Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE WAIKIKI AQUARIUM (FOWA) IS TO HELP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES UNDERSTAND, LOVE, CARE FOR AND WORK TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE OCEAN THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCES, RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION.
- Income
- $485,117
- Spending
- $287,145
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $63,351, 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 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)
- $153,667 spent. A) PURPOSE. THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: (1) TO ESTABLISH, SUPERVISE, OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND MANAGE AN AQUARIUM, CENTER FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES; (2) TO HELP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES UNDERSTAND, LOVE, CARE FOR, AND WORK TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE OCEAN THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION; (3) TO DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, AND MAINTAIN: EXHIBITS OF LIVING AQUATIC ORGANISMS; EXHIBITS RELATING TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE OCEAN ON ANY AND ALL ASPECTS OF HUMAN CULTURE (PARTICULARLY HAWAIIAN); AND GENERALLY, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCES INVOLVING THE OCEANS AND THEIR LIVING SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY AS EXEMPLIFIED IN HAWAII AND THE TROPICAL PACIFIC REGION; (4) TO ENGAGE IN AND SUPPORT RESEARCH IN AREAS RELATING TO THE OCEAN, AQUATIC LIFE, MATTERS RELATING TO THE GEOLOGY BENEATH THE OCEANS, MATTERS RELATING TO THE USE OF OCEAN RESOURCES AS ENERGY RESOURCES, OCEAN POLLUTION, AND OTHER AQUATIC-RELATED MATTERS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (5) TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON AQUATIC-RELATED SCIENCES AND ACTIVITIES; TO PREPARE, PUBLISH, AND DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL PERTAINING TO THE OPERATION OF AQUARIA, VARIOUS AQUATIC SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS, AND BULLETINS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE CORPORATION, AND TO UTILIZE ALL MODES OF PUBLICATION, INCLUDING BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, MAGAZINES, RADIO AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION, FOR THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION OF AQUATIC INTEREST TO VARIOUS PUBLICS; (6) TO CONDUCT SEMINARS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AND CLASSES ON AQUATIC-RELATED MATTERS; (7) TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS AND RESEARCH GRANTS TO STUDENTS OR OTHER PERSONS FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AQUATIC-RELATED MATTERS OR CONTINUING EDUCATION OR RESEARCH IN AQUATIC-RELATED MATTERS; (8) TO SPONSOR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES OF THOSE INTERESTED IN AQUARIA AND IN THE STUDY OF THE VARIOUS AQUATIC SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS, AND TO FACILITATE COOPERATION AMONG ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING AQUARIA AND MUSEUMS, PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE AQUATIC SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS, SCIENTISTS IN THESE FIELDS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC; (9) TO PROVIDE REGULAR, ORGANIZED PROGRAMS ON AQUATIC AND RELATED SCIENCES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. (10) TO LEASE, CONTRACT, AND OPERATE FACILITIES OWNED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR THE PURPOSE OF AQUATIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE AS DESCRIBED IN SEPARATE MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT; (11) TO COOPERATE AND COORDINATE WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE OF HAWAII IN MATTERS RELATING TO AQUATIC EDUCATION, AQUATIC RESEARCH, AND AQUATIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THE FOLLOWING: (A) TO PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN AQUARIUM TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII STUDENTS; (B) TO PROVIDE RESEARCH AND TEACHING SPACE ON A COOPERATIVE BASIS TO INTERESTED FACULTY MEMBERS, UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII; (C) TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE FACILITIES FOR THE COLLECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND SHIPMENT OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS FOR THEIR PROVISION TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AND TO AQUARIUMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ON A COOPERATIVE BASIS; (D) TO INCLUDE THE EXPOSITION OF PAST AND CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FACULTY AND STUDENTS AND OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREAS OF AQUATIC SCIENCE AS A MAJOR PART OF THE EXHIBIT PHILOSOPHY; (E) TO ACT AS AN INFORMATIONAL RESOURCE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, STATE AGENCIES, AND THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND FACULTY BY MAINTAINING A LIBRARY AND REFERENCE SERVICE IN MATTERS RELATED TO AQUARIUM TECHNOLOGY AND THE MAINTENANCE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY. (12) TO SOLICIT AND RECEIVE GIFTS AND DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS, TO ACCUMULATE FUNDS FOR THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS OF THE CORPORATION, AND TO EXPEND PRINCIPAL OR INCOME OR BOTH IN CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION. (13) TO ACQUIRE BY GIFT, PURCHASE, LEASE, EXCHANGE, OR OTHERWISE SUCH REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION OR FOR INVESTMENTS, AND TO HOLD, OPERATE, USE, DEVELOP, LEASE, SELL, ASSIGN OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF SUCH REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY. (14) TO BUY OR ACQUIRE BY GIFT OR OTHERWISE, HOLD AND SELL STOCK, NOTES, BONDS OR OTHER SECURITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTING AND REINVESTING THE FUNDS OF THE CORPORATION. (15) TO BORROW MONEY AND FROM TIME TO TIME MAKE AND ISSUE PROMISSORY NOTES AND EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS OF ALL KINDS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION, OR ANY OF THEM, AND IF DEEMED DESIRABLE TO SECURE THE SAME BY MORTGAGE OR PLEDGE OF ANY PROPERTY OF THE CORPORATION. (16) TO DO ALL THINGS ALONE OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PERSON, ORGANIZATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS PROPER OR DESIRABLE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED. (17) TO TRANSACT ANY AND ALL LAWFUL BUSINESS OR ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS MAY BE INCORPORATED UNDER CHAPTER 415B, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED, IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING PURPOSE, AND WHICH DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OF THE CORPORATION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH BUSINESS OR ACTIVITIES ARE WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, INCLUDING ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISIONS THERETO, (THE "CODE") AND UNITED STATES TREASURY INCOME TAX REGULATIONS THEREUNDER, AS AMENDED, INCLUDING ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISIONS THERETO, (THE "REGULATIONS"), SUCH AS THE OPERATION OF A GIFT SHOP FOR THE SALE OF ITEMS WHICH FOSTER AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND THE NATURAL WORLD, INCLUDING ARTWORK, BOOKS, VIDEOS, NATURALISTIC COLLECTIBLES AND ARTIFACTS, AND THE OPERATION OF A CONCESSIONAIRE TO GENERATE REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE ABOVE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.