ʻĪlio Explorers is Hawaiian Humane’s field trip program to promote adult dog adoption and provide shelter dogs an enriching and relaxing day out. This offers further opportunities for community members to help showcase our adoptable dogs, while having a fun, enriching day with them. Additionally, visitors to the island of Oahu can participate while exploring during their vacation alongside a shelter dog.
Studies regarding dog behavior and health have shown that short term excursion programs are especially beneficial for dogs in a shelter setting, helping to reduce stress and cortisol levels. Taking a break to walk, sniff and be in the presence of people for a day helps with their mental and physical well-being while they await their adoptive home. The information gathered through the field trip helps us match them with a home that will best meet their needs.
We welcome kamaʻāina and visitors to participate in ʻĪlio Explorers by reserving an appointment at one of the Hawaiian Humane Society’s conveniently located campuses in the heart of Honolulu and in ʻEwa Beach! Tap one of the buttons below to make your reservation at the campus nearest you: We’ve vetted a fun list of pre-approved dog-friendly locations, including parks, hiking trails and beaches, for you to explore with your ʻĪlio Explorers dog. For the safety of your ʻĪlio Explorers dog and our community, you are prohibited from visiting off-leash dog parks while on your field trip. In addition, your ʻĪlio Explorers dog must remain on-leash at all times. It’s important to be a responsible ʻĪlio Explorer and remember to B.A.R.K. at all times: B – Bag your dog’s waste Based on your registration, our team match you with a dog that best fits your experience level and who is in your party. We select dogs for this program based on their need for out of shelter enrichment. They may even be selected from our VIPs (Very Important Paws) – dogs that have been with us the longest and would benefit from a break from the shelter environment! Your dog is likely to be approximately 30 – 65lb. Due to the constant flux of dogs in and out of the shelter, we cannot fulfill requests to be paired with a dog that excludes specific breeds, energy levels or sizes. We ask that you consider this when booking. If you do not feel you are able to handle a 30lb+ dog, we still invite you to walk through the shelter and visit with our other pets during normal hours of operation! Field trip dogs must return to the shelter you picked up the dog from no later the 4:00 pm the same day. Please return to the Adoptions Center and ensure all supplies are accounted for. Double-check to make sure no personal items are left behind. We’re so glad you asked, and we hope you do! Please alert our Adoptions team upon return to the Adoption Center. We will facilitate your adoption and you can take them home the same day. Is home located off-island? Let our adoptions team know and they will connect you with our transport specialist to determine possible adoption and transport options back to your home. Please direct them to our Adoptions Center as soon as possible to adopt! You’ll also receive a personalized QR code for your ʻĪlio Explorers dog, allowing interested people to easily scan and learn more. If at any time the dog becomes sick, injured or becomes lost, please call the emergency number on your resource card immediately. For lost animals, we will instruct you regarding next steps, but we will ask you to look for the dog initially. If the dog is injured or ill, we will ask you to bring them back to the Hawaiian Humane Society immediately. Taking photos and video of your field trip dog and your excursion is HIGHLY encouraged! Please share them via email or social media – don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtags #HawaiianHumane #IlioExplorers Instagram/TikTok: @HawaiianHumane Facebook: @HawaiianHumaneSocietyʻĪlio Explorers FAQ
A – Always keep your dog on leash and in your control
R – Respect wildlife
K – Know where you can go
Have more questions? Please reach out to ilioexplorers@hawaiianhumane.org
