Hookuaaina
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HO'OKUA'AINA CREATES A CULTURE OF INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING AND COMMUNITY WAIWAI THROUGH ALOHA 'AINA.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $993,860
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 11.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 3,500
- Highest pay
- $132,955, co-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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $290,743 spent. AT RISK YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM IS OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM. AT RISK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND REFERRED BY THEIR SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS EARN CREDITS WHILE WORKING A TRADITIONAL TARO FARM. THEY ARE MENTORED IN LIFE SKILLS, WORK ETHIC, AND JOB SKILLS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED ON THE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN PRACTICE OF CULTIVATING KALO. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCORPORATE PERSONAL REFLECTION TIME, ONE-ON-ONE TIME MENTORING AND INTERACTION WITH THE ELDERLY, TRAINED STAFF, NON AT RISK PEERS AND CORE "HEALTHY" FAMILY FROM THE COMMUNITY.THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THIS IS THE 2ND PHASE OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM. IF PARTICIPANTS IN THE ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM SHOW INTEREST AND INITIATIVE THEY ARE INVITED TO PROMOTE UP INTO A PAID POSITION UP TO 16 HOURS PER WEEK WHERE THEY WILL BUILD UPON THE SKILLS AND VALUES THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. INTERNS ARE GIVEN GREATER KULEANA TO LEAD AND HOST GROUPS, HARVEST KALO, PROCESS POI, MORE JOB SKILLS TRAINING RELATED TO FARMING, SMALL BUSINESS PRACTICES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
- $290,742 spent. OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER/EDUCATION: HO'OKUA'AINA PROVIDES AN IDEAL OUTDOOR LEARNING CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS FROM ELEMENTARY UP THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL. HO'OKUA'AINA CO-FOUNDER DEAN WILHELM IS A CERTIFIED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TEACHER WITH NEARLY 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM. HAWAIIAN VALUES-BASED LESSONS ARE USED AND CAN SUPPLEMENT STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM FOR ANY GRADE AND SUBJECT AREA. SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO BRING STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS TO SEE A TRADITIONAL TARO FARM. THEY ARE TAUGHT HAWAIIAN CULTURE, SCIENCE, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS PROGRAM SERVES SMALL GROUPS AS REQUESTED.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.