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Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture

EIN 45-2534694 · Kapaau, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HAWAII INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC AGRICULTURE (HIP AG) IS A CONSCIOUS MOVEMENT OF INSPIRED INDIVIDUALS LIVING A MODEL OF SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EARTH AND SERVICE TO YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES. LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC NORTH KOHALA, HIP AG IS A GROWING COMMUNITY THAT CULTIVATES A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF POLYNESIAN CROPS AND OPERATES AS AN EDUCATIONAL SITE OFFERING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COURSES, YOUTH PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS. THROUGH FARMING AND HANDS-ON EDUCATION, HIP AGRICULTURE IS PIONEERING A NEW PARADIGM OF CONSCIOUS AGRICULTURE THAT HONORS INDIGENOUS WISDOM, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AND THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF RETURNING TO THE LAND. HIP AG'S MISSION IS TO PRACTICE AND TEACH REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. HIP AG'S VISION IS TO HEAL AND INSPIRE HAWAII THROUGH RESILIENT AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. HIP AG'S VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE: 1. PRACTICE TRADITIONAL PACIFIC AGRICULTURE THAT PRODUCES FOOD AND MEDICINE. 2. PROVIDE EXP

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$792,409
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
6
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$90,057, ceo

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 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 (4)
  1. $406,803 spent. THE HAWAII INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC AGRICULTURE (HIP AG) FARM PROGRAM PRACTICES A VARIETY OF FARMING METHODS, INCLUDING MARKET GARDENING, AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS, TROPICAL PERMACULTURE TECHNIQUES AND MORE. THE FARM SERVES AS AN EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION SITE AND MODEL FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. THE GOAL IS TO INSPIRE AND GROW THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS. HIP AG IS ON A MISSION TO RESTORE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY TO THE ISLANDS OF HAWAII. HIP AG FEELS THAT INCREASING ACCESS AND SHARING PLANT STARTS OF THESE FOOD SECURITY CROPS ARE CRUCIAL PARTS OF THE SOLUTION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. $131,182 spent. HIP AG'S YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM HOSTS FARM FIELD TRIPS TO YOUTH THAT TEACHES ABOUT CANOE CROPS, HARVESTING FRESH FRUIT, TASTING OF NEW FOODS, ORGANIC GARDENING, NUTRITION, MINDFULNESS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND LO'I KALO STREAM RESTORATION. HIP AG PARTNERS WITH KOHALA HIGH SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THEIR SCHOOL FARM AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION LINES WITH TEACHING, GARDENING, ORCHARD CARE, BEING A COMMUNITY ADVISOR, SUPPORTING GARDEN TO CAFETERIA PROGRAM, HOSTING SENIOR INTERNSHIPS, AND FEEDING STUDENTS FARM TO TABLE MEALS AND BEVERAGES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  3. $28,961 spent. SOIL HEALTH CONSERVATION & INNOVATION PROGRAM AIMS TO CONDUCT 12 SOIL HEALTH DEMONSTRATION TRIALS (SHDTS) ACROSS HAWAII ISLAND, FOCUSING ON EVALUATING THE SOIL HEALTH, AGRONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF INTEGRATING REGENERATIVE PRACTICES INTO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR STAPLE CROPS. THESE TRIALS WILL ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF INCORPORATING BIOFUMIGANT COVER CROPS, SOIL CARBON AMENDMENTS (COMPOST + BIOCHAR), AND TRADITIONAL POLYNESIAN POLYCULTURE TECHNIQUES INTO PRODUCTION MODELS FOR HIGH DISTURBANCE CROPS SUCH AS TARO, SWEET POTATO, AND BANANA. THE DATA FROM THE TRIALS WILL BE COMPILED AND ANALYZED, RESULTING IN SPECIFIC AND ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRODUCERS, FACILITATING INCREASED ADOPTION OF THESE PRACTICES.
  4. PART III LINE 4A - FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) HIP AG FARM OFFERS FARMER TRAINING TO INCREASE FARMERS AND FARMER CAPACITY TO INCREASE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION. THE ASSOCIATED OBJECTIVES INCLUDE OUR LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM (LIFT) FOR PRE-ESTABLISHED AND NEW SMALL-SCALE FARMERS ON HAWAII ISLAND AND THE RESIDENTIAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (RAP) FOR ASPIRING YOUNG FARMERS. THE PROGRAMS TRAIN NEW FARMERS FOR INCREASED CROP PRODUCTION THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF REGIONAL MARKET DEMAND AND COMBATS CLIMATE CHANGE BY ALLEVIATING THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCE PROCURED THROUGH SHIPPED GOODS. THE OFFERING INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES, FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORSHIP FIELD DAYS, DAYLONG EDUCATIONAL INTENSIVES AND NETWORKING EVENTS, EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FIELD TRIPS TO LOCAL FARMS. PART III LINE 4B - SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) HIP AG ALSO HAS BEEN WORKING TO REINVIGORATE FARM TO SCHOOL TO KOHALA CAFETERIA AND IS DETERMINED TO GET LOCAL PROCUREMENT ESTABLISHED WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING NEW MENU TRIALING. DURING THE SUMMER, HIP AG HOSTS HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS ON THE HIP FARM TO LEARN, WORK AND GET PAID TO JOIN THE TEAM FROM FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.

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 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 2014.

    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.