About Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau directs its giving toward organizations that promote Hawaiian culture, visitor-facing events, and community economic vitality across the islands. Grants concentrate on festivals, cultural institutions, sports and visitor attractions, and place-based community development that supports tourism and local hospitality economies. The foundation favors repeat, program-focused support for well-known island festivals and cultural organizations as well as partnerships with education and workforce-related nonprofits that feed the visitor industry.
Focus Areas
Major cultural festivals and pageants that attract visitors (e.g., Merrie Monarch Festival, Aloha Week)Visitor-facing arts institutions and film/festival programming (e.g., Hawaii International Film Festival, biennials, art centers)Sports and endurance events with tourism draw (e.g., IRONMAN and Polynesian football-related programming)Agriculture and culinary promotion tied to Hawaiian food culture and visitor experiences (e.g., Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance, Kona Coffee Festival)Place-based community economic development and preservation of historic visitor sites (e.g., historic theaters, Poipu Beach Foundation, Hanapepe Economic Alliance)
About Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s grantmaking is built around visitor-facing cultural events and institutions that shape how Hawaii is experienced by residents and visitors alike. In 2024, the largest grant in the recent list was $500,000 to The Ironman Foundation Inc for community enrichment, followed by $350,000 to Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance and $300,000 to Teach for America Inc. Those awards sit alongside recurring support for major island festivals, arts programming, and place-based organizations tied to local economic activity. The foundation backs both high-profile statewide events and neighborhood organizations. Merrie Monarch Festival received $120,000 in 2024 after an $80,000 grant in 2023, while Aloha Week Hawaii Inc was funded at $100,000 in 2024 and $77,000 in 2023. Hawaii International Film Festival, the Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center, and Kona Coffee Cultural Festival also appear in the recent grants list, showing a pattern of support for cultural programming that draws audiences and reinforces local identity. Grants are concentrated in Hawaii, and the recent record includes organizations in Honolulu, Hilo, Waimea, Wailuku, Kailua-Kona, and other island communities.
What Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau Funds
Cultural festivals are a central thread in the foundation’s giving. Merrie Monarch Festival received $120,000 in 2024, and Aloha Week Hawaii Inc received $100,000 the same year, both for community enrichment tied to large public celebrations. Arts and media programming is another visible area. Hawaii International Film Festival received $150,000 in 2024, while the Hawaii State Art Museum received $150,000 in 2023 and the Honolulu Biennial Foundation received $110,000 in 2023. Those grants point to support for visitor-facing cultural experiences. Food, agriculture, and local heritage also show up repeatedly. Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance received $350,000 in 2024 and $120,000 in 2023, and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival received $75,000 in both 2024 and 2023. Historic preservation and community sites appear as well, including $101,600 to Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center in 2024.
How Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau Gives
Typical grants sit at a median of $30,000, with the middle half ranging from $15,216 at the 25th percentile to $50,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes several six-figure awards, showing that the bureau mixes standard program support with larger anchor grants. The same organizations often appear in multiple years, including Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance, Merrie Monarch Festival, Aloha Week Hawaii Inc, Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Lokahi Pacific, and Historic Waimea Theater & Cultural Arts Center. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The bureau is not a family foundation or a DAF; it is an operating organization with local grantmaking, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.9M
Total Assets
$17.8M
Total Revenue
$37.3M
Total Expenses
$35.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $51K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$51K
Geographic Reach
Local4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
AARON SALA
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