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Hoala Kealakekua Nui Inc

EIN 92-2000424 · Captain Cook, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HO'ALA KEALAKEKUA NUI, INC. (HKN) IS A NATIVE HAWAIIAN-DRIVEN NONPROFIT CORPORATION COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING TRADITIONAL METHODS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION AT THE WAHI PANA OF KEALAKEKUA BAY. OUR MISSION IS TO ENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, BENEFITING OUR 'OHANA, GUESTS, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$563,425
Spending
$442,325
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
251
Highest pay
$61,605, executive of

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 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 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1162% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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, 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 (3)
  1. $118,623 spent. COMMUNITY GOAL: KEALAKEKUA IS RESPECTED, PEACEFUL, AND STEWARDSHIP IS LED BY THE COMMUNITY. OBJECTIVE 1.1: HEALTHY HUMAN CARRYING CAPACITY LIMITS DETERMINED AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED (INCLUDING REST DAY CLOSURES) TO MANAGE COMMERCIAL AND VISITOR USE. OBJECTIVE 1.2: OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS IMPLEMENTED FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS GUIDED BY THE MO'OLELO OF KEALAKEKUA. OBJECTIVE 1.3: HO'ALA KEALAKEKUA'S ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILT TO SUCCESSFULLY CO-MANAGE STEWARDSHIP OF KEALAKEKUA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
  2. $118,623 spent. HERITAGE GOAL: 'IKE KUPUNA IS THE FOUNDATION THAT IS INTEGRATED INTO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, OUTREACH, RESEARCH, AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. OBJECTIVE 2.1: THE 'IKE KUPUNA AND MO'OLELO OF KEALAKEKUA INTEGRATED INTO MANAGEMENT ACTIONS, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS AND NON- RESIDENTS. OBJECTIVE 2.2: ESTABLISH A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. OBJECTIVE 2.3: HIKIAU HEIAU IS A CENTER OF LEARNING THAT DRIVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.
  3. $118,623 spent. ENVIRONMENT GOAL: THE ECOSYSTEMS OF KEALAKEKUA BAY ARE HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND ABUNDANT WITH NATIVE SPECIES FOR ALL TO BENEFIT OBJECTIVE 3.1: PAST AND PRESENT ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDERSTOOD AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED TO RESTORE KEALAKEKUA'S CORAL REEFS. OBJECTIVE 3.2: BASELINE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS ASSESSED AND ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. OBJECTIVE 3.3: INVASIVE SPECIES REDUCED BY 50% IN PRIORITY AREAS AND NATIVE SPECIES ABUNDANCE INCREASED. OBJECTIVE 3.4: CURRENT MLCD RULES EVALUATED AND FISHING RULES MODIFIED AS APPROPRIATE. OBJECTIVE 3.5: VIOLATIONS OF MARINE WILDLIFE RULES DECREASED BY 50%. ENVIRONMENT GOAL: THE ECOSYSTEMS OF KEALAKEKUA BAY ARE HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND ABUNDANT WITH NATIVE SPECIES FOR ALL TO BENEFIT OBJECTIVE 3.1: PAST AND PRESENT ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDERSTOOD AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED TO RESTORE KEALAKEKUA'S CORAL REEFS. OBJECTIVE 3.2: BASELINE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS ASSESSED AND ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. OBJECTIVE 3.3: INVASIVE SPECIES REDUCED BY 50% IN PRIORITY AREAS AND NATIVE SPECIES ABUNDANCE INCREASED. OBJECTIVE 3.4: CURRENT MLCD RULES EVALUATED AND FISHING RULES MODIFIED AS APPROPRIATE. OBJECTIVE 3.5: VIOLATIONS OF MARINE WILDLIFE RULES DECREASED BY 50%.

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 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 2025.

    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 March 2023.

    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.