Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

EIN 99-0353223 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS LAND TRUST DBA HAWAI'I LAND TRUST (HILT) IS HAWAI'I'S STATEWIDE LAND TRUST THAT IS BOTH A HAWAI'I 501(C)3 NONPROFIT, AND A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAND TRUST. HILT'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND STEWARD THE LANDS THAT SUSTAIN HAWAI'I, AND TO PERPETUATE HAWAIIAN VALUES BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH 'AINA. 'AINA MEANS THE LANDS THAT FEED US. HILT FORMED IN 2011 FROM A MERGER OF FOUR ISLAND LAND TRUSTS ON MAUI, O'AHU, HAWAI'I ISLAND, AND KAUA'I. A DEDICATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPRESENTING ALL MAJOR ISLANDS GUIDES HILT, SUPPORTED BY A HARD WORKING, DIVERSE, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF. HILT HAS PROTECTED OVER 22,585 ACRES ACROSS HAWAI'I, THROUGH FEE PURCHASES THAT BECOME PUBLIC PRESERVES OWNED AND STEWARDED BY HILT, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LANDS. WE WORK IN THREE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS: PROTECT, STEWARD, AND CONNECT. WE PROTECT LANDS THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO HAWAI'I'S WELL-BEING AND CHARACTER, UPHOLDING OUR KULEANA (RESP

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-69.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
27
Volunteers
1,694
Highest pay
$162,124, ceo and pres

