Pasifika Foundation Hawaii Receives ANA Grant

08/30/07

Pasifika Foundation Hawai’i (PFH) has been selected for funding by the Administration for Native Americans in support of their Community-based Host-Visitor project, which seeks to create a new paradigm for Hawaii’s leading economic sector, tourism. Through the creation of a CBHV network in Hawai’i, PFH will work with kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) communities to provide new avenues for access to, participation in, and control of one segment of that industry.

PFH received $118,464 for Phase 2 of the CHBV project, which involves completing an asset survey, GIS mapping, and nexus assessment of hosts and sites to determine which communities currently have a strong enough presence of Maoli place and culture to offer a meaningful experience and exchange for both host and visitor, and to identify communities that may wish to be part of a test CBHV network.

In the prevailing approach to tourism in Hawai‘i, the government has assumed the “host” role for western-based models of tourism development, and acted as mediator between off-island investment corporations and the local communities. This investment is touted as necessary to encourage growth and economic benefits; however, the cultural, environmental and social integrity of the tourism-development locale – Hawai’i – has not been preserved under this system.

In response to the identified issues and desired outcomes voiced by Maoli communities, the CBHV project seeks to empower communities at the grassroots level to set the agenda, delineating for themselves what they wish to offer to visitors and how that will be achieved. The objective is to bring true benefit to the community – as defined by that community.

The CBHV Phase 2 project will begin to the groundwork for the implementation of a successful CHBV network program that will be adaptable to the needs of various Maoli communities and will ultimately be a self-sustaining tool of community well-being.

For more information, contact PFH’s Executive Director, Ana Currie at acurrie@hawaii.rr.com or Board President Ramsay Taum at ramico@hawaii.rr.com.