E Komo Mai!

For more than 100 years, Hawaiian Humane Society has served as a focal point of Oahu's animal community and plays an ever-evolving role as mediator on the changing relationship between people and animals. Here's a few facts you may not know!

The Humane Society was organized on the grounds of Iolani Palace in 1883. Interestingly, King Kalakaua, a founding Society member, deemed cockfighting unacceptable to the Hawaiian community and outlawed it.

In 1897, Helen Kinau Wilder was given the authority to enforce animal cruelty laws. Today, our 12 officers respond to more than 17,000 calls for help every year. Specializing in animal law enforcement and criminal justice, they are deputized by the Honolulu Police Department. Outside of HPD, they are the only authority on Oahu who can rescue animals and investigate cruelty on behalf of the City & County of Honolulu.

Hawaiian Humane Society is the second oldest charity in Hawaii, the first is the YMCA.

In its early days, the Society protected primarily working animals, unwed mothers, adopted out children, and cared for those with mental illness. The Society’s mission of creating a “humane society” has always been about people as much as animals.

Hawaiian Humane Society is not a chapter of the HSUS and doesn’t receive funding from any other mainland organization nor any other island humane society.