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Passes our checks

Kauluakalana

EIN 83-3612121 · Kailua, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO RESTORE AND GROW HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLACE THROUGH THE ALOHA 'AINA PRACTICES OF RETELLING OUR KAILUA-SPECIFIC STORIES, REPLANTING AND EATING OUR ANCESTRAL FOODS, AND CARING FOR THE SACRED SITES, LANDS, AND WATERS OF OUR BELOVED AHUPUA'A OF KAILUA.

Income
$861,430
Spending
$831,225
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
13
Volunteers
5,000
Highest pay
$114,526, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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 (3)
  1. $459,400 spent. ULUPO & AINA GENERAL: OUR ULUPO PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LAND RESTORATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AT ULUPO NUI, OUR PRIMARY 'AINA PROGRAM SITE IN KAILUA, O'AHU. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, PLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES, SOIL REMEDIATION AND REVITALIZATION, EXPANDING THE CULTIVATION OF KALO AND OTHER FOOD CROPS, AND CARING FOR ULUPO HEIAU AND OTHER ROCK STRUCTURES AS PART OF AN ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL COMPLEX. WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY IN THESE ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING THE BALANCED AND RESPECTFUL USE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IN KAILUA. IN 2024, WE MAINTAINED 35 LO'I KALO (WETLAND TARO PATCHES) AND CLEARED 400 SQUARE FEET OF THE ULUPO HEIAU ROCK STRUCTURE OF INVASIVE WEEDS.
  2. $57,328 spent. KA PAHUHOPU O KAWAINUI: THIS IS AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL, HAWAIIAN CULTURE BASED, 'OLELO-RICH, 'AINA EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TO EARLY HIGH SCHOOL-AGED LEARNERS FROM KAILUA AND NEIGHBORING AHUPUA'A IN KO'OLAUPOKO, O'AHU. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENGAGING YOUTH WITH CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES INCLUDING STORY-TELLING, MELE, FOOD CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION, AND COMMUNITY-BASED LAND STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION.
  3. $41,474 spent. PILI MAI & KUOKOA: (MEANING "TO COME TOGETHER") BRINGS TOGETHER FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TO FACILITATE THEIR RECONNECTION TO HALOA (THE FIRST KALO PLANT AND ELDER SIBLING OF THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE), EACH OTHER, AND OUR HOMELAND IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE, INSPIRE, AND ORGANIZE THE REGENERATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE CULTURAL PRACTICES OF POI MAKING. THE PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS A MULTI-MONTH PROGRAM FOR A COHORT OF KAILUA-CONNECTED FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS, CENTERED AROUND LEARNING AND PERPETUATING THE PROCESS OF GROWING, HARVESTING, PREPARING, AND POUNDING KALO INTO POI. PARTICIPATION IS BY INVITATION ONLY. THE CULMINATING ACTIVITY IS THE FAMILIES HOST A KALO POUNDING TENT AT A COMMUNITY GATHERING IN CELEBRATION OF LA KUOKOA WHERE THEY TEACH OTHER FAMILIES HOW TO MAKE POI.

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 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 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 April 2019.

    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.