2026 COHORT INFORMATION
ONLY MAUI ISLAND ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR 2026 COHORT
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ONLY MAUI ISLAND ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR 2026 COHORT 〰️
MO‘OLELO
For generations, acres of loʻi kalo have sustained the people of Hawaiʻi. These sophisticated, regenerative water systems have enabled centuries of successful farming across the pae ʻāina. Water is drawn from streams, circulated through kalo fields, and returned downstream, enriched with nutrients from the fertile ecosystem. The system doesn’t just maintain itself; it enhances its surroundings. Even if it ended there, it would be regenerative, but it doesn’t. The nutrient-rich wai continues its journey, feeding ʻoʻopu, iʻa, and limu along the stream, which are harvested for food. Further downstream, these nourished species support larger fish and other marine life in the loko iʻa, creating a layered system of abundance that has fed families across generations.
At the heart of this system is the ʻauwai: the main channel that delivers water from the stream to the loʻi. Without a functioning ʻauwai, kalo cannot grow. Without nutrient circulation, the entire system breaks down. More than infrastructure, the ʻauwai represents kuleana: the responsibility to care for the source so that its benefits can flow downstream. When this vital link is obstructed, the whole system suffers. To sustain regeneration, we must mālama the path that carries life forward.
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Community Tourism Collaborative – Community Stewardship (CTC-CS) program embraces this ethic. Just as the ʻauwai sustains the loʻi, our wahi pana (beloved places) are the foundation upon which both our communities and the visitor industry depend. CTC-CS is built on the understanding that to sustain abundance and a sense of place today, we must care for the lands that nourish us and engage thoughtfully with the systems that impact them. The program supports community-based organizations in their ability to welcome visitors into mālama ʻāina-based stewardship, contributing to a growing set of place-based experiences that actively support protection, regeneration, and deeper understanding of place.
A regenerative visitor industry in Hawaiʻi depends on the leadership and passion of community stewardship organizations working to regenerate ʻāina that can become strained by tourism. The CTC-CS program affirms this kuleana as a shared responsibility with visitors, equipping organizations to expand their impact and engage tourism as a pathway for stewardship and care. In doing so, it contributes to a growing set of ʻāina-based experiences supporting natural and cultural resource protection and deepen understanding of place.
Organizations selected for the 2026 CTC-CS cohort will join a group of mission-aligned Maui-based* nonprofit organizations in a four-month program focused on building organizational capacity to design, strengthen, and sustain visitor volunteer (voluntourism) programs and managed access initiatives. Through on-demand content, cohort gatherings, in-person workshops, individual coaching, and attendance at HTA’s annual Fall Tourism Conference, participants will build confidence in creating meaningful volunteer or managed access experiences, engaging visitors both on-site and beyond, and navigating the systems and relationships that constitute Hawaiʻi’s visitor landscape.
To help seed growth of these efforts, each organization that completes the program will receive a $10,000 capacity building sub-award, intended to support the development and expansion of visitor volunteer and managed access experiences aligned with each organization’s stewardship mission and goals.
*Applications for future cohorts may be open to organizations from other islands.
The Hawai’i Tourism Authorityʻs 2026 Community Tourism Collaborative – Community Stewardship (CTC-CS) is a four-month intensive program for Maui non-profits interested in engaging visitors in care of ‘āina through visitor volunteer (“voluntourism”) or managed access experiences. Organizations that complete the program receive a one-time capacity building sub-award to help advance this work.
The program runs from July through October and is structured around roughly two-week periods. Full participation in all components of the program is required.
Each two-week period includes the following components, averaging approximately 4-5 hours of commitment:
Guided, self-paced online content (1-3 hours) that cohort members complete on their own schedule. This content covers regenerative organizational principles and topics related to that period’s experience development focus.
A live, virtual gathering (approximately 1.5 hours each, 5 total) where cohort members come together to apply ideas, share progress, ask questions, and learn from one another.
The program also includes three required in-person events, scheduled for July, September, and October. These events are held in place of the virtual gathering for these periods:
A two-day workshop on Maui focused on regeneration, culture, community, ʻāina, intent, and experience design (July 30-31).
A three-day experience on Oʻahu that includes a one-day workshop focused on sharing, networking, and readiness, followed by participation in the HTA Fall Tourism Conference (September 23-25).
A concluding half-day commencement and hōʻike on Maui, offering time for reflection, planning beyond the program period, and networking with other ʻāina organizations and the local visitor industry (tentatively October 29).
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
By the end of the program, participants will have:
Cohort members who participate in all required components of the program will be eligible to receive a $10,000 capacity-building sub-award* upon completion of the program. This sub-award is intended to support continued development of the voluntourism or managed access initiative designed through the program, including refinement, preparation for piloting and launch, and related capacity-building needs.
To be eligible for the sub-award, cohort members must:
Actively participate in all required gatherings, including virtual meetings, workshops, the HTA Fall Tourism Conference in Honolulu, and the final commencement and hōʻike.
Engage with all required asynchronous content, which will not be repeated during live sessions and is essential to the program’s learning progression.
Complete and submit a final voluntourism or managed access initiative plan, developed throughout the program (due October 31, 2026).
Complete and submit a tentative budget* outlining how the sub-award will be used to advance the experience (due October 31, 2026).
CAPACITY BUILDING SUB-AWARD
BUDGET EXCLUSIONS
Individual items classified as durable goods in the final budget may not exceed $2,500 per item. Durable goods are defined here as physical items with a useful life of more than three (3) years. This includes equipment and other long-lasting assets.
In addition, the budget may not include the following:
Start-up business or organizational plans
Fundraising events or campaigns
Legal fees, litigation, or advocacy efforts
Endowments
Real property or building fixtures
Capital improvements (e.g., construction, major renovations)
Conferences, conventions, or travel for external events
Prize money, cash awards, or gifts
Merchandise intended for resale
APPLICATION INFORMATION & APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
The deadline for submission is Friday, June 8, 2026 at 12:00pm HST.
Applicants for the 2026 cohort must be a Maui-based entity registered to do business in the State of Hawaiʻi as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, or registered Hawaiʻi non-profit. Organizations based on Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island may be eligible for future cohorts.
Applicants should expect to spend 60-90 minutes to complete the application. Applicants can save their progress and return later to complete the form. Progress is automatically tracked as long as applicants are using the same device and browser.
Applications must meet the following criteria:
Must be submitted online and respond to all questions.
Must include applicant’s Articles of Incorporation (preferred) or other documentation such as Bylaws that verify the person(s) authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the organization.
The program’s application process is designed to help the program team understand applicants’ work, current needs, and fit for the program and the 2026 cohort, as well as to identify where additional foundational support (e.g., financial systems and bookkeeping, legal or access agreements, organizational structure or staffing, communications or technology) may be helpful.
Applicants are limited to submission of one (1) application per Community Tourism Collaborative (CTC). If an applicant applies for both the CTC-CS and the CTC -Regenerative Experiences (CTC-RE) program, they may only be accepted into one, depending on space.
IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION SESSIONS
The following dates are subject to change.
Program staff will host a virtual information session for those interested to learn more about the program and application process, hear from alumni about their experiences in the previous cohort, and ask questions of program staff. Following the information session, a recording will be on this webpage.
Info Session
Date: Friday, May 15, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM HST
HTA FALL TOURISM CONFERENCE
This conference gathers HTA, industry professionals, lawmakers, and others to discuss and learn more about developing tourism trends and offerings in Hawaiʻi. Cohort members should expect to:
Attend talks, workshops, and other events that offer insights into the current state of the Hawaiʻi visitor industry
Table and network at the conference’s resource fair
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Applications are only accepted online through this website.
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Maui-based 501(c)(3) organizations or Hawaiʻi nonprofits who are stewarding ʻāina are eligible to apply for the 2026 cohort. Applications for future cohorts may be open to organizations on other islands.
