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Manoa Heritage Center

EIN 99-0329524 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER IS 3.5-ACRE LIVING CLASSROOM DEDICATED TO PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF HAWAII'S CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE. WE DO THIS BY CARING FOR AND SHARING A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE CENTERED AROUND KUKAOO HEIAU, NATIVE HAWAIIAN GARDENS AND THE HISTORIC KUALII HOME AND COLLECTIONS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$951,460
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
19
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$109,666, 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $705,410 spent. MANOA HERITAGE CENTER PROMOTES AN UNDERSTANDING OF HAWAII'S CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE BY SHARING KUKAOO HEIAU AND ITS SURROUNDING GARDENS OF RARE, NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS. DURING THE YEAR, MHC SERVED 6,317 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS. MHC'S SCHOOL AND EDUCATOR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS, ARE OFFERED AT NO CHARGE INCLUDING BUSING. AN ADDITIONAL 1,792 PEOPLE WERE SERVED VIA TOURS AND WORKSHOPS. MHC IS DEDICATED TO BEING 1) AN ACTIVE RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS; 2) AN EDUCATIONAL HUB FOR KUPUNA, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS; 3) A WELL-MAINTAINED FACILITY WITH ACCESSIBLE HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL COLLECTIONS; AND 4) AN EFFICIENT, FINANCIALLY-STABLE NON-PROFIT FOCUSED ON ENJOYABLE LEARNING.

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 November 6, 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 October 1996.

    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 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.