Sneak Peek: Hawaiian Humane Society Opens a New Animal Shelter in West O‘ahu
It's got catios, two dog parks, pet supplies, plus medical facilities. And, of course, adorable adoptable animals that can’t wait to meet you.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Humane Society
Nearly a decade in the making, the Hawaiian Humane Society’s long-awaited Kosasa Family Campus at Ho‘opili opens its doors this Saturday, May 20. The largest animal shelter in the state, the new location boasts a 27,000-square-foot facility on 5 acres of land in ‘Ewa Beach.
Here’s what we found during our early-access tour…
Photo: Brie Thalmann
Right off the parking lot, you’re greeted by two sprawling expanses of lawn dotted with small hills, benches and fun climbing elements. The two dog parks—one for small dogs and one for larger dogs—will be open to the public later this year.
Step into the reception hall, and you’ll find a retail zone that will offer pet supplies—great for new pet parents who may not have all the necessities at adoption time. The left side of the building is where the Pet Food Bank, the Hawaiian Humane Society’s free pet food assistance program that offers temporary help to pet owners struggling to feed their animals, will operate on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Photos: Brie Thalmann
A few yards into the entry hall, the view widens to reveal a circular tree-lined path amid a network of cottagelike houses. Smack dab in the center sits the shelter’s small-animal pavilion, an open-air area where visitors can check out the littlest creatures—bunnies, chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds and fish—available for adoption.
The cheery yellow buildings serve as cat pavilions, complete with screened catios (that’s cat patios if you’re not up on your feline phrases) and enrichment rooms filled with cat toys and climbing towers built into charming tree murals.
SEE ALSO: We Tried It: Wai Kai Lagoon and Surf Park in ‘Ewa Beach
Photos: Brie Thalmann
The blue dog pavilions house small and medium-size doggos. What’s heartening is that the ‘Ewa campus was planned as a “new generation” shelter that thoughtfully incorporates design features and practices to reduce stress and keep animals as healthy as possible.
The pavilions get a ton of fresh air and feature soft-close kennels outfitted with individual drains. The kennels are laid out so the occupants don’t face each other, and multiple exits ensure the animals don’t have to walk past all the others when entering or exiting.
Photos: Brie Thalmann
Big dogs reside in the largest building, which is also home to the ‘Ewa campus’s medical center and surgery rooms. Spay and neuter services will be available, and the campus’s Ginny Tiu Pet Kōkua Resource Center will offer lost-and-found services and animal admissions later in the summer.
Back outside, you’ll find roomy, screened-in meet-and-greet areas where visitors and their current pets can interact with potential adoptees. Adoption services are available Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Photo: Brie Thalmann
Umbrella-topped picnic tables are sprinkled throughout the grounds, providing shady spots to rest. They’ll most be where the shelter will host the educational birthday parties it plans to launch this fall or winter. And parents of animal-loving kiddos will want to keep an eye out for summer camp programs that the ‘Ewa campus hopes to roll out in 2024.
In the meantime, volunteer opportunities abound. And if you’re not quite sure you’re ready to adopt, check out the shelter’s Couch Crashers program that lets you temporarily foster animals for short stints—any time out of the kennel, even if short, is a win. In fact, we’re already prepping our own couches to welcome a few furry friends.
Photos: Brie Thalmann
Hawaiian Humane Society Kosasa Family Campus at Ho‘opili, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 91-1947 Fort Weaver Road, ‘Ewa Beach, hawaiianhumane.org, @hawaiianhumane
SEE ALSO: 6 Places Where You Can Meet Baby Animals on O‘ahu
