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Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop

EIN 99-0073480 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 535 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS' MISSION IS TO FULFILL PAUAHI'S DESIRE TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN PERPETUITY TO IMPROVE THE CAPABILITY AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE OF HAWAIIAN ANCESTRY.

Income
$927.5 million
Spending
$775.0 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 79%
Employees
3,642
Volunteers
5,000
Highest pay
$2.5 million, cio

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 535 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $478.3 million spent. KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE WILL AND CODICILS OF BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP IN 1885 AND OPENED IN 1887 AND IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES SERVING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 AND 30 PRESCHOOLS. FOR OVER ONE-HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS HAS CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDED QUALITY EDUCATION GIVING PREFERENCE TO STUDENTS OF HAWAIIAN ANCESTRY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS' TOTAL EDUCATIONAL SPEND WAS $530 MILLION. EDUCATIONAL SPENDING AND LEARNERS SERVED INCLUDE: CAMPUSES: $311 MILLION SERVING 7,226 LEARNERS, AS FOLLOWS: - 30 PRESCHOOLS: $48 MILLION SERVING 1,683 LEARNERS. - K-12 CAMPUSES: $263 MILLION SERVING 5,543 LEARNERS FROM KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS HAWAI'I (1,190 LEARNERS), KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS MAUI (1,141 LEARNERS), AND KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS KAPALAMA (3,212 LEARNERS). COMMUNITY EDUCATION: $94.2 MILLION SERVING 47,873 LEARNERS, AS FOLLOWS: SCHOLARSHIPS: $32.8 MILLION SERVING 4,114 LEARNERS, INCLUDING: - $10.3 MILLION FOR EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS SERVING 1,074 LEARNERS; - $4.8 MILLION FOR K-12 SCHOLARSHIPS SERVING 535 LEARNERS; AND - $17.7 MILLION FOR POST-HIGH SCHOLARSHIPS SERVING 2,505 LEARNERS. COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS: $61.4 MILLION SERVING 43,759 LEARNERS, INCLUDING: - $34.6 MILLION FOR INVESTMENTS IN 118 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING 36,231 LEARNERS; AND - $26.8 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, INTERNSHIPS, COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING, LEADERSHIP, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING SERVING 7,528 LEARNERS. OTHER EDUCATIONAL SPENDING: $125 MILLION FOR EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND COSTS, INCLUDING CAPITAL, DEBT FINANCING AND RESERVES, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES FINANCIAL AID AND WAIVERS OF $37.7 MILLION SERVING 5,770 LEARNERS (FROM OUR PRESCHOOLS AND K-12 CAMPUSES), AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY LEARNERS SERVED THROUGH VARIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS (3,021) AND 'AINA PAUAHI PROGRAMS (32,009). ADDITIONALLY, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS (I) INVESTED $57.7 MILLION (NET OF AGRICULTURE RENTS) TO STEWARD AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION 'AINA ACROSS HAWAI'I, AND (II) SUPPORTED AND CONTRIBUTED-ALONGSIDE MANY OTHERS-TO HEALING, RECOVERY, RESOLUTION, AND RESTORATION EFFORTS FOLLOWING THE LAHAINA WILDFIRES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 1939.

    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.