Tax Relief Workshop for Native Hawaiian Organizations

Honua Consulting News Release

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is sponsoring free workshops for small Native Hawaiian serving organizations, to help them come into compliance with tax requirements by the Oct. 15 deadline.

A network of Hawaiian organizations and businesses have banded together to help small Native Hawaiian organizations maintain their tax exemption status. The IRS recently announced that October 15, 2010 will be the final day for small charities to take advantage of a one-time tax relief program before losing their tax exemption status.   

A free workshop will be held on Monday, Oct. 4 in Waikulu at the MEO Family Center at 1 and 5:30 p.m. Information about the workshops and online registration can be found at honuaconsulting.com. Organizations needing assistance on Kauai, Molokai and Lanai should call the Native Nations Education Foundation at (808) 554-6685 or email honua.consulting@gmail.com for more information.   

“These small organizations are our grassroots groups.  They support our kupuna and our keiki.  They are our hula halau, our alumni groups, canoe clubs, civic associations, and the many important volunteer organizations that provide critical support and services to our communities,” said workshop organizer, Trisha Kehaulani Watson. “It is very important that we get the word out and make sure we keep these organizations compliant.”  

With funding from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Honua Consulting and Native Nations Education Foundation (www.nnfoundation.org) will be conducting workshops on Hawaii Island, Oahu and Maui to help small organizations come into compliance by the October deadline.

Organizations can check to see if they are “at-risk for revocation” and learn about this one-time filing relief opportunity at www.irs.gov/thelist.  There are over 1,500 organizations currently listed as “at-risk” in Hawaii.  Any small Native Hawaiian serving organizations that have not filed their taxes in 2007, 2008 and 2009, or organizations that want to learn about the annual tax requirements, should consider attending.

Organizations failing to come into compliance by the Oct. 15 deadline will automatically have their tax exemption revoked. 

Partners of this event include OHA, Honua Consulting, Native Nations Education Foundation, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Maui Economic Opportunities, Inc., Hawaii Maoli, Kanu o ka `Aina Learning `Ohana, Ka Huli Ao: Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, and Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu.