Become A Certified Sustainable Tour Operator

Join the only third-party sustainable tourism certification in Hawaiʻi

certified seal

Aloha Tour Operators!

What is sustainable tour operator certification?

Sustainable Tour Operator certification via the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawai’i (STAH) allows companies to be recognized for their commitment to sustainable operations. STAH is the only third-party sustainable tourism certification in the United States. This annual certification evaluates our local partners’ ongoing commitment to natural resource stewardship, cultural education, community outreach, and more. We have recently aligned with Travelife, enhancing global recognition for certified operators. The STAH certification stamp demonstrates credibility and offers defense against greenwashing, all while communicating your company’s ongoing commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

What are the benefits of certification?

Benefits include:

Attain your company’s sustainability goals & help our islands flourish!
Access on-demand, internationally-accredited educational & training opportunities for you & your staff
Undergo a professionally guided sustainability assessment, create a personalized action plan & enjoy access to ongoing sustainability coaching & auditing
Use a globally-recognized certification logo for marketing
Enjoy special prioritization by industry partners & organizations throughout Hawai’i
Your link-able company profile will be added to our website & our interactive Hawai’i Travel Planner
Join a network of 40+ certified operators statewide (click here to see our certified tour operators)
Pursue internationally accredited Travelife certification

How do I become certified?

General overview of the process:

Appoint a Sustainability Coordinator (SC) & pay fee
SC completes training (an ~8-hour time investment)
Trained SC completes your company’s sustainability checklist with the help of a certified STAH coach
A sustainability audit of your business location is conducted. If you pass, an auditor joins a tour for further assessment.
The auditor drafts a report either recommending certification or indicating needed improvements. An action plan is then developed on how to achieve certification.
Upon earning full certification, organizations and other partners (eg: HVCB) are notified, & certification seals are presented to you for your use in marketing, etc. Welcome to our ‘ohana!
Within 8 months of certification, one of our Pono Traveler “secret shoppers” will also evaluate one of your tours
We re-certify annually each fall: we will conduct a desk audit to ensure certification requirements continue to be met annually, and we’ll help with any new sustainability goals. Your annual fee will be due at this time.

What is the cost of becoming certified?

The certification process ranges depending on the size of your company and your company’s needs.

# of full-time equivalent employees
1-5 – $250
6-14 – $600
15+ – $1,500

The best way to identify the potential cost is to fill out the form so we can get connected! We recognize each operation is unique and we are open to tailoring an option that works for your business.

In September 2021, we received new funding from HTA. In the spirit of kākou, we have decided to devote a significant chunk of our budget to make your company’s journey toward sustainability a little more affordable! So, keep calm and certify on!

Connect with us to be eligible for possible grant funding!

Certification Program Objectives

EDUCATION

Educate commercial tour operators and community stakeholders on certification and best management practices for the responsible use of natural and cultural resources.

CREDIBILITY

Ensure credibility using third party assessment for tour providers whose operations positively affect the natural and cultural resources, contribute to conservation, and help sustain local communities.

AWARENESS & GROWTH

Increase visibility of sustainable tourism operators and raise awareness amongst visitors.

STEPS TO BECOME CERTIFIED

3 Steps To Become Certified.

Connect with Us by Oct. 15th

Interested operators need to connect with STAH by filling out the form below by October 15th to be certified for the 2021-2022 year.

Interest Form

Pay Annual Fee & Choose Sustainability Coordinator to Work on Checklist

After filling out the interest form, STAH will connect directly with you and will help you determine your grant eligibility. Operators will then be required to submit their annual fee by no later than November 1, 2021.

During this time, you should be thinking of who you might choose as your company’s Sustainability Coordinator (SC). This can be anyone at your company who is interested in sustainability and is able to undergo the required self-led 8+ hours of training needed for this certification. Once trained, the SC will begin working through your company’s personalized checklist with access to sustainability coaching through STAH. This is considered a journey, a chance to learn more about sustainable/regenerative tourism and how your business can better contribute to this field.

Submit Checklist & Go Through Audit

Once the SC submits the completed checklist for your business, your business will then be assigned a desk audit. If you pass this on-site desk audit, an on-site evaluation is scheduled. This on-site evaluation involves the auditor going on a tour, meeting with your staff, and reviewing the information that is included in the checklist to verify.

If everything checks out, you will receive a STAH Sustainable Tour Operator stamp! This stamp can be used in your marketing to show your commitment to sustainable tourism.

After some time, a ‘Pono Traveler’ (secret shopper) may visit you later in the year as a tour guest. This helps with “quality control” to see if you need additional support in your ongoing commitment!

Benefits Of Certification

1

Be featured on STAH’s homepage as a new certified operator and receive permanent placement as a corporate sponsor.

5

Inclusion in STAH’s travel planner for Hawaii

9

Exclusive usage rights of STAH’s logo for marketing purposes

13

Eligible to participate in Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii’s committees and working groups

2

Publicity initiated by STAH, including: Hawaii Public Radio, Star Advertiser, Pacific Business News, Green Magazine, and many others.

6

Recognition at STAH’s Annual Luncheon

10

Koa Legacy tree planted on your company’s behalf, including certificate of sponsorship

14

Social media highlights of your company’s outreach/volunteer programs and your other important events / activities / accomplishments on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

3

Access to STAH Ohana Only information and The Ecotraveler, STAH’s newsletter covering trends and issues influencing sustainable tourism

7

Eligible to serve on the STAH Board of Directors

11

Invitation to STAH Events, including the Annual Awards Luncheon

15

Profile on STAH’s website which includes your business description, company logo, contact details and a link to your company’s website: Also included on the profile are the certificaiton details, videos and images provided to the STAH to attain certification

4

Exclusive usage rights of STAH’s Certified Sustainable Tour Operator Seal for promotional materials

8

Access to STAH sponsored trainings

12

Concierge/Activity desk outreach to educate about certified tour operators

16

Also included on the profile are the certification details, videos and images provided to the STAH to attain certification

The Scope Of The Certification Evaluation

STAH’s Sustainable Tourism Certification Program requires careful examination of each applicant and a wide variation in the type of business that was described in the application. In order to assure that evaluations are uniformly conducted across each operator, the following assumptions were made:

Definition of Sustainable Tourism
Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.[1]

To maximize social and economic benefits to Hawaii’s communities and businesses while respecting, nourishing, preserving and enhancing Hawaii’s natural, cultural and human assets.[2]

Only established operations are evaluated
Some operators may plan to construct buildings in the future, rent a location for their operation, or add a product or service. This certification assumes that the operation at the time of evaluation is being certified.

Tours have a natural and/or cultural area focus

Eligible tour operators must principally engage in activities which involve guided excursions for the purpose of engaging Hawaii’s natural environment and/or cultural resources.

The whole tour operator company/organization is certified
Although tourism businesses in general often offer a wide range of activities, some of which may not be eligible for sustainable tourism certification, in order to obtain STAH certification, all of the company’s operations – including work commissioned to subcontractors – are required to meet the minimum set of sustainability practices outlined.

Evaluation does not include impacts from air travel
Sustainable tourism is difficult for island communities because air travel is required to reach these destinations. The scope of this document includes activities once on an island.