Keep it Hawai‘i
The Keep It Hawaiʻi Recognition Awards program is one of several efforts under the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority's (HTA) Hawaiian Culture
program, which supports the Hawaiian Culture initiative in the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-1015. Specifically, this program
honors individuals, organizations and businesses for:
- Demonstrated commitment to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community by strengthening the relationship between
the visitor industry and the Hawaiian community, and
- Creative and responsible efforts to showcase the Native Hawaiian cultures, presenting or providing visitors and residents with
opportunities to experience the authentic culture.
The program's Kahili Awards are selected in three categories (Individual, Organization and Business), for each island (Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai,
Maui, Molokai, and Oahu) as well as for Out-of state. One recipient may receive the Koa Award, which was created to recognize a long-term and
exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaiʻi's host culture.
All nominations were judged on the following criteria: authenticity, usage, uniqueness, educational value, longevity, and commitment to the
future. HTA's Hawaiian Culture Program Advisory Council (HCPAC)
which is comprised of members of the Hawaiian community and the visitor industry reviewed the nominations and selected the awardees.
In 2005, the HTA began managing the Keep It Hawaiʻi Recognition Awards, an initiative of the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau that began in
1990. Under the guidance of HTA's HCPAC, the program was restructured to focus on the broader community. Information on recipients is provided below:
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