Ohana Waa

What it reported doing in 2024

Lahaina: After the devastating August 2023 wildfires, which destroyed the heart of the Maui's voyaging community in Lahaina, Ohana Waa took in grants and donations specifically to support that voyaging community. As one ohana (family) across all our islands, we have always come together to support the individual canoe communities that make up Ohana Waa when there is need. The support and generosity for our Maui ohana was heart lifting for that community to experience and for all of us to witness. Donations and messages from across the world reminded us that we are not isolated in the middle of the Pacific; the ocean continues to connect us. The funding platform was temporary (only through 2023), with funds used for short-term relief efforts toward the health of the broader Lahaina voyaging community, as that community decided its own direction and where resources should flow. The grants and donations exceeded our hopes, and while must of the funds were expended in 2024, some will continue to be used for Lahaina resident recovery and community building into early 2025. None of these funds went toward administrative costs; they have been and will be all directed to voyaging community members and are provided on a reimbursement basis only, and only up to $5,000 per voyager. For example, the funds were used to help rebuild portions of multi-generational homes, to partial payments for purchases of replacement vehicles, food for families living out of hotel rooms without kitchens, a forklift rental to move pallets of donated supplies, portable toilet rentals, replacement fishing supplies used for sustenance fishing, voyaging canoe repair and replacement engines and trailers, and replacement home supplies. In early 2024, we also supported our Lahaina voyaging community by sailing our large and small voyaging canoes to Lahaina from all of our islands, with our crew and leadership joining the Lahaina Unity March of several thousand people in support of the traditional, multi-ethnic and multi-generational community of Lahaina. The March was organized by an Ohana Waa captain, who lives in Lahaina.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 37.1%; rating input score 37
• Program expense ratio: 80.9%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 2 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 29
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 54.1%; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.04; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 52.8% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 42.5% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings