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Kahea the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance

EIN 99-0348025 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KAHEA IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HAWAI`I'S PEOPLE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH THE REVITALIZATION AND PROTECTION OF HAWAI`I'S UNIQUE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. KAHEA ADVOCATES FOR THE PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESOURCES AND FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY PROMOTING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. KAHEA FOCUSES ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT CULTURAL RIGHTS AND THE 'AINA (LAND) KAHEA HAS CULTURAL ACTIVISTS AND PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING KUMA HULA (TEACHERS OF DANCE, LANGUAGE, CHANTS, HISTORY, AND HEALING), ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS AND PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. KAHEA IS ON EVERY ISLAND AND ARE 'OPIO (YOUTH), MAKUA (ADULTS) AND KUPUNA (ELDERS). TOGETHER, KAHEA ENVISIONS A TRULY JUST AND SUSTAINABLE HAWAI`I IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE, CULTURE AND NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS SURVIVE AND THRIVE.

Income
$144,243
Spending
$72,145
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
105.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
1
Volunteers
9

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 105.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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. $52,835 spent. KAHEA FOCUSES ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT CULTURAL RIGHTS AND THE 'AINA (LAND). KAHEA IS ON EVERY ISLAND AND INCLUDES 'OPIO (YOUTH), MAKUA (ADULTS) AND KUPUNA (ELDERS). KAHEA INCLUDES CULTURAL ACTIVISTS AND PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING KUMA HULA (TEACHERS OF DANCE, LANGUAGE, CHANTS, HISTORY, AND HEALING), ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS AND PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE SACRED SUMMITS PROGRAM SUPPORTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EFFORTS AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION OF MAUNA KEA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE AREAS IN HAWAII. OUR WORK HELPED PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO THIS SPECIAL PLACE AND TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY. KAHEA FOCUSES ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT CULTURAL RIGHTS AND THE 'AINA (LAND). KAHEA IS ON EVERY ISLAND AND INCLUDES 'OPIO (YOUTH), MAKUA (ADULTS) AND KUPUNA (ELDERS). KAHEA INCLUDES CULTURAL ACTIVISTS AND PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING KUMA HULA (TEACHERS OF DANCE, LANGUAGE, CHANTS, HISTORY, AND HEALING), ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS AND PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE SACRED SUMMITS PROGRAM SUPPORTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EFFORTS AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION OF MAUNA KEA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE AREAS IN HAWAII. OUR WORK HELPED PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO THIS SPECIAL PLACE AND TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 September 2000.

    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.