Malama Kauai
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO PEOPLE IN KAUAI HAWAII FOR EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO STRENGTHENING LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $98,611, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $2.0 million spent. INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION - PROVIDING EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FUNDING TO FARMERS, WITH A FOCUS ON SMALL TO MEDIUM AND MINORITY FARMERS: THROUGH VARIOUS SUBSIDIZED FEEDING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE AGGREGATED AND DISTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOCAL FOOD FOR PRODUCERS ISLANDWIDE; HELPED TO DISTRIBUTE 215,000+ IN GRANTS TO 40 INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR FOOD SAFETY UPGRADES, ALONGSIDE THE LARGEST FOOD SAFETY TRAINING SUCCESS ON KAUA'I TO DATE; FISCALLY SPONSORED 2 LARGE GRANTS FOR FARMER GROUPS FOR WATER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT: MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE AND WAIOLI VALLEY TARO HUI; DEVELOPED THE ALOHA 'AINA WORKFORCE PROGRAM WHICH PLACED 24 DISLOCATED WORKERS FOR 14 WEEKS OF PAID TRAINING AT 15 SITES IN CONSERVATION AND FOOD SYSTEMS; 50% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE OFFERED JOBS IN THEIR NEW FIELD BY PROGRAM END; LAUNCHED THE MOLOA'A 'AINA CENTER FOOD HUB PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE, KAUAI'S LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS (CURRENTLY IN EARLY CONSTRUCTION PHASE. INCREASING FOOD ACCESS - FOCUSING ON THOSE MOST IN NEED, BY RESPONDING TO BOTH IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND STRATEGIZING FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LOCAL FOOD ACCESS: VILLAGE HARVEST GLEANING COLLECTED 12,000+ LBS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND DONATED IT TO >12 FOOD BANKS, PANTRIES, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH SUPPORT FROM >150 VOLUNTEER HOURS; DISTRIBUTED 600 FOOD TREES AND OVER 1,000 PLANT MATERIALS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEM TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD; COORDINATED A QUARTERLY KAUAI FOOD ACCESS MEETING WITH CORNERSTONE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING KAUAI'S HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS INCLUDING FOOD BANKS/PANTRIES, ELDERLY SERVICES AGENCIES, SNAP OUTREACH CENTERS, AND OTHERS; DISTRIBUTED 22,481+ FREE CSAS/GROCERY BOXES IN 2020, FEEDING 53,444 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CONSTANTLY-PIVOTING PROGRAM MODELS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S EVOLVING ANTI-HUNGER NEEDS DURING COVID. INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION - PROVIDING EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FUNDING TO FARMERS, WITH A FOCUS ON SMALL TO MEDIUM AND MINORITY FARMERS: THROUGH VARIOUS SUBSIDIZED FEEDING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE AGGREGATED AND DISTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOCAL FOOD FOR PRODUCERS ISLANDWIDE; HELPED TO DISTRIBUTE 215,000+ IN GRANTS TO 40 INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR FOOD SAFETY UPGRADES, ALONGSIDE THE LARGEST FOOD SAFETY TRAINING SUCCESS ON KAUA'I TO DATE; FISCALLY SPONSORED 2 LARGE GRANTS FOR FARMER GROUPS FOR WATER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT: MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE AND WAIOLI VALLEY TARO HUI; DEVELOPED THE ALOHA 'AINA WORKFORCE PROGRAM WHICH PLACED 24 DISLOCATED WORKERS FOR 14 WEEKS OF PAID TRAINING AT 15 SITES IN CONSERVATION AND FOOD SYSTEMS; 50% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE OFFERED JOBS IN THEIR NEW FIELD BY PROGRAM END; LAUNCHED THE MOLOA'A 'AINA CENTER FOOD HUB PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE, KAUAI'S LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS (CURRENTLY IN EARLY CONSTRUCTION PHASE. INCREASING FOOD ACCESS - FOCUSING ON THOSE MOST IN NEED, BY RESPONDING TO BOTH IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND STRATEGIZING FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LOCAL FOOD ACCESS: VILLAGE HARVEST GLEANING COLLECTED 12,000+ LBS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND DONATED IT TO >12 FOOD BANKS, PANTRIES, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH SUPPORT FROM >150 VOLUNTEER HOURS; DISTRIBUTED 600 FOOD TREES AND OVER 1,000 PLANT MATERIALS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEM TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD; COORDINATED A QUARTERLY KAUAI FOOD ACCESS MEETING WITH CORNERSTONE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING KAUAI'S HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS INCLUDING FOOD BANKS/PANTRIES, ELDERLY SERVICES AGENCIES, SNAP OUTREACH CENTERS, AND OTHERS; DISTRIBUTED 22,481+ FREE CSAS/GROCERY BOXES IN 2020, FEEDING 53,444 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CONSTANTLY-PIVOTING PROGRAM MODELS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S EVOLVING ANTI-HUNGER NEEDS DURING COVID.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 October 2006.
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.