Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE HAWAII ISLAND PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CULTURAL AND EDUCATION CENTER IS TO DOCUMENT, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE PORTUGUESE TO HAWAII'S HISTORY BEFORE THEY ARE FOREVER LOST, INCLUDING THEIR RICH HISTORY OF EXPLORATIONS, OCEAN VOYAGES OF EMIGRATION, PAST AND PRESENT CONTRIBUTIONS AND ASSIMILATION INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, USING TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL HAWAII'S IMMIGRANTS TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
- Income
- $57,080
- Spending
- $19,532
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 139
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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)
- $14,692 spent. CONSTRUCTION OF A CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER REMAINED A PRIMARY AND ONGOING PROGRAM ACTIVITY, ENCOMPASSING EXTENSIVE FUNDRAISING, GRANT ACQUISITION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND PHASED PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. OVER SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION PURSUED A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING MULTIPLE STATE GRANT IN AID AWARDS, COUNTY SUPPORT, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND A SIGNIFICANT DONATED PROPERTY, TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT DESPITE ESCALATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND EVOLVING FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. EARLY PLANS FOR COMPLETION WERE ADJUSTED AS COSTS INCREASED, REQUIRING REDESIGN AND PHASED CONSTRUCTION TO MAINTAIN FEASIBILITY. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CREATED SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING LIMITATIONS ON IN-PERSON FUNDRAISING AND THE LOSS OF PREVIOUSLY AWARDED GRANT FUNDS DUE TO PROJECT READINESS REQUIREMENTS. IN RESPONSE, THE ORGANIZATION ADAPTED BY IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVE FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES SUCH AS DRIVE-THROUGH CULTURAL EVENTS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH SUSTAINED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND GENERATED NECESSARY SUPPORT. A DEDICATED CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND CONTINUED DONOR ENGAGEMENT FURTHER CONTRIBUTED TO REBUILDING FINANCIAL MOMENTUM FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS RESUMED WITH A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN NOVEMBER 2022, FOLLOWED BY RENEWED SUCCESS IN SECURING FUNDING, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL STATE SUPPORT AND PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF DONATED PROPERTY DESIGNATED FOR SITE WORK. COORDINATION WITH STATE AGENCIES FACILITATED ALIGNMENT OF GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES, ENABLING THE ORGANIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONTRACTING. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL PERIOD, CONTRACTS FOR BOTH SITE WORK AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WERE EXECUTED, SITE PREPARATION WAS COMPLETED, AND VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED, MARKING A MAJOR MILESTONE TOWARD PROJECT COMPLETION. IN PARALLEL WITH CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO FULFILL ITS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY HOSTING EVENTS, EXHIBITS, AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE PORTUGUESE HERITAGE, INCLUDING MUSIC, FOOD, GENEALOGY, AND HISTORICAL EDUCATION. THESE ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, AND REINFORCED THE LONG-TERM PURPOSE OF THE CENTER AS A HUB FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND LEARNING. CONSTRUCTION OF A CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER REMAINED A PRIMARY AND ONGOING PROGRAM ACTIVITY, ENCOMPASSING EXTENSIVE FUNDRAISING, GRANT ACQUISITION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND PHASED PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. OVER SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION PURSUED A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING MULTIPLE STATE GRANT IN AID AWARDS, COUNTY SUPPORT, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND A SIGNIFICANT DONATED PROPERTY, TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT DESPITE ESCALATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND EVOLVING FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. EARLY PLANS FOR COMPLETION WERE ADJUSTED AS COSTS INCREASED, REQUIRING REDESIGN AND PHASED CONSTRUCTION TO MAINTAIN FEASIBILITY. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CREATED SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING LIMITATIONS ON IN-PERSON FUNDRAISING AND THE LOSS OF PREVIOUSLY AWARDED GRANT FUNDS DUE TO PROJECT READINESS REQUIREMENTS. IN RESPONSE, THE ORGANIZATION ADAPTED BY IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVE FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES SUCH AS DRIVE-THROUGH CULTURAL EVENTS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH SUSTAINED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND GENERATED NECESSARY SUPPORT. A DEDICATED CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND CONTINUED DONOR ENGAGEMENT FURTHER CONTRIBUTED TO REBUILDING FINANCIAL MOMENTUM FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS RESUMED WITH A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN NOVEMBER 2022, FOLLOWED BY RENEWED SUCCESS IN SECURING FUNDING, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL STATE SUPPORT AND PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF DONATED PROPERTY DESIGNATED FOR SITE WORK. COORDINATION WITH STATE AGENCIES FACILITATED ALIGNMENT OF GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES, ENABLING THE ORGANIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONTRACTING. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL PERIOD, CONTRACTS FOR BOTH SITE WORK AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WERE EXECUTED, SITE PREPARATION WAS COMPLETED, AND VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED, MARKING A MAJOR MILESTONE TOWARD PROJECT COMPLETION. IN PARALLEL WITH CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO FULFILL ITS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY HOSTING EVENTS, EXHIBITS, AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE PORTUGUESE HERITAGE, INCLUDING MUSIC, FOOD, GENEALOGY, AND HISTORICAL EDUCATION. THESE ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, AND REINFORCED THE LONG-TERM PURPOSE OF THE CENTER AS A HUB FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND LEARNING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
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