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North Hawaii Heritage Foundation

EIN 85-3860052 · Honokaa, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE HONOKA'A HERITAGE CENTER IS TO COLLECT, RESEARCH, PRESERVE, CELEBRATE AND SHARE THE UNIQUE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE PEOPLE AND CULTURES OF HONOKA'A AND SURROUNDINGS.

Income
$480,564
Spending
$214,962
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
41.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$51,000, executive director

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

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.8 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 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $91,579 spent. WE OFFER EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, ALONG WITH ACCESS TO AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ARCHIVE, INCLUDING ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER IMAGES, AND A LIBRARY OF HISTORICAL RECORDS. WE ALSO SERVE AS A VISITOR CENTER FOR THE AREA, WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON LOCAL SIGHTS, SELLING LOCAL PRODUCTS IN OUR MISSION-RELATED GIFT SHOP, AND PROMOTING HONOKA'A AS A DESTINATION. PERMANENT EXHIBITSOUR PERMANENT EXHIBITS PROVIDE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND VISITORS WITH HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INFORMATION ON THE NORTH HAMAKUA AREA OF HAWAII ISLAND. WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 5 DAYS A WEEK AND WITH NO CHARGE. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSWE OFFER RESOURCES TO RESEARCHERS INCLUDING OUR BODY OF ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS AND ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. WE HOST FIELD TRIPS TO ALL LOCAL SCHOOLS (K-12 AND UNIVERSITY). WE OFFER PROGRAMMING SUCH AS GUEST SERVICES AND WORKSHOPS. VISITOR CENTERWE OFFER GUESTS/VISITORS INFORMATION ON THE LOCAL AREA ATTRACTIONS, DIRECTIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE WERE 5,712 VISITORS IN 2025. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
  2. $37,813 spent. YEAR-LONG CULTURAL PROGRAM (MAY 2025-FEBRUARY 2026) HONORING HAWAII ISLAND'S PLANTATION HERITAGE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CULTURAL HISTORY NIGHTS FEATURING TRADITIONAL FOOD, MUSIC, AND STORYTELLING, AND THE ANNUAL FAIR AND PARADE IN HONOKAA WITH LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, EXHIBITS, AND FAMILY EVENTS. PROMOTES CULTURAL PRESERVATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND APPRECIATION OF HAWAII'S MULTICULTURAL HISTORY. THERE WERE 4,350 ATTENDEES IN 2025.

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 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 2025.

    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 April 2021.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.