Holo Holo Blog

Before we roll into the second month of the new year, we’re looking back on Holo Holo Charter’s community contributions in 2023. While we certainly love the ocean, we’re also deeply connected to the āina (land), and it is our top priority to give back to the island we call home.

Chandra Bertsch, Co-owner and General Manager of Holo Holo Charters, is committed to kaiāulu (community, neighborhood, village), and this is evident through Holo Holo’s contributions to local organizations, programs, schools, and events on Kauaʻi, year in and year out.

We are excited about what’s to come in 2024 and look forward to expanding what is already in place and putting some really cool new community contributions into action, too. We invite you to stay tuned & join us!

But first, let’s take a look at a sampling of the 100+ organizations we’ve donated to in 2023:

• Kauaʻi County Council – 2023 Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties, Annual Conference.
• Hawaiʻi Uncharted Research Collective – 1st Annual Whale Shark Day.
• Kauaʻi Humane Society – 2023 Paws for Celebration.
• Hawaiʻi Children’s Theatre – Elf the Musical.
• Hui O Laka, Kōkeʻe History Museum – 70th Celebration.
• Kauaʻi Search & Rescue training
• Kauaʻi High School, Kapaʻa High School & Waimea High School – 2023 Career Exploration Fair.
• Kekaha Community, E Ola Mau Na Leo O Kekaha – Kekaha Family Fun Day.
• Hanalei School – 2023 Hanalei School Golf Tournament.
• Kauaʻi Parent & Child Fair

A more detailed view of the organizations we contributed to:

• We provided financial & in-kind donations to support the Charity Walk hosted by the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association (HTLA) Kauaʻi Chapter. This event is a culmination of many months of fundraising by various visitor industry businesses on island (each island has their own). In 2023, Kauaʻi raised over $570,000 and donated to over 50 non-profit organizations on Kauaʻi.
• Holo Holo provided financial donations to The Bridge: Kauaʻi to College, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting Kauaʻi kids in achieving their college dreams by partnering local high school students with a mentor and providing scholarship opportunities.
• We provided financial donations to the National Tropical Botanical Garden to support their Summer Movie Night program, where they offer a free community event for Kauaʻi families and visitors to enjoy an outdoor movie night.
• We sponsored Kōloa Plantation Days with a financial donation to assist and support a lineup of community events and activities.
• Holo Holo matched guest donations to Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Maui Strong fund, supporting victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires with a total contribution of over $13,000.

Our Commitment to Mālama and Kuleana Kauai

We are sincerely committed to the Hawaiian cultural values of Mālama (to care for and nurture) and Kuleana (responsibility). These virtues are woven into all we do as a business and are especially apparent in our Paid Volunteerism Program.

Jess Belt (Rickard), Holo Holo Charters’s Assistant Operations Manager, is actively working on ways to help build momentum for Holo Holo’s Paid Volunteerism Program. This second-year program offers up to 16 hours of pay per year for each employee to participate individually in various community events such as beach cleanups, fishpond restoration, keiki marine life education, native plant restoration, and sustainable farming.

Holo Holo is also seeking to improve our narration training for crew leaders. We’ve researched and implemented new resources for the crew to share while leading charters that dispel the false information commonly repeated in the tourism industry and provide more culturally appropriate and accurate information to our guests.

Holo Holo’s intentions for 2024 include expanding the Paid Volunteerism Program into a company-wide event that directly benefits the community and developing a beach cleanup event with the Surfrider Foundation.

 2023 Year-End Totals

In 2023, we donated the following to local groups and non-profit organizations:

• $47,000 financial donations.
• $41,000 in-kind donations, typically gift certificates that groups can use as prizes or silent auction items for fundraising efforts.
• Total=$88,000

Mahalo for being a part of our Holo Holo ʻOhana. Your support of our business directly contributes to the lives of our friends, family, neighbors, children, furry friends, and the island as a whole, and we couldn’t do it without you. We look forward to continuing to share in the spirit and hope of ALOHA with all of you in 2024 and beyond!