The HOIHI Grant Program for Native Hawaiian Organizations is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Secretary through the Interior Business Center’s Acquisition Services Directorate. This grant opportunity supports the implementation of the Native Hawaiian Organization NATIVE Act Grants under CFDA 15.068 and is aligned with the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act), 25 U.S.C. 4351 et seq. The goal of the program is to promote a more inclusive national travel and tourism strategy that benefits Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) by fostering economic development, job creation, and cultural preservation.

The purpose of the HOIHI Grant Program is to address the consequences of Hawaii’s significant tourism growth. In 2022, 9.4 million visitors traveled to Hawaii, a state with fewer than 1.5 million residents. This surge has contributed to environmental degradation, the desecration of culturally sacred sites, and economic displacement of the Native Hawaiian community. The grant program aims to counteract these negative impacts by supporting regenerative and culturally respectful tourism models rooted in Native Hawaiian traditional knowledge.

The funding supports Native Hawaiian Organizations that serve Native Hawaiian interests, are governed by Native Hawaiians in meaningful decision-making roles, and are recognized for their expertise in Native Hawaiian culture, heritage, and tourism. Grants are intended to encourage entrepreneurship, foster innovation through traditional knowledge, and create opportunities for economic advancement within the community. Projects may include showcasing heritage, maintaining cultural practices, and enhancing the visitor experience to reflect respect and authenticity.

Eligible applicants include Native Hawaiian Organizations, specifically nonprofit entities that satisfy all criteria described in the grant details. These organizations must be focused on cultural and community development initiatives and may or may not have 501(c)(3) status. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching, which makes it more accessible to smaller and resource-limited organizations.

Applicants must submit their complete proposals through Grants.gov by June 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (5:59 p.m. HST). All applications must be submitted electronically. There are no rolling submissions; the deadline is fixed. The grant opportunity was posted on April 8, 2025, and no pre-submission deadlines such as Letters of Intent or RFIs were specified.

Grant evaluations will likely focus on how well proposed projects align with the objectives of the HOIHI Grant Program and the broader goals of the NATIVE Act. Proposals that emphasize authentic cultural representation, community economic development, and the preservation of Native Hawaiian traditional knowledge and sites are expected to be prioritized. The guiding philosophy is encapsulated in the Hawaiian proverb “E hoihi aku, e hoihi mai” – show respect to receive respect – which frames the visitor experience as a reciprocal relationship of cultural reverence.