MEDIA RELEASE

Office of Hawaiian Affairs sponsors free statewide workshops for small Native Hawaiian serving organizations to help them come into compliance with tax requirements by October 15 deadline

STATEWIDE, HAWAI`I – 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.

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

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

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 Hawai`i. 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 October 15 deadline will automatically have their tax exemption revoked.

The free workshops will be held on Saturday, September 25 in Waimea at Hālau Ho`olako (at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm), Saturday, October 2 in Honolulu at the William S. Richardson School of Law (at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 3:00 pm), and Monday, October 4 in Waikulu at the MEO Family Center (at 1:00 pm and 5:30 pm). Information about the workshops and online registration can be found at www.honuaconsulting.com. Interested groups or individuals can call the Native Nations Education Foundation at (808) 554-6685 or email honua.consulting@gmail.com with questions or for registration support.

Organizations needing assistance on Kaua`i, Moloka`i and Lana`i should call the Native Nations Education Foundation at (808) 554-6685 or email honua.consulting@gmail.com for more information.

Partners of this event include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Honua Consulting, Native Nations Education Foundation, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Maui Economic Opportunities, Inc., Hawai`i Māoli, Kanu o ka `Āina Learning `Ohana, Ka Huli Ao: Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, and Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu.