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Hawaiian Historical Society

EIN 99-0076893 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HISTORICAL MATERIALS RELATING TO HAWAII, AND TO PUBLISHING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH ON HAWAIIAN HISTORY SO PRESENT AND FUTURE PEOPLES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WILL RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE HISTORY. THE SOCIETY STRIVES TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SECURE AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LIBRARY OF HISTORICAL RESOURCE MATERIALS; TO SUPPORT RESEARCH, TRANSLATION, AND PUBLICATION OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRIMARILY ABOUT HAWAII AND ITS PEOPLE AND, SECONDARILY, ABOUT THE PACIFIC AT LARGE; AND TO SIMULATE THE DISCOVERY, COLLECTION, AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY MATERIALS.

Income
$288,585
Spending
$207,242
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
118.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 61%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$80,743, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 118.3 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 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    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 May 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 (1)
  1. $155,432 spent. THE COLLECTION, STUDY, PRESERVATION & PUBLICATION OF MATERIALS PERTAINING TO THE HISTORY OF HAWAII, POLYNESIA, AND THE PACIFIC AREA. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, ONE PUBLICATION (THE HAWAIIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY, VOL. 58) WAS ISSUED, THERE WERE 575 MEMBERSHIP UNITS, THE SOCIETY'S LIBRARY WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR 165 DAYS, AND THERE WERE SIXTEEN PUBLIC EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 April 1949.

    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.