The Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) was established in 1965
with the mission to enrich the lives of residents and visitors by promoting, perpetuating,
and preserving culture and the arts throughout Hawai‘i. In 2023, SFCA embarked on
a comprehensive, inclusive strategic planning process, led by GUILD Consulting, to
gather broad community input and forge an action-oriented five-year plan for a post-
COVID environment.
Planning
The planning effort engaged a broad spectrum of Hawaiʻi’s arts and culture community,
including 437 respondents to a comprehensive survey designed by GUILD Consulting,
in-depth interviews with key leaders, and six public community meetings across all
islands. This widespread participation and feedback affirmed the existing strengths of
the SFCA, particularly its well-regarded grant programs, its critical support for individual
artists, and the dedication of its staff. The engagement process also illuminated
three core areas essential for growth and strategic focus. First, the community’s
desire for the SFCA to become a more visible, vocal, and effective advocate for arts
and culture, championing sustained increases in funding and resources. Second,
stakeholders strongly emphasized the need for ensuring statewide equity, calling
for improved outreach, communication, and physical presence in Neighbor Island
communities to strengthen access to the SFCA’s collection, resources, and programs.
Finally, community was adamant that the perpetuation and support of Native
Hawaiian culture and arts must remain a primary and amplified focus across all the
SFCA’s initiatives.
Strategic Pillars
In response to this invaluable community input, the SFCA has adopted four visionary
strategic pillars designed to strengthen its role as the State’s official arts agency:
HŌʻOIA-AFFIRM (to make true), HOʻONAʻAUAO-EDUCATE (to disperse information),
HOʻĀKOAKOA-CONVENE (to call together), and HO‘OKANU-CULTIVATE (to plant).
Each of these strategic pillars is presented along with an explanation, accompanying
objectives, and strategies in this document.
By committing to these strategic pillars, the SFCA will strengthen existing programs,
pursue needs-responsive initiatives, embrace a culture of transparency, and
ultimately create a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable future for the arts and
culture sector across the entire State of Hawai‘i. Success will be measured through
a robust Implementation and Monitoring Plan that tracks resources, milestones, and
measurable outcomes, with progress reported regularly to the Commission and the
public.
Download the PDF
Download and print or read online: SFCA Strategic Plan 2025 – 2029 (PDF)