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Edith Kanakaole Foundation

EIN 99-0294540 · Hilo, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EDITH KANAKA'OLE FOUNDATION PERPETUATES THE TEACHINGS, BELIEFS, PRACTICES, PHILOSOPHY AND TRADITIONS OF EDITH K. KANAKA'OLE AND THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL HULA AS PRACTICED BY MARY KEKUEWA KANAELE AND EDITH K KANAKA'OLE. THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO TEACH AND ENCOURAGE INDIGENOUS HAWAIIAN CULTURAL EDUCATION THROUGH MEDIA MATERIAL, TEACHING HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, RITUALS, CHANTS, LITERATURE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Income
$937,124
Spending
$828,840
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$108,989, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $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, 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 (4)
  1. $139,129 spent. THE RESTORE AND UTILIZE OIWI SPATIAL DATA PROJECT STRIVES TO IDENTIFY AND COMPILE OIWI (INDIGENOUS HAWAIIAN) SPATIAL DATA, INCLUDING INOA AINA (PLACE NAMES) AND WAO (NATURAL LAND DIVISIONS). THE GOAL IS TO CLASSIFY THE LANDSCAPE OF HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT INVOLVING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE EDITH KANAKAOLE FOUNDATION, THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, THE OFFICE OF INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN RELATIONS.
  2. $60,416 spent. PAPAKU MAKAWALU IS THE ABILITY OF OUR KUPUNA TO CATEGORIZE AND ORGANIZE THEIR NATURAL WORLD AND ALL SYSTEMS OF EXISTENCE WITHIN THEIR UNIVERSE. PAPAKU MAKAWALU IS THE FOUNDATION TO UNDERSTANDING, KNOWING, ACKNOWLEDGING, BECOMING INVOLVED WITH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BECOMING THE EXPERTS OF THE SYSTEMS OF THIS NATURAL WORLD. THE PAPAKU MAKAWALU TEAM HOLDS AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC WORKSHOP EVERY YEAR AND, UPON REQUEST, SEVERAL SMALLER PRESENTATIONS.
  3. $52,501 spent. THE CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH RECEIVED FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021 TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LICENSED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND CHILDCARE MARKET INSTABILITY DUE TO COVID-19.
  4. $439,600 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: EKF'S PROGRAMS ENDEAVOR TO ELEVATE HAWAIIAN INTELLIGENCE. HALAU O KEKUHI IS THE HALAU HULA AND THE CENTER OF CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE FOR EKF. THE PAPAKU MAKAWALU, OIWI SPATIAL DATA, ULUWEHI O KE KAI, AND HONUAIAKEA PROJECTS LOOK AT RESEARCH, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND VIDEO PROJECTS. OTHER PROJECTS, SUCH AS VIBRANT HAWAII HALEOLONO, CONCENTRATE ON HAWAIIAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND LAND RESTORATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 July 1997.

    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.