Pacific Islands Institute has been honored with multiple awards and accolades over the years. We are proud to have been recognized by the community and industry leaders.
The Hawai‘i Green Business Program recognizes recipients (businesses, events, and venues) who practice energy efficiency and sustainable measures that will help their bottom line while advancing Hawai‘i’s clean energy and sustainability goals. PII was recognized in their 2022 “Green Office” award category.
The Wall Street Journal selected ten ‘volun-tourism’ vacations around the world to feature in their December 19, 2011 issue, “Saving the World, One Vacation at a Time.” The PII program with our client Road Scholar “All Hands on Deck: Maintaining the USS Missouri (the Mighty Mo) in Pearl Harbor” garnered this prestigious mention.
Pacific Islands Institute was proud to be one of fourteen companies statewide to have earned the distinction of being Hawaii’s first ever Certified Ecotour Operators for our commitment to environmental sustainability. With the goal of encouraging more “green” tourism statewide, the Hawaii Ecotourism Association (HEA) developed the ecotourism certification program to educate commercial tour operators of the responsible use of natural and cultural resources, support conservation and sustainability and to raise awareness among Hawaii’s visitors.
Each year, the Hawaii Ecotourism Association recognizes one ecotourism operation who exemplifies the ideals of ecotourism. This award aims to recognize Hawaii ecotourism operations who demonstrate, through their business, a commitment to environmental stewardship, cultural sensitivity, community enhancement, educational content, or all of the above. These operations provide excellent examples of how the principles can be put into practice here in Hawaii.
The Keep it Hawaii Recognition Awards honor those who have demonstrated commitment to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community, providing visitors and residents with opportunities to experience the true culture through creative and responsible efforts. Nominations for the awards are judged by members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council on Authenticity, Usage, Uniqueness, Educational Value, Longevity and Commitment into the Future. The prestigious Koa Award was created to recognize those signifying a long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaii’s host culture.
In conjunction with Hawaii’s Living Reef Program, the Coral Reef Outreach Network (CRON) has developed an annual Living Reef Awards Program. The goal of the Living Reef Awards Program is to honor groups and individuals that promote a healthy reef ecosystem and go above and beyond in their action to make a difference in preserving our reefs, appropriate to their resources and ability. The awards honor and recognize organizations, groups or individuals that do the most to preserve Hawaii’s reef ecosystem.