Please be generous, but also careful

‘Tis the season for giving, and for many generous folks that means making end-of-the-year, tax-deductible donations to worthy charities.

That’s an impulse we encourage, of course, with one caveat: Be sure to give our money to an organization that spends it wisely, in service of its stated mission.

There are plenty of ways to avoid scams, including evaluating charitable organizations online. Websites such as charitynavigator.org, guidestar.org and givewell.org offer information that can help you make the most of your donations.

Coming aboard Hokule‘a cause

The upcoming global expedition of the double-hulled voyaging canoe Hoku­le‘a and sister ship Hiki­ana­lia — already buoyed by a $1 million-plus pledge from Hawaiian Airlines — has just received another big financial boost from three major Hawaii tourism players. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii and Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts will give $500,000 in cash and in-kind support to the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) over the next five years, and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has promised the same.

That gives a nice bump to the cultural and educational adventure that will take crews to more than 20 countries and 60 ports of call, starting after May 3. An estimated $36 million will be needed for this five-year project — about $22 million has been raised so far — so it’s good to see private enterprise stepping in to support the PVS.