Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hui Malama I Ke Ala Ulili

EIN 37-1799081 · Paauilo, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RE-ESTABLISH THE SYSTEMS THAT SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND LAND-BASED PRACTICES THAT CULTIVATE ABUNDANCE, REGENERATE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PROMOTE COLLECTIVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
17
Volunteers
2,500
Highest pay
$124,477, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $722,403 spent. HO'ONOHOPAPA KOHOL'LELE ENGAGES 1200+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND 'OHANA OF ALL AGES ANNUALLY IN MALAMA 'AINA (NATIVE ECO- AND AGRICULTURAL-SYSTEM REGENERATION), MALAMA WAHI KUPUNA (CULTURAL LANDSCAPE RESTORATION), 'AINA EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS ACROSS 1300+ ACRES IN THE AHUPUA'A OF KOHOLALELE - SPANNING FROM THE SHORELINE TO THE UPLAND RAINFOREST ZONE-INCLUDING KA MAHA 'ULU O KOHOLALELE. KA MAHA 'ULU IS A COMMUNITY-LED, CATALYTIC 'ULU (BREADFRUIT) AGROFORESTRY PROJECT AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WORKING TO TRANSFORM APPROXIMATELY 100 ACRES OF ABANDONED SUGAR PLANTATION AND CURRENT EUCALYPTUS PLANTATION LANDS IN THE LOWER WATERSHED REGION OF KOHOLALELE INTO HAWAI'I'S LARGEST COMMUNITY-LED AND -MANAGED REGENERATIVE BREADFRUIT AGROFOREST.
  2. $190,149 spent. KEIKI PAPA YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-SCHOOL, INTERCESSION, AND SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT HAVE SERVED OVER 90% OF THE YOUTH IN OUR HAMAKUA COMMUNITY (AGES 5-17) AND THEIR 'OHANA OVER THE PAST DECADE, PROVIDING A SAFE HAWAIIAN CULTURE-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR YOUTH TO CULTIVATE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT NETWORKS WITH PEERS, MENTORS, 'OHANA, AND 'AINA TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION AND GROWTH AS ALOHA 'AINA AND SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, AT HOME, AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $199,119 spent. KAHI HANAI KANAKA O HUIMAU (HUIMAU HUB), INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, HAS CONNECTED OVER 86% OF THE 'OHANA IN HAMAKUA HIKINA WITH LOCAL FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS IN HAMAKUA, WAIMEA, AND NORTH HILO BY PROVIDING FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE AND PREPPED MEALS TO KUPUNA (ELDERS) AND 'OHANA IN NEED FOR FREE THROUGH MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS IN PA'AUILO. HUIMAU EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM'S SERVICES IN 2023 TO INCREASE EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS THROUGH KAHI HANAI KANAKA O HUIMAU, WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A COMMUNITY HUB SPACE AND REVENUE-GENERATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN PA'AUILO.

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

  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 2024.

    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 February 2016.

    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.