HŌʻIHI Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1:  What organizations are eligible for this grant opportunity?  

For this specific opportunity, the HŌʻIHI program implements the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. Eligibility is limited to Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs) as defined in the NATIVE Act:  
1.    A nonprofit organization;   
2.    that serves the interests of Native Hawaiians;   
3.    in which Native Hawaiians serve in substantive and policymaking positions; and  
4.    that is recognized for having expertise in Native Hawaiian culture and heritage, including tourism.  

Question 2: In the NHO definition, the NHO must be “recognized for having expertise in Native Hawaiian culture and heritage, including tourism.” Who or what does the NHO need to be “recognized” by?  

There is no formal organization for recognition.  Instead, the organization should be able to demonstrate that it is a community-service organization serving the Native Hawaiian Community and conducts tourism or visitor-engagement programming utilizing the expertise of members of the Native Hawaiian Community with the knowledge to provide those activities. 

Question 3: Does the proposed project have to be site-specific?  

It depends.  If the conduct of a traditional Native Hawaiian cultural practice is tied to, or dependent upon a particular place or location, then yes, the proposed project would be site-specific.   The opposite would be true as well. Proposed projects involving cultural practices that are not site dependent would subsequently not be site-specific. 

Question 4:  Is a proposed project in a setting outside of Hawaiʻi eligible for HŌʻIHI funding?  

At this time, projects funded through HŌʻIHI must take place in Hawaiʻi.  Please review www.grants.gov for other funding opportunities that may allow for projects outside of Hawaiʻi. 

Question 5: After the selection of a successful proposal is made, when is the tentative start date? 

The project's start date will be determined by the schedule and milestones in the approved NHO proposal. For FY2026, awards are expected at the end of August or early September, with projects starting no earlier than October 1, consistent with the federal fiscal year.  

Question 6:  Section 2(4) of the NATIVE Act says that the purpose of the Act is to enhance and improve self-determination and self-governance capabilities in the Native American community and to promote greater self-sufficiency.  Will there be more funding that will be geared towards this purpose? 

The Section 2 purposes of the NATIVE Act should be viewed together. By implementing the Act, Native American communities—including the Native Hawaiian Community—have opportunities to advance these purposes in combination rather than in isolation, including subsection (4). For this Program, successful NHOs will exercise self-determination and self-governance through projects that preserve and steward historic properties. If Congress appropriates additional funding for the NATIVE Act, other programs could be developed to support additional provisions of the Act while further advancing the Section 2 purposes. 

Question 7: For this proposal, are we looking at the time frame of one fiscal year? 

Project funds may be used for a period of 1 to 3 years, with start and end dates based on your project's scope and schedule rather than any fiscal year. For this FY2026 competition, projects will begin no earlier than October 1, 2026. 

Question 8:  How does the agreement work as far as measuring progress? Do we need to submit receipts, photos, etc.? 

Progress measurements and reporting are based on the scope of work and schedule outlined in the NHO’s proposal. For example, projects involving physical activities may document metrics such as volunteer participation and person-hours, the quantity or weight of materials used or removed, and linear footage constructed. For research or planning projects, progress may be assessed through the completion and submission of reports and related deliverables. 

The Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (ONHR) works with the Department of the Interior’s Interior Business Center (IBC) to oversee grantee reporting through the GrantSolutions.gov web application. Grantees must submit both a Performance Report (including an activity summary, progress evaluation, and photos or videos) and a Financial Report, outlining expenditures during the performance period. The final grant agreement will define the specific reporting terms, conditions, and performance period. 

Question 9: Does an entity registered with the Department of the Interior under 43 CFR 47.1 qualify as an NHO? 

No. See the answer to Question 1. For purposes of the HŌʻIHI Program, NHOs must meet the definition in Section 3(3) of the NATIVE Act (25 U.S.C. 4352). Registration with, or inclusion on, lists maintained by the Department of the Interior under 43 CFR 47.1 does not, by itself, qualify an organization as an NHO under the NATIVE Act.” 

Question 10: Can you clarify the environmental compliance requirements and if they would apply to my organization? 

The environmental compliance questions in the NOFO help initiate review under federal regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7, and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106. Only the specific activities funded by the award will be evaluated; your organization’s overall operations will not be subject to review. 

For example, if your proposal includes activities at a cultural site such as a heiau, those particular activities may require additional review, including compliance with NHPA Section 106. These questions help ONHR plan for and meet all applicable federal requirements if your organization is selected for funding. 

Question 11: Is an NHO that previously received a HŌʻIHI grant eligible to apply again? If eligible, will it receive a preference in scoring? 

Past awardees may reapply and are encouraged to do so if they meet all current program requirements. As a note, if an organization currently has an active award receiving HŌʻIHI grant funds and a new applicant receive the same score during application review, preference may be given to the new applicant to help distribute funds across organizations. Refer to the NOFO evaluation criteria for additional details on scoring. 

Question 12: Does this grant opportunity require fund matching or partner, practitioner, and/or organization commitments upon submission of the application? 

No. There is no fund matching requirement for this opportunity. There is also no requirement to have formal commitments from partners, practitioners, or organizations at the time of application. However, proposals that name partners without documented commitments (for example, letters of support or commitment outlining roles, time, and contributions) will be at a significant disadvantage in the evaluation process.