After spending 8 glorious days on Lanai, I saved the best for last and visited the Sanctuary (should be Kitty Nirvana)! The creativity and dedication of the staff who care 24/7 for almost 400 furry friends is beyond belief. Not only is each kitty named, recognized and spoken to by name, but each one is loved and petted every day! Imagine the task for the 4 LARC staff--Kathy, Kawena, Lynn and Amanda. They can definitely use our help. If you're visiting Lanai, or want to help from a distance, make the LARC a must see on your vacation stop or become a long-distance delegate and send some love to Lanai and the Lanai Animal Rescue Center. You won't be disappointed,PS-i adopted a darling kitty named Saturn!
Dear reader,Visiting LARC is a one of a kind experience. This outdoor feral cat shelter is unique in that it provides a forever home for once feral cats while giving them the outdoor experience that they can thrive in. The cats are friendly, tame, and available for adoption. This shelter is used as an example to others in the United States and internationally as a perfect environment in which to support the needs of a feral cat. My husband and I were guests at the Manele Bay Hotel on Lanai and decided to spend a few hours at LARC. We were invited to visit, pet and brush the cats but decided that we would also like to be involved in a work project. Kathy Carroll, the shelter's founder, welcomed us and showed us around accompanied by a bevy of friendly kitty escorts. We were amazed at how well the cats get along. This is a testament to the design and structure of LARC. There are plenty of places for kitties who do not want to socialize to hide, perch, and rest. For some reason this system really works. We found the cats clean and healthy. We were told that if a cat is discovered to be unwell, it is separated from the others in a little kitty clinic that is on site. The cat is given either veterinary assistance or special care until they are well and then brought back into the group.We assisted others that were visiting with a work project to clean out a couple of the structures that hold separate baskets for kitties to rest in. We cleaned out the bins and replaced the hay bedding that was set into each basket. Following our work, we were able to take about an hour to rest and sit with the kitties. I can't tell you how relaxing and wonderful it was to sit in the warm sun, surrounded by kitties, and to see them stretching, purring and generally lazing on the ground near us. It was a delightful and relaxing Sunday experience. Please do not hesitate to visit LARC, you have our highest recommendation to go.You might be surprised to know that we have a dog at home who we love dearly. We have never had a cat as a pet and do not refer to ourselves as cat people. However, we are delighted to feel that we are friends and supporters to the kitties at LARC.We love what LARC is doing, their integrity and dedication is without question. Support LARC!Kind regards,Terri-Lynn and Ed CousleyMill Valley, CA
The focus of my trip to Lana'i was to spend time at the Lanai Animal Rescue Center. I had three days of playing with all the wonderful kitties, spending time with the fabulous cat caretakers and meeting the founder of the Center. The cats are all beautiful, almost all of them are friendly and solicit your attention and demand a place on your lap. The difference this place has made on the island is amazing - offering spay/neuter services to reduce the number of unwanted cats; offering a place for cats that no longer have a home; and as a result, helping the local bird population to flourish. A win-win situation for everyone. They are funded completely by donation so I recommend making one when you visit. I am very involved in cat rescue, fostering and adoptions here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Needless to say, the setup on Lana'i is very different with most of the cats free roaming in a very large fenced area and the amazing thing is they all get along! It is clean, beautiful, offers the cats places to hide, to climb, to get out of the sun or rain and is very people friendly too. One of my favorite things - with 300+ cats the staff know all the cat's names. Just showed me how much they love these Lana'i Lions. Don't miss visiting here - it's an easy day trip over from Maui or better yet, stay on Lana'i and see how Hawai'i used to be. l'll definitely return for another visit. Thank you to all at the Center, two legged and four legged, for making my visits so special. Mahalo!
When endangered ground nesting bird populations were identified on Lana'i, it became painfully obvious that the feral cat population had to be addressed. Eradicating the cats was one option that was unacceptable to Kathy Carroll, a Lana'i resident. Kathy organized an effort to create a cat sanctuary. On 3 leased acres a short distance outside of town, using repurposed building supplies, the sanctuary began. 363 cats were humanely trapped and transported to the compound. More are added day to day. Animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and examined/treated for injury and disease and allowed to live a wonderful life at the sanctuary (unless they are adopted).We were amazed by the facilities and staff. There is really too much to say in this short review, so I encourage you to go to their website (lanaianimalrescue.org) for in depth information. When you visit Lana'i, you MUST VISIT the rescue center. It's a lesson on creative solutions to difficult problems.
I wasn't expecting a lot when I read up about the cat sanctuary but the tremendous amounts of positive reviews from Tripadvisor made it a must see place when we were in Lanai. My expectations were blown away from the minute we pulled up to when we left an hour later (wish I could have stayed a few more). Kathy and the team there have managed to build a sanctuary for the cats that goes beyond description really. It redefines how we should be thinking about animal rescue shelters. Cats there are extremely happy and grateful to have visitors and the work they do there is incredible. Even my wife who is not a big cat fan had a great time there. The cats there love when they have visitors to play with and give attention to. If you love cats, make sure to allocate at least a couple of hours to make sure you get the full experience. Also worth it to speak with Kathy Carroll as her story is very amazing.
We spent some time at the Lana'i Animal Rescue Center, which has been set up to trap the cats on the island and rehome them where possible. They had over 300 cats there, all well fed and cared for in an enclosed situation. Such good work deserves accolades. Well done to the woman who set it up and the volunteers who give their time freely.
If you are in Maui with your children or not...Take the short ferry ride from Lahaina to the tiny island of Lanai. Shuttle up the hill to visit the FREE come See ... Lanai Animal Rescue Center. Never have I been in a more natural Hawaiian attraction, overlooking the Ocean, and stopped in time. This Sanctuary, founded and run by Kathy Carroll, is a paradise of rescued Hawaiian kittens and cats...all with a name and begging to be held and brushed...HANDS ON FUN!.Most impressive for my sensitive nose was to discover no cat odor or flying fur... Find out the secret all natural green litter they make for the cats to dig, bury and then smell like a pine needle!!! This rescue center is a non stop show of contained cats in acres of trees,ramps, tunells, catwalks...all performing for the visitors like little Circus lions. YOU become the Grand Master of this show as they each want to entertain you in the hope you will tuck them in your bag and take them home. Educational to the point to discover capturing these cats has restored the bird population in Lanai that was disapeering to hungry paws trying to survive. MUST SEE!
I loved this place! Imagine 400 healthy, inquisitive, happy cats living in harmony. The place is filled with clever and natural get-a-ways to give each cat their own place when they've had enough communal living. Imagine no odor, no fights . . . This is the most perfect kitty kommune and a wonderful place to pick your next cat(s). It's also inspirational. I want cattics and catios, ladders and baskets in the trees for MY next cat! You must visit when you come to Lanai. The volunteers are wonderful, and the cats are very, very appreciative of your affection. Definitely worth a trip.
This place is amazing and the work that Kathy and the staff are doing is inspirational.The resident cats are healthy, happy and the sanctuary is a wonderful place to visit. If you're inclined to pet or play with the cats they would love it and it helps to socialize them for possible adoption. A special highpoint of my visit to Lanai.
Daughters and Wife loved this place- not a cat fan, but it was nice to see how dedicated the volunteers are to helping the cats.Nice stop.