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Logo for the Foundational Technical Assistance Program by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

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:

Illustration of a Hawaiian warrior wearing a helmet and holding a traditional club with a leaf design, a spear, and a tablet featuring stylized icons of a flower, palm tree, and a smile. The image combines themes of tradition and technology.
Illustration of a person using a laptop that displays the words "HAWAIʻI BOOK NOW" alongside icons of a palm tree, hibiscus flower, and canoe sail. The scene suggests planning a vacation to Hawaiʻi.

CONNECTING TO THE VISITOR INDUSTRY

MARKETING & MESSAGING

Illustration of a Hawaiian warrior wearing a helmet and holding a traditional club with a leaf design, a spear, and a tablet featuring stylized icons of a flower, palm tree, and a smile. The image combines themes of tradition and technology.

ACCURATELY SHARING HAWAIIAN CULTURE

Illustration of two people collaboratively placing stones to restore a loko iʻa (traditional Hawaiian fishpond) by the ocean, with a mountain and sunset in the background. The scene emphasizes cultural stewardship and environmental care.
Illustration of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol building with stylized architectural columns and an ocean wave motif at its base, framed by two palm trees. The background is a simple teal green.

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.

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.