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Awaiaulu Inc

EIN 26-3841515 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Hawaiian language education and perpetuation. Reconnecting and bridging knowledge from Hawaiian historical resources to today's world.

Income
$545,434
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
7
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$133,022, executive director

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 96% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    6 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. $391,928 spent. This project is named Kipapa. It is a translation training project and includes work on translating 19th century Hawaiian language manuscripts into English and re-formatting the Hawaiian into current written language usage. The focus of these efforts is primarily training researchers, editors and translators. The efforts are currently producing on-line material available and useable by educators, students at all grade levels, and the public. The project includes 2 mentors-in-training, and 12 translators-in-training; all under the support and tutelage of Ms. Kaui Sai Dudoit and Dr. Puakea Nogelmeier, PHD, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii. The project also includes curriculum design available to school administrators, Hawaiian language teachers, and the general public. The curriculum design centers around important Hawaii events and people of the 19th century. This is an ongoing project funded primarily by grants.
  2. $259,986 spent. This project is named Hawaiian Masterworks and includes modern transcriptions and English translations of major writings by Hawaiian historians of the past. Currently the project includes Na Hunahuna Ike using the 19th century memoirs of John Papa Ii, and Ke Kumu Aupuni and Ke Aupuni Moi from the writings of Samuel Kamakau in 6 years of articles in 19th century Hawaiian language newspapers. The objective of this project is to significantly increase the competency of Hawaiian language translators. In addition to training translators and editors, the project will result in publishing the books that are expected to be a valuable resource for researchers, educators and the general public. This is an ongoing project and is primarily funded by grants.
  3. $115,068 spent. This project is named Kakoi which produces graphic novels based on the exploits of Kamehameha in both Hawaiian and English. Translators and editors are trained in producing accurate historical material adapted from Ke Kumu Aupuni. Another goal is to prepare graphic novels that will interest youth in Hawaiian history and encourage their interest in exploring further that history
  4. $75,540 spent. Other translation projects include translations and training of translators; and also includes final reading and editing of material developed during Translation Training (described above) for publication. Almost all the published and other material will be used for education in Hawaiian language, history and culture.
  5. $30,401 spent. This project is named Mahuahua which works to map fields of knowledge in the Hawaiian language repository of newspapers, letters, documents, and manuscripts. It gives our fluent scholars experience in locating and charting the broadest range of historical resources in a given field. Mahuahua offers mentored experience in language, history and culture while developing professional cohorts and skilled experts. They learn to do the tremendous work of accessing, charting, and translating the full range of knowledge in our long-overlooked treasury of Hawaiian language.

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 November 6, 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 August 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.