Every day on Oʻahu, kūpuna (elders) are forced to make an impossible choice: stay in the hospital and worry about who is feeding their dog, or go home too soon to take care of the pet that keeps them going. Some delay surgeries. Some surrender animals they have loved for years — not because they stopped caring, but because they couldn't find anyone to help. Kupuna Paws exists to make that choice unnecessary. We are a Hawaiʻi-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, volunteer-powered pet support to low-income kūpuna aged 65+ on Oʻahu — dog walking and pet care support visits, temporary foster care during hospitalizations, and transportation to veterinary appointments. All services are free.

Since launching in June 2025, we've served 12 kūpuna households and 14 pets, delivering 600+ pet support visits and 350 foster care days — at just $410 per household, powered almost entirely by volunteers.

During the pilot, one kūpuna was hospitalized for emergency surgery with her dog left tied outside alone. She was in tears — not about the surgery, but about her dog. A nurse was making separate trips to her home just to check he had food and water. Kupuna Paws stepped in, arranged a foster placement, and covered all supplies. Today she is still recovering — focused on healing, knowing her dog is safe and waiting for her.

No program like this exists anywhere in Hawaiʻi. We are building the first.