The program is best suited for organizations that already host volunteers or those considering managed access to a site. For-profit businesses, as well as nonprofit organizations that do not steward and do not plan to steward ʻāina, are ineligible for this program. We recommend these businesses and organizations check out the CTC - Regenerative Experiences program to see if they are a good fit.
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Yes. Organizations that participate in all required components of the program will be eligible to receive a $10,000 capacity-building sub-award upon full completion of the non-alumni portion of the program. This sub-award is intended to support continued development of a voluntourism or managed access experience designed through the program. Sub-awards are expected to be delivered in or around November 2026.
A voluntourism or managed access initiative development plan and tentative budget outlining how the funds are intended to be used are also required. Standard funding exclusions apply.
A visitor experience development plan and tentative budget outlining how the funds are intended to be used are also required. Standard funding exclusions apply.
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Organizations selected for the CTC–CS program will join a mission-aligned cohort of Maui-based ʻāina stewardship organizations that already host volunteers or are considering managed access, and are interested in thoughtfully engaging paying visitors to deepen impact, support their operations, and channel tourism for the public good. From July through October, participants will take part in an intensive capacity-building program that blends guided learning, live gatherings, and workshop opportunities, focused on regenerative practices, responsible visitor engagement, and experience development rooted in stewardship and community care.
You can expect:
Structured, self-paced learning that builds your understanding of regenerative practices and visitor experience design over time
Regular opportunities to meet with fellow cohort members, share progress, work through challenges, and learn collaboratively
Workshop and gathering experiences that create space for deeper reflection, refinement, and cross-cohort connection
Guided support in shaping a clear, values-aligned plan and tentative budget for a voluntourism or managed access experience
Eligibility for a $10,000 capacity-building sub-award to help advance the experience you develop through the program
An expanded network and sense of community with other Maui-based ʻāina stewards navigating similar questions and opportunities
Connections to like-minded and values-aligned regenerative experience operators on Maui
Participation in the HTA Fall Tourism Conference, focused on sharing your work and connecting with the broader visitor industry
You should not expect:
A fully launched or visitor-ready initiative by the end of the program; the focus is on design, refinement, readiness, and industry networking
A formal pilot or testing phase as part of the cohort, though you may be encouraged to explore light testing independently
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The following dates are subject to change.
Monthly live workshops will take place throughout the program as describe above. Dates will be released at a later time. Regular meeting time is expected to be 5:30 - 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.
Important Dates:
5/8/26: Application opens
5/15/26: Online Info Session
6/8/26: Application deadline (12:00 PM)
6/26/26: Cohort notified
7/3/26: Acceptance date
7/7/26: First live virtual cohort meeting (orientation)
7/30/26-7/31/26: In-person two-day workshop (Maui)
9/23/26: In-person cohort workshop (Oʻahu)
9/24/26-9/25/26: HTA Fall Tourism Conference (Oʻahu)
10/6/26: Final virtual meeting
10/29/26: In-person cohort commencement (Maui)
10/31/26: Final experience plan and budget due
November 2026: Capacity building sub-award distributed
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Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by June 26, 2026.
Applications will be reviewed by a team of evaluators composed of program staff, visitor industry representatives, ʻāina stewards, and regenerative tourism practitioners who carefully read and discuss each submission. Our goal is not only to identify strong applicants, but to assemble a cohort that can meaningfully learn from one another through shared work on visitor experience development, stewardship, and capacity-building.
In our review, we consider:
Demonstrated commitment to ʻāina-based stewardship and community responsibility
Existing operations or programs that can be further developed to engage visitors through voluntourism or managed access
Readiness for active participation in an intensive program that includes work between gatherings
Cohort balance, with attention to a mix of organizations, sites, and approaches that support shared learning
Final selections aim to create a collaborative learning environment where organizations are at similar stages of readiness, can support one another’s growth, and leave the program better equipped to host visitors responsibly and sustainably.
CTC-CS PROGRAM FAQ
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