The Hawaii Tourism Authority has allocated nearly $3.6 million in funding to support 130 programs in 2019 that it says “perpetuate Hawaiian culture, protect natural resources, and showcase community events.”

The agency awarded more than $1.2 million to 28 recipients that are perpetuating Hawaiian culture. More than $1.1 million was given to 28 recipients that are protecting Hawaii’s natural resources. Seventy-four recipients will share more than $1.2 million to assist with community programming.

Selections range from BikeShare Hawaii, an organization that wants to create audio tours, to the Volcano Art Center, which is seeking to host a hula arts event, to funding a seed banking program at the University of Hawaii that seeks to combat rapid ohia death.

ON THE MOVE

Bank of Hawaii has announced the following new vice presidents:

>> Christine Hirano is the new vice president and IT manager in the Systems Administration Department. Hirano has 15 years’ experience in overseeing IT infrastructure systems for Hawaii’s insurance and banking companies, including serving at Hawaii State Federal Credit Union.

>> Heather Thomas is the new vice president and IT manager in the Infrastructure Application Services Department. Thomas has eight years of experience in bank operations and enterprise technology, including working for Zions Bancorporation in West Valley, Utah, as well as joining Bank of Hawaii in 2017.

>> Daniel Ward is the new vice president and financial adviser with Bankoh Investment Services. Prior to joining Bank of Hawaii, Ward served as a financial adviser for Edward Jones as well as a client associate and office manager for Bank of America Merrill Lynch.