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Passes our checks

Ka Lahui Kai

EIN 47-5423762 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO MOTIVATE AND PREPARE YOUTH TO LEARN AND UTILIZE PERSONAL STRENGTHS BY PERPETUATING THE TRADITIONS AND USE OF THE CANOE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF ISLAND CULTURE.

Income
$363,620
Spending
$393,129
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8

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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 112% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $374,010 spent. THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATED AND STRENGTHENED THE SELF-ESTEEM OF HAWAII'S YOUTH BY PROVIDING A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTES CHARACTER- DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE-ENHANCING VALUES THROUGH THE ART AND HISTORY OF CANOE PADDLING. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, YOUTH PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE FUNDAMENTAL LIFE SKILLS AND CONCEPTS LEARNED THROUGH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS ON THE OCEAN WHERE THEY ARE EXPOSED TO AND PUT INTO PRACTICE CORE LESSONS, INCLUDING HOW TO SET AND MEET OBJECTIVES, RESPECT OTHERS AND SPORTSMANSHIP, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE, FITNESS, AND LENDING SUPPORT TO OTHERS. THE LESSONS TAUGHT THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS THE ISLAND CULTURE AND RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROMOTED AND ADVANCED RECREATIONAL AND AMATEUR SPORTS BY SUPPORTING HAWAII'S YOUTH-ATHLETES THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT ENCOURAGE THE TALENT AND ABILITY OF THESE YOUTH, INCLUDING COMPETITIONS THAT ARE HELD LOCALLY AND ABROAD ALLOWING FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE. PARTICIPATING YOUTH ATTEND CLINICS AND LESSONS TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCED, WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTORS WHO ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP PERSONAL CAPABILITIES. HELP TO DECREASE THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF URBANIZATION ON OAHU'S OCEAN WATERS BY DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO USE THE OCEAN IN A REGENERATIVE MANNER THAT DOES NOT HARM THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROPER STEWARDSHIP, WHICH IS PROMOTED IN ALL ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES. THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATED AND STRENGTHENED THE SELF-ESTEEM OF HAWAII'S YOUTH BY PROVIDING A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTES CHARACTER- DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE-ENHANCING VALUES THROUGH THE ART AND HISTORY OF CANOE PADDLING. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, YOUTH PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE FUNDAMENTAL LIFE SKILLS AND CONCEPTS LEARNED THROUGH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS ON THE OCEAN WHERE THEY ARE EXPOSED TO AND PUT INTO PRACTICE CORE LESSONS, INCLUDING HOW TO SET AND MEET OBJECTIVES, RESPECT OTHERS AND SPORTSMANSHIP, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE, FITNESS, AND LENDING SUPPORT TO OTHERS. THE LESSONS TAUGHT THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS THE ISLAND CULTURE AND RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROMOTED AND ADVANCED RECREATIONAL AND AMATEUR SPORTS BY SUPPORTING HAWAII'S YOUTH-ATHLETES THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT ENCOURAGE THE TALENT AND ABILITY OF THESE YOUTH, INCLUDING COMPETITIONS THAT ARE HELD LOCALLY AND ABROAD ALLOWING FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE. PARTICIPATING YOUTH ATTEND CLINICS AND LESSONS TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCED, WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTORS WHO ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP PERSONAL CAPABILITIES. HELP TO DECREASE THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF URBANIZATION ON OAHU'S OCEAN WATERS BY DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO USE THE OCEAN IN A REGENERATIVE MANNER THAT DOES NOT HARM THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROPER STEWARDSHIP, WHICH IS PROMOTED IN ALL ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES.

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 January 2016.

    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.