Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Malama Huleia

EIN 47-1610214 · Lihue, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MALAMA HULEIA ADVOCATES,EDUCATES&LEADS COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO REMOVE MANGROVE ALONG THE HULEIA RIVER,TO RE-ESTABLISH NATIVE WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS,TO MANAGE ALAKOKO FISHPOND & TO CREATE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS HONORING HAWAIIAN VALUES.

Income
$538,411
Spending
$482,580
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
7
Volunteers
3,000
Highest pay
$97,433, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $356,469 spent. MALAMA HULEIA CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS REMOVING INVASIVE MANGROVE ON ITS 26 ACRE RESTORATION SITE IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY AND AGENCY ORGANIZATIONS. HAWAII PUBLIC LAND TRUST DONATED THE 102 ACRE ALAKOKO FISH POND TO MALAMA HULEIA FOR CONSERVATION IN PERPETUITY. MALAMA HULEIA CONTINUES TO REBUILD THE 2,600 FT. FISHPOND WALL WHICH IS 600-800 YEARS OLD USING THE HAWAIIAN DRY SET MASONRY TECHNIQUE WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS. MALAMA HULEIA HOSTED OVER 3,000 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE ISLAND.

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 2015.

    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.