Kauluakalana
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% 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 257 of 7 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $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.
- $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.
- $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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2019.
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 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.