Project Hawai’i, Inc.

What it reported doing in 2024

Major Accomplishment: Summer Educational Programs In its 20th year, our Summer Educational Program has continued to grow and evolve, making a lasting impact on the lives of Hawai'i's homeless children. This year, we expanded our Jr. Leader program into a full-time summer initiative, adding an extra week of programming and incorporating more life skills training. We're excited to continue growing this program by adding educational components such as STEM, and more. For many of our children, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience, laying a foundation for lifelong success. We are especially proud of the expansion of our Teen Week, which included a special All Boys Weekend. This event was designed for teens who had previously graduated from our program and are now on a path toward a brighter future. These teens returned as mentors to the younger children, sharing their personal stories and emphasizing the importance of this program in shaping their lives. Throughout the week, participants engaged in cultural learning, leadership workshops, and team-building exercises, culminating in the opportunity to mentor younger children at our Edu-Camp sleepover camp on the Big Island. The Edu-Camp offers children ages 3-7 a break from the hardships of homelessness, immersing them in life and social skills training. This immersive, sleepover experience also enables the wider community to get involved, offering their talents and knowledge through a range of activities like art, culture, yoga, theater, music, reading, and more. In addition to fun and education, we provide eye and oral exams, ensuring the children's overall well-being. Our primary goal is to foster self-esteem and equip them with life skills that will help them succeed academically. Meanwhile, on O'ahu, our Adventures Abound Day Camp provides children with the opportunity to explore the wonders of their island. In its 15th year, this day camp takes children on educational field trips to places like the zoo, aquarium, and discovery zones. Here, children also learn fundamental life and social skills necessary to thrive in school. Volunteers pick up the homeless children each morning, ensuring they are fed, paired with their teen mentors, and ready for a day full of exploration and learning. At the end of both camps, every child receives a new backpack filled with school supplies and a new outfit to start the school year on the right foot. Our camp remains entirely free for children ages 3-7, Jr. Leaders ages 10-12, and teens in high school. We are committed to providing not just educational and life-changing experiences but also nutritious, organic, and locally-sourced meals and snacks. During this critical period of brain development, it's essential that the children's bodies and minds are nourished with healthy choices, allowing them to detox from the stress and unhealthy diets associated with homelessness. Our camp also provides an incredible opportunity for First-to-Work moms, allowing them to work alongside their children while receiving training and completing the required work hours for their programs. In addition, we welcome university students to participate as interns, offering them the chance to gain practical experience in their fields. Typically, our camp hosts 2 interns and 3-5 First-to-Work parents each year. This year, our team also attended a self-healing training conference, which equipped us with more tools to teach teens about healthy life skills. As part of our new Spirit of Inner Beauty teen program, we emphasize healing from within, aligning with our ongoing commitment to the "Spirit of Excellence" in all we do.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 99.6%; rating input score 100
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

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: 6 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -2.5%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.29; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.29; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.2% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.4% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 28.3% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings