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Hiohia

EIN 45-0844549 · Waianae, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceWeak27 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 25% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HI'OHIA IS A HAWAII NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT SEEKS TO RECOVER TRADITIONAL NATIVE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE STORIES FROM HAWAII'S RICH HISTORY AND THEN PRINT AND PUBLISH THEM FOR USE IN HOMES AND IN HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCHOOLS, AND TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO HISTORIANS AND THE WORLD AS WELL. HI'OHIA'S EFFORTS ARE ACCOMPLISHING TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES: 1. THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT NATIVE HAWAIIAN STORIES AND 2. THE RECOVERY AND PERPETUATION OF THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. REVENUES ARE GENERATED THROUGH PUBLIC DONATIONS AND THROUGH SALES OF THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE MATERIALS THAT THE COMPANY PRODUCES. THESE REVENUES ARE USED TO RESEARCH AND RECOVER ADDITIONAL NATIVE HAWAIIAN STORIES TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE PUBLICATION.

Income
$423,364
Spending
$410,346
Spent on programs
25%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
3

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 94% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    25% 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

Weak: 27 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

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

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $58,846 spent. PRODUCED THE KAENA ALOHA SERIES OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN STORIES AND PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM FOR HOME AND HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL USE.
  2. $44,500 spent. PARTNERED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO BUILD A NATIVE, HISTORIC HAWAIIAN FOREST ON HAWAIIAN LANDS, INCLUDING A WATER WELL, TO BETTER PRESERVE HISTORIC HAWAII, HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, AND CULTURE.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 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 August 2021.

    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.