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Hawaiian Humane Society

EIN 99-0073490 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY WORKS TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS THROUGH ANIMAL CARE, EDUCATION, LEGISLATION, AND PREVENTION ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. ITS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS.

Income
$18.0 million
Spending
$19.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
252
Volunteers
1,884
Highest pay
$269,130, president/ceo

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (3)
  1. $11.1 million spent. THE HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF PET ANIMALS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU EACH YEAR. IT IS THE ONLY SHELTER ON THE ISLAND THAT ACCEPTS ANY PET ANIMAL REGARDLESS OF BREED, AGE OR CONDITION OFFERING OWNED AND STRAY ANIMAL ADMISSIONS (12,778 ANIMALS IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED (FYE) JUNE 30, 2025); OWNER REQUESTED END OF LIFE CARE (908 ANIMALS IN FYE25); ANIMAL CARE, FEEDING AND HOUSING; AND PREVENTATIVE AND THERAPEUTIC VETERINARY MEDICINE INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER (6,257 ANIMALS IN FYE25), DENTAL CARE (361 ANIMALS IN FYE25) AND NON-ROUTINE SURGERIES (63 ANIMALS IN FYE25). IT OPERATES TWO ANIMAL SHELTERS TO EXECUTE THIS SCOPE OF WORK, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. THE HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY IS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENFORCE COUNTY AND STATE ANIMAL LAWS. THE TEAM MAINTAINS A FLEET OF VEHICLES TO RESPOND TO ANIMALS IN NEED AND IS SPECIALLY TRAINED IN ANIMAL LAWS, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, ANIMAL HANDLING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. FIELD SERVICES TAKES AN EDUCATION-FIRST APPROACH AND MUCH OF ITS WORK INVOLVES COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROBLEM SOLVING. IN FYE25, THE TEAM FIELDED 2,920 CALLS FOR SERVICE, ISSUED 473 WARNINGS AND 47 CITATIONS, CONDUCTED 452 ANIMAL WELFARE RECHECKS, WITH THE HELP OF OUR PET KOKUA RESOURCE CENTERS REUNITED 2,007 PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND TOOK 17 ANIMAL CRIMINAL CASES TO COURT.
  3. $2.7 million spent. THE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ANIMAL COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS AMONG THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF HAWAIIAN HUMANE, INVITES ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK TOGETHER AND ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS. THE HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY SEEKS TO WORK WITH THESE PARTNERS - INCLUDING SHELTERS, RESCUE GROUPS, POLICY MAKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA, VETERINARIANS, BEHAVIOR PROFESSIONALS, HUMAN-ANIMAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS - TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL ANIMAL ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION ARE AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO AND INCLUDE ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY, IN GOVERNMENT, IN THE PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS, AND ONE BY ONE WITH INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE. PET KOKUA BY HAWAIIAN HUMANE AND THE GINNY TIU COMMUNITY SPAY/NEUTER CENTERS ARE DEDICATED TO KEEPING PETS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER AND REVERSING PET OVERPOPULATION THROUGH SERVICES SUCH AS HIGH-QUALITY, LOW- OR NO-FEE SPAY/NEUTER (3,257 ANIMALS IN FYE25); WELLNESS AND VACCINE CLINICS (12 CLINICS SERVING 316 ANIMALS IN FYE25); PET FOOD BANK (14,974 ANIMALS FED IN FYE25) AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR STRUGGLING PET OWNERS. THE OTHER PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM INCLUDE HUMANE EDUCATION (25,638 YOUTH AND ADULTS EDUCATED IN FYE25); COMMUNICATIONS ($309,772,280 IN EARNED MEDIA IN FYE25), PROMOTING ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS); SUPPORTING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND (21,337 PEOPLE SERVED BY PET VISITATION PROGRAM IN FYE25); AND ADVOCACY (6 STATEWIDE ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS PASSED IN FYE25).

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 August 1943.

    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.