We’re engineering a way for tourism to give back.
Hawai‘i deserves the utmost care — and we believe visitors are ready to travel with intention. Rooted is rethinking tourism from the ground up: making it regenerative, not extractive, and helping travelers engage with Hawai‘i as a living culture to be honored — not consumed.
More travelers than ever are seeking meaningful, ethical experiences. But too often, local businesses are buried by paid listings, hidden in outdated guides, or overlooked by algorithms.
Rooted bridges that gap — connecting values-driven visitors with small businesses, Native Hawaiian-owned enterprises, cultural educators, and local makers. Our goal is simple: use modern tools to redirect tourism dollars back into the hands of those who make Hawai‘i what it is.
We’re currently inviting local businesses to be part of our launch. This technology exists for the local economy — and cannot, and will not, exist without it.
If you’d like to be featured, please reach out.
Let’s grow this together.
Our Plan of Action
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Partnerships
Key to our strategy is building a directory of local and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses. We want to provide this information in a way that helps visitors explore Hawai‘i more meaningfully — and spend intentionally. Whether you’re an artist, shop, expedition or experience guide, gallery, restaurant, boutique, or anyone who helps visitors understand, experience, or connect with Hawai‘i — Rooted needs to hear from you. We want to understand how this platform can specifically support you and any challenges you’re experiencing.
We also extend a direct invitation to cultural leaders, educators, and practitioners. Your insight is essential. We will not move forward without your continuous guidance and approval.
Relationships are at the heart of our philosophy — and the primary way we intend to create real-world impact. Every feature, recommendation, and user journey is being designed to drive genuine support to local communities and the people who call them home.
We’re actively collaborating with business owners across industries to ensure Rooted is shaped from the ground up. This is a mutual investment: we support our partners in growing ethically and sustainably, and they guide our mission with lived expertise.
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Progress Bar
We’re entering a foundational phase — and we’re taking the time to do it right. This isn’t a tech-first sprint. Rooted is a grassroots, community-led effort, and product development will follow only after deep listening and relationship-building.
Our approach is intentional, values-aligned, and grounded in the expectations of Hawai‘i’s people. Our first priority is connection: reaching out, listening carefully, and building trust.
We’re preparing to gather insight from both global travelers and local business owners across the islands. Every story, suggestion, concern, and lived experience will help shape what we’re building.
As we move toward developing an initial prototype, we’ll be sharing our plans and seeking feedback from key stakeholders. Business owners who join us early will help guide Rooted’s design from the inside out.
If you believe in a more ethical future for tourism in Hawai‘i — whether you’re a resident, leader, practitioner, business owner, or visitor — we’d love to hear from you.
Open data collections
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Visitor Insights Survey
Help shape the future of travel in Hawai‘i.
This short survey asks about your travel habits, values, and what you need to make your next visit more meaningful, safe, and aligned with the spirit of the islands.
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Small Business Survey
This time, the platform is yours.
We’re building a platform to uplift Native Hawaiian and local businesses, and to ensure tourism gives back. Your input will help us design a tool that serves you.
We’d love to connect.
Do you have questions about what exactly Rooted is? We can (and would like to) share a lot more by speaking with you directly.
Mahalo to please supply the requested information below. We will be in touch shortly.
