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Kuaaina Ulu Auamo

EIN 45-4509939 · Kaneohe, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KUA EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH CARING FOR THEIR BIOCULTURAL (NATURAL AND CULTURAL) HERITAGE. OUR VISION IS 'AINA MOMONA - ABUNDANT AND HEALTHY ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN HAWAI'I THAT CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
28.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
10
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$144,797, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 197% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FACILIATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT HAWAII.KUA CONTINUES TO SERVE THREE NETWORKS 1) E ALU PU (EAP) - MALAMA 'AINA OR COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FROM RIDGE TO REEF, 2) HUI MALAMA LOKO I'A (HMLI) - HAWAIIAN FISHPOND CARETAKERS, AND 3) THE LIMU HUI (LH) - NATIVE SEAWEED GATHERERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND CULTIVATORS. EACH NETWORK NESTS GENERATIVE FOCUS GROUPS SUCH AS THE LAWAI'A PONO HUI (LPH) - THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITY FISHERY MANAGEMENT - AND THE HATCHERY HUI - THAT SUPPORTS PROGRESS IN RESTORATIVE AQUACULTURE. THE ROLE OF THESE NETWORKS IS TO SUSTAIN MOMENTUM AND REMAIN ACTIVE IN THEIR ALLIANCE TO MALAMA AINA AND TO BE GENERATIVE IN THEIR WORK. 2024 WAS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC KUA HELD ALL OF ITS LARGE ANNUAL NETWORK GATHERINGS IN PERSON. KUA ALSO CONTINUED TO BUILD ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALLER CONTINGENTS TO GATHER AS WELL AS SMALL SCALE EXCHANGES AMONGST OUR ISLAND-WIDE NETWORKS. MANY MALAMA 'AINA EFFORTS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST YEAR, SOME THAT FOCUSED ON SHORT TERM GOALS SUCH AS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND DECISION-MAKERS ON LIMU, COMMUNITY-BASED FISHERY MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIZING AROUND LOKO I'A NEEDS, INVASIVE MULLET, RESTORATIVE AQUACULTURE AND RESEARCHING MOI SPAWNING. KUA ALSO SUPPORTED INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AMONG AQUACULTURAL PRACTITIONERS AND PRESENTED AND TOOK LEADERSHIP IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC COMMUNITY FISHERY DIALOGUES IN NADI, FIJI AND NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA. SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED KUA LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE AND FISHER MOI SPAWNING RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AT THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY CONVENTION IN HAWAI'I. A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE WAS A CULMINATION OF YEARS OF EFFORT, LIKE THE COLLECTIVE SUPPORT AND PASSAGE OF THE KIPAHULU COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSISTENCE FISHING AREA (CBSFA) PROCESS.

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 April 2013.

    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.