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Hawaii Marine Education and Research Center

EIN 82-1614744 · Volcano, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HAWAII MARINE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER (MERC) IS A STATE OF HAWAII AND U.S. FEDERAL 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CONNECTS COMMUNITIES TO TIMELY SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON MARINE RESOURCES. LOCATED IN MILOLII ON HAWAII ISLAND, HAWAII MERC PROVIDES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, RELATIONAL AND CONTEXTUAL PLANNING FOR COASTAL AND MARINE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS NATURAL RESOURCE ENFORCEMENT VIA COMMUNITY EDUCATION. HAWAII MERC FACILITATES INTER-OPERABILITY AMONG DIVERSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES (NATIVE HAWAIIAN, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, AND NEW ARRIVALS) WITH HAWAII STATE (DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES - DLNR, DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES - DAR) AND FEDERAL (NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, FISHERIES DIVISION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION) AGENCIES BY SUPPLYING A NEUTRAL CONVENING SPACE PAIRED WITH ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SKILLS AND SCIENCE TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY ACTION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$101,198
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 93% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    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, 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. $79,616 spent. THE HAWAII MARINE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER (HAWAII MERC) IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FACILITATES EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. HAWAII MERC IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY MARINE STATION ON HAWAII ISLAND AND POSSIBLY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. THE VISION TO BUILD HAWAII MERC WAS BASED ON A RISING NEED TO PROTECT COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES AND ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ENFORCEMENT, IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE. LOCATED IN MILOLII ON HAWAII ISLAND, OUR 100% VOLUNTEER TEAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH OF THE COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COASTAL AND REEF ECOSYSTEMS IN SOUTH KONA, HAWAII AND BEYOND. HAWAII MERC FACILITATES INTER-OPERABILITY AMONG DIVERSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES (NATIVE HAWAIIAN, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, AND NEW ARRIVALS) WITH HAWAII STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES BY SUPPLYING A NEUTRAL CONVENING SPACE PAIRED WITH ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SKILLS AND SCIENCE TO GROW AND SUSTAIN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY ACTION. THE HAWAII MARINE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER (HAWAII MERC) IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FACILITATES EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. HAWAII MERC IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY MARINE STATION ON HAWAII ISLAND AND POSSIBLY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. THE VISION TO BUILD HAWAII MERC WAS BASED ON A RISING NEED TO PROTECT COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES AND ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ENFORCEMENT, IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE. LOCATED IN MILOLII ON HAWAII ISLAND, OUR 100% VOLUNTEER TEAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH OF THE COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COASTAL AND REEF ECOSYSTEMS IN SOUTH KONA, HAWAII AND BEYOND. HAWAII MERC FACILITATES INTER-OPERABILITY AMONG DIVERSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES (NATIVE HAWAIIAN, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, AND NEW ARRIVALS) WITH HAWAII STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES BY SUPPLYING A NEUTRAL CONVENING SPACE PAIRED WITH ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SKILLS AND SCIENCE TO GROW AND SUSTAIN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY ACTION.

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 June 2019.

    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.