HOIHI Grant Program for Native Hawaiian Organizations

The HOIHI Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (ONHR), is designed to implement the objectives of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act). This funding opportunity—formally titled “HOIHI Grant Program for Native Hawaiian Organizations”—supports Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) in fostering culturally grounded tourism initiatives that honor the Hawaiian value of hoihi, meaning to treat with reverence and respect. Through this lens, the grant encourages visitor engagement with Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources in a manner that promotes shared responsibility and respect, rather than commodification. The program’s overarching goal is to build the capacity of NHOs to lead tourism efforts that revitalize and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian knowledge, culture, and practices. It also aims to support sustainable economic growth within the Native Hawaiian Community by developing authentic, community-led experiences. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that align with one or more 2026 program priorities: enhancing entrepreneurial capacity; promoting traditional practices; engaging visitors in reciprocal and respectful activities; and protecting Hawaii’s natural and cultural heritage. Additional alignment with specific federal administrative priorities is also required. The grant provides up to $200,000 per award, with a minimum award size of $75,000. An estimated total of $1,200,000 in funding is available, and approximately 10 awards are expected. No cost-sharing or match is required. The performance period for selected projects may extend up to 36 months, starting October 1, 2026 and concluding no later than September 30, 2029. This is a federal grant opportunity (Assistance Listing 15.068) and applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by June 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT / 5:59 p.m. HST. Eligibility is strictly limited to Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined under the NATIVE Act. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations that serve Native Hawaiian interests, are led by Native Hawaiians in key decision-making roles, and are recognized for cultural expertise. Only one application may be submitted per organization or program director. Applicants are required to submit documentation confirming their eligibility status, along with other components such as the SF-424, project narrative, budget justification, conflict of interest disclosures, and monitoring plans. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and evaluated through a structured merit review process. The evaluation criteria emphasize the strength of alignment with program goals, the proposed project's ability to foster economic development and cultural preservation, and the applicant’s organizational capacity and past performance. Additional factors include visitor engagement approaches, monitoring and evaluation design, budget realism, and strategic partnerships. Tiebreakers may favor rural locations and organizations that did not receive HOIHI funding in the previous cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin system registrations (SAM.gov and Grants.gov) early, as these can take significant time. ONHR will host an informational webinar on April 15, 2026, and video recordings will be made available for future reference. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Brad Kaaleleo Wong, Program Manager, at [email protected]. The HOIHI Program represents a crucial opportunity to reshape tourism in Hawaii through cultural stewardship and regenerative economic practices.

Clearly align with HOIHI and administrative priorities; justify budget with detail; include measurable objectives and economic sustainability plans.