Live Aloha, Give Aloha: How a Day at the Beach Can Change a Shelter Dog's Life

I have a very social dog.  Her name is Lily and she absolutely LOVES meeting new people.  After a long day at work, I'll usually take her to the highest density place I can for a walk, so we increase her chance of meeting someone new.  A favorite is down at Flemming--she's crashed a few family photo shoots, sat down next to people in their beach chairs, and fallen in love over and over again.  Often people tell me how much they miss their dog and I don't blame them.  

I find myself telling people about Beach Buddies, an amazing program run by the Maui Humane Society that lets you take a dog from the shelter to the beach (or for a hike) for the day.

A volunteer takes Dobby out for a day at the beach

What Is The Maui Humane Society's Dog Outing Program?

The Maui Humane Society is the only open-admission animal shelter on Maui, which means no animal in need is ever turned away — and it means the shelter's population runs high, often at capacity.  Beach Buddies grew out of a simple, practical idea: dogs do better, and show better to potential adopters, outside a kennel.

The program launched in April 2015, modeled after a similar “field trip” program that had launched on Kauaʻi about a year earlier. What started as an occasional outing has grown into one of the shelter's signature programs — consistently booked, widely recognized, and, as it turns out, effective enough that shelters across the country have taken notice.

How Beach Buddies Works

Participants — residents and visitors alike, 18 and older — can sign up for a time slot and are matched with one of the shelter's approved, easygoing dogs. Each outing comes with a full kit: a harness and leash, a car seatbelt, a towel, a water bottle and bowl, treats, waste bags, a map, and a bandana marking the dog as available for adoption. From there, the day is yours to plan — a beach walk, an Upcountry trail (another of Lily's favorites is Makawao Forest), or a picnic lunch. The shelter asks that outings stay out of the West Side and off the Road to Hāna, simply so dogs and handlers aren't too far from home base in Puʻūnēnē which is between Kahului and Kihei.

Maui residents have their own track into the program, Kamaʻāina Beach Buddies, which builds toward a more regular, ongoing volunteer role rather than a single outing. Either way, every outing ends with a short write-up from the participant — notes on how the dog handled the car, the crowds, the leash — that goes straight into the dog's file to help staff make the right match when adoption day comes.

Why It Makes Such a Difference

A day away from the shelter gives a dog real mental stimulation and a break from kennel stress. Every Beach Buddies dog heads out wearing its “adopt me” bandana, turning an ordinary outing into a chance encounter that might lead somewhere. 

"Beach Buddies is the ultimate win-win: you get an incredible day exploring Maui with a four-legged co-pilot, and a shelter dog gets a much-needed break and a chance to find their forever home."

— Ashley Stone-Mason, Maui Humane Society

For those of us who call Maui home, the appeal runs a little deeper than a fun afternoon. It's a reminder of how many great trails, beaches, and neighborhoods make up daily life here,  Maui Humane Society is also a natural first stop for anyone settling into the island who's thinking about adding a dog to their household.

Ways to Give Back: Volunteer & Donate

"A big part of loving where you live is supporting the community that makes Maui special. Programs like Beach Buddies show the true heart of our island."

Live Aloha: Volunteer

If you're visiting Maui, you can book a Beach Buddies outing directly through Maui Humane Society for a $75 participation fee — new time slots open online about ten days out, and it's worth booking early, since outings fill quickly. Book a Beach Buddies Outing

Another way for a visitor to help is to help fly an animal to the mainland on the Wings of Aloha Alaska Airlines program:  This helps get dogs to transfer partners in the mailand US. The process is simple and free. Check in with Wings of Aloha with your flight itinerary.  Should a scheduled animal transport match your itinerary, they will be in touch. Note: flights must be with Alaska Airlines only and must be to the West Coast to be eligible.

If you're a Maui resident, Kamaʻāina Beach Buddies offers an ongoing way to give shelter dogs regular time outside the kennel. You can also foster an animal until a home can be found.  Learn About Volunteering

Give Aloha: Donate

Maui Humane Society relies on community support to keep the shelter open to every animal that needs it. You can give directly, become a sponsor, or shop MHS merchandise, with proceeds going straight back into the shelter's care programs.

Donate to Maui Humane Society  |  Become a Sponsor  |  Shop Maui Humane Society's Amazon Wishlist

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