Kua Aina Ulu Auamo

What it reported doing in 2024

Program provides support, technical assistance, faciliation and capacity-building for community-based conservation projects and programs throughout Hawaii.kua continues to serve three networks 1) e alu pu (eap) - malama 'aina or community-based natural resource management from ridge to reef, 2) hui malama loko i'a (hmli) - hawaiian fishpond caretakers, and 3) the limu hui (lh) - native seaweed gatherers, practitioners, and cultivators. Each network nests generative focus groups such as the lawai'a pono hui (lph) - that supports community fishery management - and the hatchery hui - that supports progress in restorative aquaculture. The role of these networks is to sustain momentum and remain active in their alliance to malama aina and to be generative in their work. 2024 was the first year since the pandemic kua held all of its large annual network gatherings in person. Kua also continued to build on opportunities for smaller contingents to gather as well as small scale exchanges amongst our island-wide networks. Many malama 'aina efforts occurred over the past year, some that focused on short term goals such as educating the public and decision-makers on limu, community-based fishery management, strategizing around loko i'a needs, invasive mullet, restorative aquaculture and researching moi spawning. Kua also supported international exchanges among aquacultural practitioners and presented and took leadership in the south pacific community fishery dialogues in nadi, fiji and noumea, new caledonia. Some highlights included kua leadership keynote and fisher moi spawning research presentations at the american fisheries society convention in hawai'i. A significant milestone was a culmination of years of effort, like the collective support and passage of the kipahulu community-based subsistence fishing area (cbsfa) process.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 35.5%; rating input score 35
• Program expense ratio: 86.8%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $52.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 59.2%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.98; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.7%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.3% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15.2% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.7% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings