Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

West Hawaii Dance Theatre

EIN 99-0304460 · Kailua Kona, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair63 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

WEST HAWAII DANCE THEATRE & ACADEMY TRANSFORMS INDIVIDUALS AND BUILDS COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL DANCE AND THEATRE PROGRAM ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, WHDTA'S EXCEPTIONALLY DIVERSE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAM HAS INCLUDED DAILY CLASSES IN MULTIPLE DANCE DISCIPLINES, WORKSHOPS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, AND GUEST ARTIST RESIDENCIES. WE STRENGTHEN ARTS EDUCATION TO ALL LEARNERS BY EXPOSING YOUTH TO CAREERS PATHS THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTINGS & SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES WHO PERHAPS DID NOT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR YOUTH. DANCE FOSTERS & CELEBRATES THE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF OUR DIVERSE CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES WHICH RESULT IN ENRICHED VIBRANT HUMAN SPIRITS. WHDT FOSTERS CREATIVITY, SELF-ESTEEM, COURAGE, AND DISCIPLINE THOUGH INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND MENTORING RESULTING IN ENRICHED HUMAN SPIRITS AND RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY CITIZENS. IT IS RESPECTED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE, INN

Income
$463,076
Spending
$378,815
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $325,164 spent. COMPREHENSIVE, GRADED, EDUCATIONAL DANCE AND THEATRE PROGRAM SERVING STUDENTS THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES IN WEST HAWAII, INCLUDING A PRE- PROFESSIONAL TRACK, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, AND GUEST ARTIST WORKSHOPS. BI-ANNUAL STAGE PERFORMANCES UTILIZE PROFESSIONAL GUEST PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO MENTOR STUDENTS AND PERFORM WITH THEM. PRODUCTIONS HAVE INCLUDED FULL- LENGTH BALLETS, SUCH AS THE NUTCRACKER, GISELLE, DON QUIXOTE, AND SWAN LAKE. EXCERPTS FROM EACH STAGE PERFORMANCE ARE TAKEN TO COMMUNITY VENUES, INCLUDING SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES. DANCE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN BALLET, MODERN JAZZ, AND STREET DANCE FOR VARIOUS STUDENTS IN KONA, WAIMEA, AND KOHALA. PERFORMANCES ARE ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHDTA'S TRAINING PROGRAM AND ARE A RESULT OF THE GRADED EDUCATIONAL DANCE PROGRAM. THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS ARE OFFERED TWICE A YEAR AND INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS. PRODUCTIONS HAVE INCLUDED FULL LENGTH BALLETS SUCH AS "THE NUTCRACKER," "SLEEPING BEAUTY," "DON QUIXOTE," "COPPELIA,- AND "SWAN LAKE," TO NAME A FEW. MINI COMMUNITY OUTREACH PERFORMANCES ARE ALSO SCHEDULED, WHEN POSSIBLE, AT VENUES INCLUDING SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. COMPREHENSIVE, GRADED, EDUCATIONAL DANCE AND THEATRE PROGRAM SERVING STUDENTS THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES IN WEST HAWAII, INCLUDING A PRE- PROFESSIONAL TRACK, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, AND GUEST ARTIST WORKSHOPS. BI-ANNUAL STAGE PERFORMANCES UTILIZE PROFESSIONAL GUEST PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO MENTOR STUDENTS AND PERFORM WITH THEM. PRODUCTIONS HAVE INCLUDED FULL- LENGTH BALLETS, SUCH AS THE NUTCRACKER, GISELLE, DON QUIXOTE, AND SWAN LAKE. EXCERPTS FROM EACH STAGE PERFORMANCE ARE TAKEN TO COMMUNITY VENUES, INCLUDING SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES. DANCE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN BALLET, MODERN JAZZ, AND STREET DANCE FOR VARIOUS STUDENTS IN KONA, WAIMEA, AND KOHALA. PERFORMANCES ARE ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHDTA'S TRAINING PROGRAM AND ARE A RESULT OF THE GRADED EDUCATIONAL DANCE PROGRAM. THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS ARE OFFERED TWICE A YEAR AND INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS. PRODUCTIONS HAVE INCLUDED FULL LENGTH BALLETS SUCH AS "THE NUTCRACKER," "SLEEPING BEAUTY," "DON QUIXOTE," "COPPELIA,- AND "SWAN LAKE," TO NAME A FEW. MINI COMMUNITY OUTREACH PERFORMANCES ARE ALSO SCHEDULED, WHEN POSSIBLE, AT VENUES INCLUDING SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

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 August 1993.

    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.