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Aina Momona

EIN 82-1366588 · Kaunakakai, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AINA MOMONA (HAWAIIAN FOR THE FERTILE OR RICH LAND) IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH RESTORING SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
19
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$66,145, ed since 3/2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 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

    0 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, 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 (2)
  1. $917,453 spent. KA'AMOLA RESTORATION - LOCATED ON THE EAST END OF MOLOKA'I, KA'AMOLA IS HOME TO 'AINA MOMONA'S RESTORATION AND CULTURAL LEARNING EFFORTS. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON REVITALIZING THE 'AHUPUA'A, RESTORING WATERSHED HEALTH, AND PRESERVING NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND MODERN LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. FROM EROSION MITIGATION TO REPLANTING NATIVE SPECIES AND MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC KEAWANUI FISHPOND, WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A THRIVING, SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE MOLOKAI COMMUNITY.
  2. $712,568 spent. AINA MOMONA ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS. AINA - AINA MOMONA STRIVES TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE AND PROTECT AINA THROUGHOUT THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITIES TO MALAMA THE LAND. AINA MOMONA RECOGNIZE THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED. THE WELLBEING OF THE AINA AND PEOPLE ARE ONE, AND BY BRINGING GREATER RESILIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AINA MOMONA CAN RESTORE GREATER HEALTH TO OUR LAND. AI - AINA MOMONA IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING NOURISHMENT TO THE LAHUI HAWAI`I THROUGH FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RESTORATION OF SUBSISTENCE PRACTICES. WE IMPLORE OUR PEOPLE TO JOIN US IN RESTORING AI TO THE LAHUI THROUGH REVITALIZING TRADITIONAL KALO PRODUCTION PRACTICES SO THAT WE CAN END OUR RELIANCE ON LESS ETHICAL FOOD SYSTEMS FOR SUSTENANCE. ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS AT AINA MOMONA IS TO KANU MEA AI, PLANT EDIBLE FOOD, FOR OUR PEOPLE TO LIVE OFF OF THE LAND ONCE MORE. WAI - AINA MOMONA FIGHTS FOR THE WATER RIGHTS OF OUR AINA, KUA'AINA, AND AINA KUPUNA, BECAUSE AINA MOMONA APPRECIATES THAT THE JUST ALLOCATION OF WATER RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROMOTION OF CUSTOMARY PRACTICES, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. EA - AINA MOMONA RECOGNIZES THE IMMENSE NEED TO RESTORE EA IN THE LUNGS OF OUR AINA AND OUR PEOPLE. AINA MOMONA IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT FOR EA AS AINA MOMONA ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND MOVES TOWARD MODELS OF SELF-GOVERNANCE THAT ARE GROUNDED IN WHAT IS PONO. E EA NO KA LAHUI LET THE PEOPLE RISE UP AINA MOMONA ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS. AINA - AINA MOMONA STRIVES TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE AND PROTECT AINA THROUGHOUT THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITIES TO MALAMA THE LAND. AINA MOMONA RECOGNIZE THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED. THE WELLBEING OF THE AINA AND PEOPLE ARE ONE, AND BY BRINGING GREATER RESILIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AINA MOMONA CAN RESTORE GREATER HEALTH TO OUR LAND. AI - AINA MOMONA IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING NOURISHMENT TO THE LAHUI HAWAI`I THROUGH FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RESTORATION OF SUBSISTENCE PRACTICES. WE IMPLORE OUR PEOPLE TO JOIN US IN RESTORING AI TO THE LAHUI THROUGH REVITALIZING TRADITIONAL KALO PRODUCTION PRACTICES SO THAT WE CAN END OUR RELIANCE ON LESS ETHICAL FOOD SYSTEMS FOR SUSTENANCE. ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS AT AINA MOMONA IS TO KANU MEA AI, PLANT EDIBLE FOOD, FOR OUR PEOPLE TO LIVE OFF OF THE LAND ONCE MORE. WAI - AINA MOMONA FIGHTS FOR THE WATER RIGHTS OF OUR AINA, KUA'AINA, AND AINA KUPUNA, BECAUSE AINA MOMONA APPRECIATES THAT THE JUST ALLOCATION OF WATER RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROMOTION OF CUSTOMARY PRACTICES, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. EA - AINA MOMONA RECOGNIZES THE IMMENSE NEED TO RESTORE EA IN THE LUNGS OF OUR AINA AND OUR PEOPLE. AINA MOMONA IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT FOR EA AS AINA MOMONA ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND MOVES TOWARD MODELS OF SELF-GOVERNANCE THAT ARE GROUNDED IN WHAT IS PONO. E EA NO KA LAHUI LET THE PEOPLE RISE UP

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 August 2017.

    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.