian Community as the indigenous people of Hawai'i; use arts and humanities to help revitalize, promote economic development, increase livability; share with and engage guests in growing awareness and the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture; other section purposes.

Awards are made on an annual basis when Congress appropriates the funding. The funds remain available until expended by the grantee pursuant to the terms and conditions of the award and the authority under which the funds were appropriated. Specific requirements are included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the award's terms and conditions.

Applications will be screened by the Financial Assistance Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements as posted in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov. Application screening may include, but is not limited to, the following activities: program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package, including required documents and attachments. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. The Merit Review Criteria is stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity as posted on www.grants.gov. The Financial Assistance Officer will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations, the Financial Assistance Officer will evaluate variables such as Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other program requirements. The Office of Native Hawaiian Relations will approve the final awards.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the notice of funding opportunity, program regulations, and statutes. All timely submitted and qualified proposals are reviewed by program staff and a financial assistance official. Unsuccessful applicants will receive notice in writing. All approved grants will be awarded using GrantSolutions and recipient payments will be made using the U.S. Department of Treasury's Automated Standard Applications (ASAP) for the payments system.

Further information will be available in the Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes.

Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, will provide all applicants with information for non-selected applications.