Pacific Historic Parks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND HAWAII'S DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THROUGH RESEARCH, PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, FUND DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC AND OTHER PACIFIC HISTORIC SITES.
- Income
- $9.7 million
- Spending
- $7.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 28.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 58%
- Employees
- 83
- Volunteers
- 875
- Highest pay
- $231,262, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (2)
- $5.5 million spent. PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL (PHNM) AT PEARL HARBOR (OAHU, HI), ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST SACRED SITES, SERVES AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THE VALOR, COURAGE, AND SACRIFICES OF THE "GREATEST GENERATION" THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS (PHP) IS THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNER OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS), WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL HONOR AND BE INSPIRED BY ALL THAT OCCURRED IN THE HALLOWED GROUNDS OF PHNM. IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARDS-BASED, ONSITE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM PROVIDED TO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD, PHP ALSO SUPPORTS ONGOING RESEARCH, RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS.PHP OPERATES MUSEUM STORES AT ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS AND OFFERS INTERPRETIVE MERCHANDISE THAT HIGHLIGHT THE MANY WORLD WAR II EVENTS THAT FOREVER CHANGED OUR HISTORY. PROGRAM STAFF ARE TRAINED TO LEAD AND ASSIST IN EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, TECHNOLOGY, AND VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP, PHP WAS ABLE TO OFFER UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE PAST. THE PROGRAMS REFLECT THE STORIES FOUND AT THE HISTORICAL SITES, WHICH SERVE AS REMINDERS OF ENDURING PEACE AND THE HEALING THAT IS STILL ONGOING. PHP PROGRAMS HAVE ENABLED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO LEARN ABOUT THE PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGNS OF WORLD WAR II AT THEIR NATIONAL PARKS.PHP OFFERED AUDIO, VIRTUAL REALITY (VR), AND DIGITAL EDUCATION TOURS AT PHNM. THESE TOURS PROVIDE AN IN-DEPTH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FORM OF VARIOUS NARRATIONS, TEXT, IMAGES, AND VIDEOS. THE TOURS INCLUDE MORE THAN 20 POINTS OF INTEREST AROUND THE PARK AND ON THE USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL. THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN NUMEROUS LANGUAGES THAT SERVE AS A DIGITAL RANGER, PROVIDING INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT PEARL HARBOR IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. THIS INCLUDES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AVAILABLE ONSITE, ONLINE, AND THROUGH MOBILE DEVICES; AS WELL AS A MIGRATION TO AN INTERACTIVE, GUIDED TOUR, AND A SMART SEARCHABLE ONLINE NATIONAL DATABASE. THIS WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTENT MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND ONGOING EDUCATION.THIS YEAR, THE PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL SAW AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF VISITORS OF ABOUT 1.4 MILLION.PHP ALSO SUPPORTS THE CURATORIAL PROGRAM AT PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL. IN ADDITION TO CATALOGING AND PROTECTING DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OBJECTS IN THE PARK'S COLLECTION, PHP CREATED A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS BEING BUILT TO SERVE AS A GATEWAY TO HISTORY, A TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT EXISTS IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE PARK.DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT (DHSM), LOCATED IN HAWAII, IS A PHP PARTNER PARK. IT IS AMONG ONE OF THE MOST VISITED SITES IN THE STATE, WITH OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR. PHP PROVIDES INFORMATION TO VISITORS AND A NARRATED TOUR IN ENGLISH, JAPANESE, CHINESE, KOREAN, GERMAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, AND HAWAIIAN. OUR RETAIL KIOSK PROVIDES INFORMATIONAL MERCHANDISE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY INTERPRETIVE POINTS WITHIN THE PARK. PHP SUPPORTS KALAUPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND ITS VOLUNTEERS IN THE PARKS (VIP) PROGRAM, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, CHURCH GROUPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC CLUBS, HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS, AND SENIORS TO MAKE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO KALAUPAPA AS A SPECIAL AND SACRED PLACE THROUGH HANDS ON WORK. PHP HELPS SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF CRITICAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS THE PRESERVATION OF GRAVE MARKERS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS TREATED AT KALAUPAPA AND REHABILITATION OF THE ST. PHILOMENA CHURCH IN THE SETTLEMENT. KALAUPAPA CLOSED DOWN IN MID MARCH 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND HAS NOT REOPENED TO VISITORS. THE PARK IS WORKING ON A PROCESS TO REOPEN AND RECEIVE VISITORS SOON.
- $722,396 spent. PHP'S RESOURCES, STAFF, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE SPENT ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL (OAHU), WAR IN THE PACIFIC NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (GUAM), AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK (SAIPAN), KALAUPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (MOLOKAI), AND DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT (OAHU).PHP ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH HOSTING EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HISTORICAL SITES IN THE PACIFIC FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE PERPETUATE THE HISTORY AND MEMORY OF EVENTS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH AND DIED DURING WORLD WAR II (WWII) IN THE PACIFIC BY OFFERING GUIDED TOURS, PLACE-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS, OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES.PHP IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMEMORATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. EACH YEAR, PHP COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO HOST MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS, DEVELOP INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO LIVED THROUGH THIS PIVOTAL PERIOD. THROUGH EVENTS, GRANTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS, PHP CONTINUES TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH STORIES OF RESILIENCE, SACRIFICE, AND PEACE."LIVING THE LEGACY OF PEARL HARBOR" PROGRAM PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL, MAINLAND AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION, EDUCATORS, INDIVIDUALS, AND ORGANIZATIONS OF ANY DISCIPLINE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND INTERACT WITH AN EDUCATION COORDINATOR THROUGH WORLDWIDE LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING AND VIDEO CONFERENCING VIA ZOOM. A VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP AT THE PARK WILL INVOLVE INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND VOLUNTEERS AND/OR A CIVILIAN EYEWITNESS OF THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK. PHP ALSO PROVIDES THE 'WISHES & DREAMS' PROGRAM WHICH FULFILLS THE WISHES OF CHILDREN WITH LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAKE-A-WISH HAWAII AND SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS. THIS FISCAL YEAR, PHP WELCOMED 528 MAKE-A-WISH GUESTS, INCLUDING THE FIRST VISIT FROM THE SUNSHINE KIDS SINCE 2019. SUNSHINE KIDS IS A SMALLER ORGANIZATION WITH THE SAME MISSION AS MAKE-A-WISH. CUSTOMIZED TOURS AT THE PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARE TAILORED TO EACH CHILD'S AGE, INTERESTS, AND CONNECTIONS TO WWII HISTORY. GRANT FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL TO ADVANCING PHP'S MISSION OF EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION. THIS FISCAL YEAR, PHP WAS AWARDED FOUR GRANTS SUPPORTING A RANGE OF IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS. THE $30K OPEN OUTDOORS FOR KIDS ("OOK") GRANT ENABLED TITLE I 4TH GRADERS TO VISIT THE PARK, FOSTERING EARLY ENGAGEMENT WITH HISTORY. A $25K PEOPLE IN PARKS FOUNDATION GRANT SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF AN ONLINE TAPESTRY, 'USS UTAH: THE FORGOTTEN BATTLESHIP,' FEATURING 3D SCANS, SURVIVOR ORAL HISTORIES, AND HISTORIAN INTERVIEWS. IN JANUARY 2024 PHP WAS AWARDED THE ALEXANDER 'SANDY' GASTON GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,353. THE "GASTON FUND" SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HAWAI'I YOUTH BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO MUSEUM TOURS TO THE FOUR PEARL HARBOR HISTORIC SITES. THANKS TO THIS GRANT, PHP FACILITATED EDUCATIONAL VISITS FOR 60 HAWAI'I-BASED SCHOOLS, ENGAGING NEARLY 4,000 STUDENTS IN LEARNING ABOUT PEARL HARBOR'S HISTORY. THE GRANT SPECIFICALLY COVERS COSTS FOR TRANSPORTATION, ADMISSION FEES, AND LUNCHES TO ENSURE THAT NEITHER STUDENTS, PARENTS, NOR SCHOOLS BEAR ANY FINANCIAL BURDEN TO VISITING THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK. IN APRIL 2024, PHP RECEIVED A $341K DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EARMARK GRANT FOR 'HONOULIULI REVEALED,' A DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM EXPLORING JAPANESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCES IN WWII HAWAI'I. THIS PLATFORM WILL INCLUDE AN INTERACTIVE MAP, AI FEATURES, AND THREE EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SHORTS WITH CURRICULUM GUIDES. THESE GRANTS ENSURE PHP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES.EACH YEAR, PHP DELIVERS MISSION-DRIVEN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT THE PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL. IN FY2023, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE YOUTH FORUM (FEB 22), ROSIE THE RIVETER DAY (MAR 21), MIS PURPLE HEART CEREMONY (MAY 10), AND THE HIROSHIMA STUDENT EXCHANGE (AUG 17-21). THESE PROGRAMS BROUGHT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TO THE PARK, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS TO WORLD WAR II HISTORY. EVENTS FOCUSED ON THEMES OF EDUCATION, COMMEMORATION, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, PHP CONTINUES TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH THE LESSONS OF THE PAST."PRESERVING PERSONAL STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF WORLD WAR II REMAINS A CORE FOCUS FOR PHP. ACQUIRING PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIALS AND CURATORIAL ITEMS ENSURES THESE HISTORIES ARE SAFEGUARDED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WITH THE NUMBER OF PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS AND WWII VETERANS DECLINING, RECORDING ORAL HISTORIES IS CRITICAL TO CAPTURING THEIR VOICES. PHP'S HISTORY TALK PROGRAM FURTHER ENHANCES THIS MISSION BY DELIVERING LIVE, INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE WEBINARS TO GLOBAL AUDIENCES.PHP COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A GLOBAL PRESENTATION WITH EDUTAINMENT, REACHING OVER 700 STUDENTS IN 13 COUNTRIES WITH LESSONS ON PEARL HARBOR, AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH OLELO NEWS MEDIA FOR HAWAI'I-BASED STUDENT VIDEO PROJECTS ON THE THEME OF 'PEACE.' PHP RE-ESTABLISHED THE PEACE CRANE FOLDING ACTIVITY AT THE PEARL HARBOR VISITOR CENTER, ENGAGING UP TO 400 GUESTS PER ACTIVITY. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED VIA THE CIRCULATION CRANES TO SCHOOLS ON OAHU AND ABROAD THROUGH THE SADAKO CRANE EXCHANGE. OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDE KIDS TO PARKS DAY WITH DLNR, FEATURING WWII-THEMED ACTIVITIES AT DIAMOND HEAD STATE PARK, AND A COLLABORATION WITH UH MANOA TO CREATE A VR PROGRAM AND ESSAY CONTEST FOR ROTC STUDENTS.PHP SUPPORTS THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF THE DECEMBER 7, 1941, ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR THROUGH CEREMONIES, LECTURES, AND GATHERINGS THAT HONOR SURVIVORS AND WWII VETERANS. THE DECEMBER 2023 EVENT, MARKING THE 82ND ANNIVERSARY, WAS HELD IN PERSON AND ATTENDED BY OVER 2,500 PEOPLE. PHP CONTRIBUTED TO NEW ELEMENTS OF THE CEREMONY, INCLUDING SECURING PARTICIPATION FROM THREE JROTC STUDENT C
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.