State Seeks Nominations for Keep It Hawaii Award

Award recognizes showcase of Native Hawaiian culture.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency for tourism, is seeking to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. Nominations for the 17th Annual Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards will be accepted from May 19 through July 1.

The Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards honor individuals, community 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 culture.

Recipients of the Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards will be announced at a ceremony on August 7, at the Hawaii Convention Center, as part of the HTA’s 2008 Hawaii Tourism Conference, Hawaii A Ma ‘? Aku – So Much More Hawaii.

Previous winners of the Keep It Hawaii Recognition Award include Molokai’s Pilipo Solatario, who received the award in 1995.

The program’s K?hili Awards will be selected in three categories (Individual, Organization and Business), for each island, and for the out-of-state category. One recipient may receive the Koa Award, which was created to recognize a long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaii’s host culture.

All nominations will be judged on the following criteria: authenticity, usage, uniqueness, educational value, longevity, and commitment to the future. HTA’s Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council (HCPAC), a group of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and supporters, will review the nominations and select the awardees.

There is no charge to submit nominations or entries. Entries must be received in the HTA offices by 4:30 p.m. on July 1. Entries should be submitted to HTA, Hawaii Convention Center, Floor 1, 1801 Kal?kaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815.

For full details on the criteria, guidelines and the application process, visit the HTA Web site at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, or contact program coordinator, Martin Schiller, at (808) 227-6002 or (808) 531-1800 or via email (mschiller@tsg-hawaii.com).