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Kelii William Ioane Legacy Foundation

EIN 85-4096680 · Keaau, 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

THE KELII WILLIAM IOANE LEGACY FOUNDATION (KWILF) WAS CREATED IN 2020 TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE THE LEGACY OF KELII WILLIAM IOANE JR; WHICH INCLUDES THE MALAMA KA AINA HANA KA AINA ASSOCIATION (M.A.H.A. INC.), THE KEAUKAHA MAKAHIKI CEREMONY AND THE PROMOTION OF HAWAIIAN NATIONALISM THROUGH THE LYRICAL SCRIPTURES OF KELII WILLIAM IOANE JR. M.A.H.A. IS AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL OF SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE LIVING CREATED TO ADDRESS THE WAITING LIST ISSUES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS. THE KWILF MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE PROSPERITY OF M.A.H.A., THE ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS BY IMPLEMENTING THE GUIDELINES IN THEIR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS. THE KWILF MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE PERPETUATION OF THE KEAUKAHA MAKAHIKI CEREMONY INCLUDING THE PREPARATION OF THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE CEREMONY. THE FOUNDATION'S FOCUS IS TO ESTABLISH PRACTICES THAT RECONNECT THE KANAKA WITH THE AINA BY PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND ARC

Income
$110,591
Spending
$120,274
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Highest pay
$1,571, secretary

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 2% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 85% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% 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 (1)
  1. $100,551 spent. TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE THE LEGACY OF KELII WILLIAM IOANE JR. WHICH INCLUDES THE MALAMA KA AINA HANA KA AINA ASSOCIATION (M.A.H.A. INC.), THE KEAUKAHA MAKAHIKI CEREMONY AND THE PROMOTION OF HAWAIIAN NATIONALISM THROUGH THE LYRICAL SCRIPTURES OF KELII WILLIAM IOANE JR. MALAMA KA AINA HANA KA AINA INC. (M.A.H.A.) IS AN ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE LIVING CREATED TO ADDRESS THE WAITING LIST ISSUES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

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 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 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.

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.