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Akaka Foundation for Tropical for

EIN 46-4119442 · Hilo, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE AND PROMOTE A FOREST STEWARDSHIP ETHIC THAT EMBRACES RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES THROUGH INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN KNOWLEDGE, AND THROUGH STRATEGIC COOPERATION AMONG PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS. WE SUPPORT THREE INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS, CULTURAL PRACTICE, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS.

Income
$958,289
Spending
$901,554
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
12
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$89,330, 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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

    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 (3)
  1. $306,538 spent. KAIAULU PUUWAAWAA COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSISTENCE FOREST AREA: THIS COMMUNITY-BASED COLLABORATION LED BY LINEAL DESCENDANTS OF PUUWAAWAA AIMS TO REFOREST 84-ACRES AT PUUWAAWAA, ONCE A VIBRANT DRYLAND FOREST, NOW DOMINATED BY INVASIVE GRASSES. THIS INITIATIVE IS AMONG HAWAII'S FIRST COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS ON PUBLIC LANDS, OFFERING A MODEL FOR SIMILAR ENDEAVORS. GOALS INCLUDE FOREST RESTORATION, ENHANCING ACCESS TO CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANTS, AUGMENTING CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND FOSTERING RIDGE- TO-REEF RESILIENCE THROUGH BIOCULTURAL EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $260,556 spent. OHIA DISEASE RESISTANCE PROGRAM (ODRP): A COALITION LED BY AFTF AND THE USDA FOREST SERVICE, ODRP STANDS AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMBATING RAPID OHIA DEATH (ROD), A FUNGAL PATHOGEN IMPERILING THE OHIA TREE (METROSIDEROS POLYMORPHA) - A SPECIES FOUNDATIONAL TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTICES AND LIFEWAYS, AND AN ECOLOGICAL KEYSTONE THAT COVERS NEARLY ONE MILLION ACRES OF HAWAII'S LANDSCAPE; MAKING IT THE BACKBONE OF HAWAII'S NATIVE FORESTS AND WATERSHEDS. ROD HAS ALREADY CAUSED 180,000 ACRES IN OHIA MORTALITY. THE MISSION OF THE ODRP EMPHASIZES RESTORING THE FORESTS AFFLICTED BY ROD WITH POTENTIAL ROD-RESISTANT STRAINS OF OHIA, REPRESENTING A BEACON OF HOPE FOR HAWAII'S NATIVE FORESTS. RECENT MILESTONES INCLUDE: (1) EXECUTION OF TWO INTENSIVE DISEASE-RESISTANCE SCREENING TRIALS, INVOLVING 686 OHIA TREES FROM AREAS WITH PRONOUNCED ROD MORTALITY. (2) IDENTIFICATION OF 371 OHIA TREES SHOWCASING RESILIENCE AGAINST THE FUNGAL PATHOGEN THAT CAUSES ROD. (3) DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO USE DISEASE-RESISTANT OHIA TO RESTORE AREAS AFFECTED BY ROD, ENSURING THE TREE'S CONTINUED PRESENCE IN HAWAII'S LANDSCAPES. OHIA DISEASE RESISTANCE PROGRAM (ODRP): A COALITION LED BY AFTF AND THE USDA FOREST SERVICE, ODRP STANDS AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMBATING RAPID OHIA DEATH (ROD), A FUNGAL PATHOGEN IMPERILING THE OHIA TREE (METROSIDEROS POLYMORPHA) - A SPECIES FOUNDATIONAL TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTICES AND LIFEWAYS, AND AN ECOLOGICAL KEYSTONE THAT COVERS NEARLY ONE MILLION ACRES OF HAWAII'S LANDSCAPE; MAKING IT THE BACKBONE OF HAWAII'S NATIVE FORESTS AND WATERSHEDS. ROD HAS ALREADY CAUSED 180,000 ACRES IN OHIA MORTALITY. THE MISSION OF THE ODRP EMPHASIZES RESTORING THE FORESTS AFFLICTED BY ROD WITH POTENTIAL ROD-RESISTANT STRAINS OF OHIA, REPRESENTING A BEACON OF HOPE FOR HAWAII'S NATIVE FORESTS. RECENT MILESTONES INCLUDE: (1) EXECUTION OF TWO INTENSIVE DISEASE-RESISTANCE SCREENING TRIALS, INVOLVING 686 OHIA TREES FROM AREAS WITH PRONOUNCED ROD MORTALITY. (2) IDENTIFICATION OF 371 OHIA TREES SHOWCASING RESILIENCE AGAINST THE FUNGAL PATHOGEN THAT CAUSES ROD. (3) DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO USE DISEASE-RESISTANT OHIA TO RESTORE AREAS AFFECTED BY ROD, ENSURING THE TREE'S CONTINUED PRESENCE IN HAWAII'S LANDSCAPES.
  3. $199,250 spent. PILINA AINA: A DYNAMIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN AFTF, THE US FOREST SERVICE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA, PILINA AINA CELEBRATES AND REINFORCES THE PROFOUND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY AND THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS. THE TERM "PILINA" ENCAPSULATES RELATIONSHIPS, WHILE "AINA" REPRESENTS THE LAND, THE VERY CRUX OF THE INITIATIVE. PILINA AINA PROVIDES IMMERSIVE AND EMPOWERING AINA-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE, FACILITATE, AND ENHANCE STUDENT, TEACHER, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH AINA. THESE EXPERIENCES, ANCHORED IN PLACE AND HAWAIIAN LIFEWAYS AND PRACTICES, CULTIVATE A DEEPER AND PERSONALLY TRANSFORMATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF HAWAII'S NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND PROVIDE ENHANCED SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER-PREPAREDNESS FOR YOUTH. WE OFFER PROGRAMMING TO HAWAII'S GRADE 4-12 STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS THROUGH DAY TRIP FIELD COURSES, OVERNIGHT FIELD COURSES, INTENSIVE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS, AND YEAR-LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN STEM. WE SERVE 1,000+ STUDENTS ANNUALLY. PILINA AINA: A DYNAMIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN AFTF, THE US FOREST SERVICE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA, PILINA AINA CELEBRATES AND REINFORCES THE PROFOUND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY AND THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS. THE TERM "PILINA" ENCAPSULATES RELATIONSHIPS, WHILE "AINA" REPRESENTS THE LAND, THE VERY CRUX OF THE INITIATIVE. PILINA AINA PROVIDES IMMERSIVE AND EMPOWERING AINA-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE, FACILITATE, AND ENHANCE STUDENT, TEACHER, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH AINA. THESE EXPERIENCES, ANCHORED IN PLACE AND HAWAIIAN LIFEWAYS AND PRACTICES, CULTIVATE A DEEPER AND PERSONALLY TRANSFORMATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF HAWAII'S NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND PROVIDE ENHANCED SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER-PREPAREDNESS FOR YOUTH. WE OFFER PROGRAMMING TO HAWAII'S GRADE 4-12 STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS THROUGH DAY TRIP FIELD COURSES, OVERNIGHT FIELD COURSES, INTENSIVE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS, AND YEAR-LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN STEM. WE SERVE 1,000+ STUDENTS ANNUALLY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.