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Kimokeo Foundation

EIN 81-0966140 · Wailuku, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND PERPETUATE THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURE, ITS TRADITIONS, PRACTICES AND LANGUAGE, MAUIS ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITYS HEALTH THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII.

Income
$447,758
Spending
$373,636
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-36.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
1
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$56,000, 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

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 8% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $48,776 spent. KIMOKEO FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO HOST ITS NA LIKO I KA LA'I PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES HAWAIIAN CULTURAL WORKSHOPS FOR HAWAIIAN IMMERSION STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTICES AND MADE HAWAIIAN CRAFTS WHILE BEING INSTRUCTED BY HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS IN OUR NATIVE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.
  2. $78,252 spent. KIMOKEO FOUNDATION, WITH THE GENEROSITY OF ITS DONORS, CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF MAUI IN THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OF MAUI WILDFIRES VICTIMS FROM THE TRAGIC EVENT THAT OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2023. DURING 2024, KIMOKEO FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTED WITH BUILDING NEW HOMES FOR MAUI WILDFIRE VICTIMS. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND HELPED SPEARHEAD LABOR FOR THE BUILDING OF SEVERAL HOMES.
  3. $190,792 spent. KIMOKEO FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH WATER TECTONICS TO SUPPORT THEIR KULA AG PARK PRODUCE WASHING CENTER PROJECT WHICH CONVERTS RESERVOIR WATER INTO CLEAN WATER. THIS WATER IS THEN USED TO WASH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE BEING GROWN AT KULA AG PARK. THIS WAS SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE COUNTY OF MAUI'S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
  4. LINE 4A - FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 WE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH HANONA AND HOLANI HANA TO PROVIDE LODGING FOR OFF-ISLAND HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS WHO VISIT MAUI TO CONDUCT TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN HALE (HOUSE) BUILDING PRACTICES AND TRAINING IN WAIHE'E AND WAILUKU. WE ALSO SUPPORTED MEMBERS OF HUI MALAMA LOKO I'A TO TRAIN MAUI RESIDENTS ABOUT HAWAIIAN FISHPOND RESTORATION MASONRY SKILLS. WE HAVE EDUCATION PARTNERS ON MAUI AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FOR A SECOND YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH PACIFIC AMERICAN FOUNDATION'S NALU (NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING) STUDIES PROGRAM BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR THEIR SCIENCE PROGRAM. NALU STUDIES CONNECTS MAUI NUI'S STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON OUTDOOR AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ON MAUI. KIMOKEO FOUNDATION PURCHASED A 2.723 ACRE PARCEL IN NORTH MAUI IN APRIL 2024. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON DOING REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE ON THE PROPERTY TO MAKE IT A SAFE AND SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE WHO IS PRESENT ON THE PROPERTY.

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 November 6, 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 March 2016.

    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 November 4, 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.