ISLAND OF HAWAII JAPANESE HULA FESTIVAL AND MARKETPLACE PLANNING PROJECT

As the agency published it

County of Hawaii - Research and Development has issued request for proposal, solicitation 27-0071.

The County of Hawaiʻi seeks a qualified consultant to plan and develop partnerships for two complementary cultural tourism initiatives launching in Fall 2027: 1. Inaugural Hawai'i Island Japanese Hula Festival - A cultural exchange event connecting Hawai'i Island hālau with Japanese hula practitioners and enthusiasts. 2. Island of Hawaiʻi Marketplace - A vendor marketplace featuring Hawaiʻi Island-made products, services, cultural demonstrations, food, and creative experiences designed to elevate local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. This 6-month planning engagement covers foundational planning, partnership development, and pre-event preparation through delivery of a complete event implementation package. Both initiatives will be planned concurrently and launched together to maximize cultural authenticity, community benefit, and economic impact. Key Planning Aims: Establish cultural partnerships between Hawai'i Island and Japan through authentic hula practice Support Hawai'i Island hālau, Kumu Hula, makers, and cultural practitioners Create a platform for sustainable cultural tourism that uplifts communities Develop a marketplace that elevates Hawaiʻi Island-made products and creative entrepreneurs Deliver comprehensive planning documentation ready for event execution Align with regenerative tourism principles and County economic development priorities

The County of Hawaiʻi is pursuing a culturally-grounded approach to economic development through the planning of a Japanese Hula Festival and Island of Hawaiʻi Marketplace. With approximately 2 million hula enthusiasts in Japan and West Hawaiʻi accommodations averaging $250-$350/night in a strong tourism market ($22.4B projected visitor spending in 2027), the inaugural festival and marketplace are projected to generate visitor spending and support Hawaiʻi Island hālau while elevating local creative entrepreneurs. By centering authentic Hawaiian cultural practice and locally-made products, these initiatives create mutual reinforcement between cultural authenticity, community benefit, and economic development—positioning Hawaiʻi Island as a sustainability leader in place-based tourism. The 6-month planning engagement establishes foundational partnerships, cultural protocols, vendor frameworks, and operational readiness that enable successful inaugural launch in Fall 2027.

Responses are due November 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM HST.

Questions must be submitted by November 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM HST.

Commodity categories: Strategic planning consultation services; Government affairs and community relations consultation service; Cultural and ethnic group relations consultation and engagement; Indigenous peoples relations consultation and engagement; Community relations consultation and engagement; Economic development consultancy.

Contact: Frecia Cevallos, EDS lll (Tourism Specialist) Research and Development (frecia.cevallos@hawaiicounty.gov, (808) 961-8366).

1 document is attached to the notice: RFP 27-0071 NOTICE TO PROPOSERS.

The full solicitation document, addenda and the question-and-answer thread are on the agency's OpenGov portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/hawaiicounty/projects/315564. Responses are submitted electronically there, and a free vendor account is required before you can upload one.

Reproduced from the official notice via OpenGov Procurement - Hawaii. The agency's page is the one that counts.