Kukulu-Ka Hale o Ka La - A Restoration of the Haleakala Visitor Center Organized by Haleakalā Conservancy, the Ka Hale o Ka Lā: A Restoration of the Haleakalā Visitor Center will revitalize the interior of the Haleakalā Visitor Center. The project is being supported by funding from the Hawaiian Tourism Authority. Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority

A restoration project at the Haleakalā Visitor Center on Maui is among 26 projects across Hawaii that are being supported by funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

According to the organization, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has awarded $980,000 to 26 community-based organizations through its Kūkulu Ola program, an effort to support Native Hawaiian culture by providing genuine experiences for residents and visitors.

Organized by Haleakalā Conservancy, the restoration project at the Haleakalā Visitor Center will revamp the interior of the center while creating a culturally immersive and accessible entry to Haleakalā National Park.

Another Maui project to receive funding is Kaiāulu ʻŌlelo: Kula Kauwela o Hana, organized by Hana Arts.

Kaiāulu ʻŌlelo: Kula Kauwela o Hana is a three-week Hawaiian language and culture immersion program for East Maui youth that ends with weekly public performances and a final celebration in which students share their learning through traditional chants, dances and stories.

A third project to receive funding on Maui — the Kapoho Loko Iʻa Kalo and Loʻi Kalo project — is being led by the Hawaiʻi Land Trust. It focuses on restoring local ecosystems and food production in the 277-acre Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge on Maui.

Kaiāulu ʻŌlelo: Kula Kauwela o Hana is a three-week Hawaiian language and culture immersion program for East Maui youth organized by Hana Arts. Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority

On Molokai, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is supporting the E Hoʻi I Ka Piko Project and Me Ke Aloha Project.

Organized by Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center, the E Hoʻi I Ka Piko Project will facilitate the continuation of the Molokai History Project to celebrate community stories, collect ancestral knowledge and ensure Molokai’s history is shared by its people.

Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center’s E Hoʻi I Ka Piko Project is among 26 projects to receive funding through the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The project will facilitate the transfer of the Molokai History Project into its care to continue its mission. Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority

The Me Ke Aloha Project, which is organized by Kalamaula Homesteaders Association, is meant to highlight Molokai’s spirit through education on land management, conservation and cultural practices.

“The Kūkulu Ola program enables us to invest directly in the people and organizations who are keeping Hawai’i’s culture thriving,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of HTA, in a news release. “These efforts enrich the lives of Hawai’i’s residents while giving visitors an opportunity to connect more deeply with our island home.”

Many of the funded programs offer intergenerational learning opportunities, mentor emerging cultural leaders and present authentic experiences that are accessible to both residents and visitors.

Statewide, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has awarded funding to Kani a Ola: Economic Resilience for Mele Practitioners and the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Festival, which honors Hawaii’s last monarch and features 25 hālau from Hawaii and Japan competing in three categories.