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Pahoa Lava Zone Museum

EIN 84-3932219 · Pahoa, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak14 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF PAHOA LAVA ZONE MUSEUM TO PROVIDE PUBLIC, HISTORIC,SCIENTIFIC, AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS REGARDINGTHE GEOLOGY AND IMPACTS OF HAWAII ISLAND'S VOLCANIC EVENTS FOR THE BENEFITOF THE PAHOA COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN THE PUNADISTRICT. IT IS ALSO THE MISSION OF PLZM TO HELP FACILITATE A SAFE, STRONG,SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY IN PUNA AND ON THE BIG ISLAND OFHAWAII.

Income
$199,436
Spending
$199,658
Reserves
-3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 14 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 97% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $52,600 spent. MALAMA HOMESTEAD , PUAMANA AND KAPOHO CRATER- KILAUEA ERUPTION RECOVERY COMMUNITY WORK. USING KILAUEA RECOVERY FUNDS TO REEASTABLISH ROADS INUNDATED BY 2018 ERUPTION
  2. $28,304 spent. COUNTY OF HAWAII PLANNING DEAPRTMENTS FUNDS USED TO LAUNCH CAMERA PROGRAM TO IMPROVE SECURITY IN PAHOA TWON
  3. $33,864 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE PHOA LAVA ZONE MUSEUM, A VOLUNTEER-RUN EDUCATIONAL CENTER PROVIDING EXHIBITS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, GEOLOGICAL HISTORY, AND THE 2018 LOWER EAST RIFT ZONE ERUPTION. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS, ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND COMMUNITY NARRATIVES THAT HELP VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING IN A LAVA ZONE. THROUGH REGULAR OPEN HOURS, GUIDED INTERPRETATION, AND OUTREACH TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, THE MUSEUM PROMOTES HAZARD AWARENESS, SUPPORTS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND PRESERVES THE REGION'S GEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
  4. $61,813 spent. VARIOUS COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING AND INTERACTION PROJECTS.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 January 2020.

    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.