Kokua Hawaii Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH EXPERIENCES THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR APPRECIATION FOR AND UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT SO THEY WILL BE LIFELONG STEWARDS OF THE EARTH.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 53.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 53.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 126% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $279,858 spent. AINA IN SCHOOLS IS AIMED AT CONNECTING CHILDREN TO THEIR LAND, WATERS AND FOOD IN ORDER TO GROW A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR HAWAII. OUR MISSION IS TO ACTIVELY INTEGRATE NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS. WE DO THIS THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES FEATURING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE, NUTRITION EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM, GARDEN-BASED LEARNING, AGRICULTURAL FIELD TRIPS, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
- $227,251 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TRIPS: OUR FIELD TRIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS BRING STUDENTS TO OUTDOOR SITES WHERE THEY CAN EXPERIENCE HANDS-ON LEARNING ABOUT HAWAII'S ENVIRONMENT. THE KOKUA HAWAII FOUNDATION OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TRIPS, FUNDRAISING DRIVES AND RETRIEVING RECYCLABLES FROM PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
- $187,668 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MINI GRANTS: TEACHERS FROM HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN APPLY FOR MINI-GRANTS TO HELP ADVANCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GOALS. PREVIOUS GRANTEES HAVE USED KHF FUNDS FOR GARDEN SUPPLIES, ECO-FOOTPRINT WORKSHOPS, VERMICOMPOST TRAININGS, AND OTHER WORTHWHILE ENDEAVORS.
- $1.2 million spent. 3RS SCHOOL RECYCLING: WITH ON CAMPUS RECYCLING AND SCHOOL-WIDE COLLECTION BY STUDENT COUNCILS AND SERVICE CLUBS, THIS PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 3R'S: REDUCING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING. THE KOKUA HAWAI'I FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL RECYCLING COMPANIES TO SPONSOR SCHOOL FUNDRAISING DRIVES AND TO PICKUP RECYCLABLES FROM PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.KOKUA LEARNING FARM: HANDS ON FARM LEARNING FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE ABILITY TO LEARN WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM AND THE CONNECTION OF THE FOOD TO THE LAND.KOKUA GENERAL STORE: FACILITY THAT HOLDS INFORMATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES ON LIVING SUSTAINABLY; VINTAGE SALES OF REUSED ITEMS, AND A REFILL SHOP FOR SOAPS AND SHAMPOOS TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE.GAIN ON SALES OF INVESTMENT ASSETS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.