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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. $2.6 million spent. HAWAI'I LAND TRUST (HILT) WORKS IN THREE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS: PROTECT, STEWARD, AND CONNECT. HILT IS CONSTANTLY FURTHERING ITS EFFORTS TO: 1) PROTECT LANDS IN LINE WITH ITS STRATEGIC LAND PROTECTION PRIORITIES (COASTLINES, HAWAIIAN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES, AND LANDS THAT GROW FOOD FOR HAWAI'I'S PEOPLE); 2) STEWARD ITS PUBLIC PRESERVES AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WITH NUMEROUS CONSERVATION VALUES (STUNNING SCENIC VISTAS; PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS; PLACES OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE; RANCHES AND FARMS THAT PROVIDE FRESH LOCAL FOOD; WILDLIFE HABITATS THAT SECURE BIODIVERSITY; BEACHES FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY; AND OTHER WATER RESOURCE AREAS); AND 3) CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO THEIR SPECIAL NATURAL PLACES. SOME 2024 HIGHLIGHTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: PROTECT - CONSERVATION PURCHASES AND EASEMENTS: 1. TOTAL PLACE PROTECTED FOLLOWING HILT'S STRATEGIC LAND PROTECTION PRIORITIES: A. PROTECTED 1.36 ACRES OF COASTAL LANDS IN HAMOA, HANA, MAUI AS A PART OF A LARGER SAVE HANA COAST EFFORTS WITH COMMUNITY GROUP KE AO HALII. B.PROTECTED 28 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN KOHALA, HAWAII WITH COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP 2. TOTAL NEWLY PROTECTED LAND IN 2024: 29.36 ACRES STEWARDSHIP: 3. PLANTED 2,520 NATIVE AND RARE PLANTS AT HILT'S PRESERVES 4. 1,694 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 5,644 HOURS OF STEWARDSHIP AT HILT PRESERVES 5. 1 PLANT NURSERY STARTED AT MAHUKONA 6. 1 MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN STARTED AT MAUNAWILA 7. 1 LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN AT VETERANS PEACE PARK 8. 1 STEWARD HIRED ON KAUAI AND 2 EDUCATORS HIRED ON MAUI 9. CONTINUED THE RESTORATION OF THE KAPOHO WETLAND AND FISHPOND AND EXPANDED 2 ACRES OF NATIVE HABITAT AT WAIHEE REFUGE, CLEARED 3 ACRES AT NUU REFUGE CONNECT: AINA ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION 10. FACILITATED 32 TALK STORY ON THE LAND HIKES 11. HOSTED 6,358 STUDENTS VISITS IN AINA-BASED EDUCATION 12. PROVIDED 41 COLLEGE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIPS 13. WELCOMED 19,000 VISITORS TO OUR PRESERVES 14. HOSTED 2,185 CAMPERS ON HILT PRESERVES 15. ATTENDED 46 EVENTS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH 16. 2 MOU AGREEMENTS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO USE HILT SITE AS SATELLITE LEARNING SPACE 17. 184 FISHPOND PRACTITIONERS AT WAIHEE FOR THE KUA FISHPOND CONFERENCE (HUI MALAMA LOKO IA) 18. 7 TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT & GREEN JOB TRAINING FOR FIRE-IMPACED MAUI RESIDENTS HAWAI'I LAND TRUST (HILT) WORKS IN THREE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS: PROTECT, STEWARD, AND CONNECT. HILT IS CONSTANTLY FURTHERING ITS EFFORTS TO: 1) PROTECT LANDS IN LINE WITH ITS STRATEGIC LAND PROTECTION PRIORITIES (COASTLINES, HAWAIIAN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES, AND LANDS THAT GROW FOOD FOR HAWAI'I'S PEOPLE); 2) STEWARD ITS PUBLIC PRESERVES AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WITH NUMEROUS CONSERVATION VALUES (STUNNING SCENIC VISTAS; PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS; PLACES OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE; RANCHES AND FARMS THAT PROVIDE FRESH LOCAL FOOD; WILDLIFE HABITATS THAT SECURE BIODIVERSITY; BEACHES FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY; AND OTHER WATER RESOURCE AREAS); AND 3) CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO THEIR SPECIAL NATURAL PLACES. SOME 2024 HIGHLIGHTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: PROTECT - CONSERVATION PURCHASES AND EASEMENTS: 1. TOTAL PLACE PROTECTED FOLLOWING HILT'S STRATEGIC LAND PROTECTION PRIORITIES: A. PROTECTED 1.36 ACRES OF COASTAL LANDS IN HAMOA, HANA, MAUI AS A PART OF A LARGER SAVE HANA COAST EFFORTS WITH COMMUNITY GROUP KE AO HALII. B.PROTECTED 28 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN KOHALA, HAWAII WITH COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP 2. TOTAL NEWLY PROTECTED LAND IN 2024: 29.36 ACRES STEWARDSHIP: 3. PLANTED 2,520 NATIVE AND RARE PLANTS AT HILT'S PRESERVES 4. 1,694 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 5,644 HOURS OF STEWARDSHIP AT HILT PRESERVES 5. 1 PLANT NURSERY STARTED AT MAHUKONA 6. 1 MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN STARTED AT MAUNAWILA 7. 1 LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN AT VETERANS PEACE PARK 8. 1 STEWARD HIRED ON KAUAI AND 2 EDUCATORS HIRED ON MAUI 9. CONTINUED THE RESTORATION OF THE KAPOHO WETLAND AND FISHPOND AND EXPANDED 2 ACRES OF NATIVE HABITAT AT WAIHEE REFUGE, CLEARED 3 ACRES AT NUU REFUGE CONNECT: AINA ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION 10. FACILITATED 32 TALK STORY ON THE LAND HIKES 11. HOSTED 6,358 STUDENTS VISITS IN AINA-BASED EDUCATION 12. PROVIDED 41 COLLEGE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIPS 13. WELCOMED 19,000 VISITORS TO OUR PRESERVES 14. HOSTED 2,185 CAMPERS ON HILT PRESERVES 15. ATTENDED 46 EVENTS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH 16. 2 MOU AGREEMENTS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO USE HILT SITE AS SATELLITE LEARNING SPACE 17. 184 FISHPOND PRACTITIONERS AT WAIHEE FOR THE KUA FISHPOND CONFERENCE (HUI MALAMA LOKO IA) 18. 7 TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT & GREEN JOB TRAINING FOR FIRE-IMPACED MAUI RESIDENTS

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 March 2001.

    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.