Kailua, HI

FRIENDS OF HOKULEA AND HAWAIILOA INC

EIN 99-0330963

Arts, Culture & Heritage Cultural Heritage & Traditions Indigenous communities

Mission

The Mission of the Friends of Hokule‘a & Hawai‘iloa is to perpetuate and teach the Hawaiian traditions of building, restoring, and caring for canoes. The organization is dedicated to preserving canoe building resources and passing on cultural knowledge through hands-on building, restoration, and apprenticeship programs.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About FRIENDS OF HOKULEA AND HAWAIILOA INC

Friends of Hokule‘a & Hawai‘iloa is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on preserving traditional Hawaiian voyaging and canoe-building knowledge. The organization maintains active programs in canoe restoration, community outreach, and hands-on training to ensure cultural skills are passed to new generations.

Friends runs the Wright Bowman Apprenticeship Program and other builders' workshops, mounts public demonstrations and cultural events, and organizes restoration and sailing projects (including recent deliveries and rebuild campaigns). The organization maintains a public-facing website, fundraising campaigns, and a schedule of events and projects that show continued activity through 2023–2025 and into 2026.

Notable achievements

Wright Bowman Apprenticeship Program

Established a formal apprenticeship program to mentor high school students and adults in traditional canoe carving and building techniques, creating a sustained training pathway for new builders and cultural practitioners.

Waʻa restoration and delivery projects

Completed public-facing restoration and delivery projects, including the December 2023 delivery of the waʻa “Hoaloha” to a community partner, and ongoing rebuild campaigns to restore Hawaiʻiloa for future voyages and educational use.

Hull fabrication for Alingano Maisu (historical contribution)

Contributed fabrication work for notable voyaging craft (including hull work used in the Alingano Maisu project), demonstrating technical capability and a legacy of hands-on canoe construction.

At a glance

Total assets: $192K
Annual revenue: $57K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 99-0330963
Location: Kailua, HI
Website: fhh-hawaii.org
On Mahalo since: May 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Recognized as a tax‑exempt 501(c)(3) organization (tax-exempt status in place since the late 1990s), with public filings and nonprofit profiles confirming formal nonprofit standing.

Engaged with state agencies and permitted harbor access and program space through Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources arrangements that support public restoration and teaching activities.

Featured in local media and community cultural programming (including O Ke Kai series and festival participation) and maintains a public website and active fundraising campaigns, indicating public visibility and donor-facing operations.

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