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Papahana Kuaola

EIN 20-2565007 · Kaneohe, HI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S MISSION IS TO CREATE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY FULLY INTEGRATED WITH HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO EXEMPLIFY A LIFESTYLE RESPECTFUL OF KANAKA, `AINA, AND AKUA. PAPAHANA KUAOLA IS A MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM SERVICING O`AHU AND MOLOKA`I THAT LOOKS TO ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE WE BUILD TODAY CAN ACTUALLY SUSTAIN US INTO TOMORROW. PAPAHANA KUAOLA BELIEVES IN THE NEED ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITHOUT SACRIFICING OURSELVES AND OUR `AINA; IN THE NEED ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT LITTERING OUR ISLANDS WITH NO TRESPASSING SIGNS; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL, IN WHICH HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE PROVIDES THE COURSE OF ACTION.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
40
Volunteers
1,260
Highest pay
$105,558, co-exec dire

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $443,200 spent. `ILI`ILIKAUHALE PROGRAM - DEALS DIRECTLY WITH PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S 63-ACRE PARCEL BEING LEASED FROM KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS BISHOP ESTATE IN HE'EIA. THIS IS THE CENTER OF PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER, AND A TEST SITE FOR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS.
  2. $169,118 spent. KUPUALAU PROGRAM - PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT EDUCATES AND ADVOCATES FOR A HEALTHY HAWAI`I. PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S GOAL IS TO PRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM THAT HONOR THE CONNECTION BETWEEN KANAKA, `AINA, AND AKUA. PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S PROGRAMS SEEK TO ADDRESS MODERN ISSUES AND BUILD PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THROUGH HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE.
  3. $309,144 spent. LELEKAMANU PROGRAM - PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S OUTREACH AND SERVICE PROJECT DIVISION ON O'AHU AND MOLOKA'I THAT ENCOMPASSES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE AHUPUA'A OF HE'EIA. THESE INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS TO MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL CONSERVATION AREAS AND ACTIVE RESTORATION SITES, PARTNERING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON MALAMA 'AINA-BASED INITIATIVES AND PARTICIPATING IN NATIVE VEGETATION RESTORATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT HAWAI'I AND THE PACIFIC. PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S GOAL IS TO TAKE THE LESSONS OF PAPAHANA KUAOLA TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
  4. $1,360 spent. HANAOLA PROGRAM - PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROJECT. BUILT UPON THE LESSONS OF PAPAHANA KUAOLA, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A MODEL OF INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND CULTURALLY MINDED. EVENTUALLY, WE WILL LOOK TO THIS PROJECT TO SUSTAIN OUR EFFORTS IN `ILI`ILIKAUHALE, LELEKAMANU AND KUPUALAU WHILE PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED DIVERSIFICATION TO OUR ISLAND ECONOMY.
  5. HANAOLA PROGRAM - PAPAHANA KUAOLA'S SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROJECT. BUILT UPON THE LESSONS OF PAPAHANA KUAOLA, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A MODEL OF INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND CULTURALLY MINDED. EVENTUALLY, WE WILL LOOK TO THIS PROJECT TO SUSTAIN OUR EFFORTS IN `ILI`ILIKAUHALE, LELEKAMANU AND KUPUALAU WHILE PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED DIVERSIFICATION TO OUR ISLAND ECONOMY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.