Waikiki Business Improvement District Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WAIKIKI BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSOCIATION (WBIDA) IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) CORPORATION FORMED PURSUANT TO HONOLULU CITY ORDINANCE NUMBER 00-40 FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING AND MANAGING THE SERVICE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SECURITY, SANITATION, AND COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION IN THE WAIKIKI AREA OF HONOLULU. THE WBIDA ACTIVITIES SUPPLEMENT THE LEVEL OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE AREA BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $170,888, see schedule
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 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 (5)
- $2.5 million spent. THE STREETSCAPE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2001, PROVIDES DAILY CUSTODIAL AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AREAS OF WAIKIKI CLEAN AND ATTRACTIVE.
- $1.4 million spent. THE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM, STARTED IN JULY 2007, IS STAFFED BY ALOHA AMBASSADORS WHO SERVE AS HOSTS OF WAIKIKI AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND ALOHA TO EVERYONE THEY ENCOUNTER. THE AMBASSADORS ARE ALSO ALERT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT.
- $645,850 spent. THE SECURITY PROGRAM SUPPORTS ENHANCED POLICE PATROLS OF THE DISTRICT'S PUBLIC SIDEWALKS AND BEACHES.
- $196,305 spent. THE RESEARCH AND PLANNING PROGRAM CONDUCTS STUDIES OF PUBLIC SIDEWALKS, STREET USAGE AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN WAIKIKI, AS WELL AS GENERAL RESEARCH ON WAIKIKI INDICATORS, AND BEST PRACTICES UTULIZING DATA FROM OTHER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS. THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WHICH DEVELOPS GUIDELINES AND ACTION PROGRAMS FOR SYSTEMATIC, INTEGRATED AND ONGOING DISTRICT-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS.
- THE RESEARCH AND PLANNING PROGRAM CONDUCTS STUDIES OF PUBLIC SIDEWALKS, STREET USAGE AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN WAIKIKI, AS WELL AS GENERAL RESEARCH ON WAIKIKI INDICATORS, AND BEST PRACTICES UTULIZING DATA FROM OTHER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS. THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WHICH DEVELOPS GUIDELINES AND ACTION PROGRAMS FOR SYSTEMATIC, INTEGRATED AND ONGOING DISTRICT-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 June 2001.
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 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.