Hawaiian Humane Society: A campaign for compassionate care across Oʻahu

Discover how expert guidance — and extraordinary adaptability — helped bring a $30 million campus to life for Hawai’i’s animals and the people who love them.

Founded in 1883, Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) has been a pillar of animal welfare and advocacy in Honolulu for more than 140 years. The organization promotes the human-animal bond through adoption, education, rescue, and community support programs that serve thousands of people and pets each year.

When the opportunity arose to build a second campus in West Oʻahu — where most residents live but few animal services existed — the organization launched its most ambitious effort yet: a campaign to build a “new generation” shelter that could meet growing community needs.

The Challenge:

The vision for the Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili was bold: a state-of-the-art, 27,000-square-foot facility designed to house up to 450 animals and serve as a community hub for education, adoptions, and veterinary care. But with an initial campaign goal of $30 million, Hawaiian Humane’s leadership faced major organizational challenges just as fundraising momentum began to build.

When the CDO unexpectedly departed mid-campaign, uncertainty loomed. The development team needed stability, strategic clarity, and donor confidence to sustain progress through the transition.

The Solution:

That’s when Capital Campaign Pro stepped in with expert, flexible support.

An experienced campaign advisor from Capital Campaign Pro was initially paired with Hawaiian Humane to help design the fundraising plan, coach staff, and guide major gift strategy. When leadership turnover created a gap in development leadership, Advisor Richard Quinn stepped in as Interim Director of Development to provide steady leadership during the transition while advising on campaign strategy.

“Capital Campaigns are never siloed initiatives. It was exciting to witness the team’s embrace of the importance of coordination and teamwork as we worked together to meet both our operating and campaign goals.”

Richard Quinn, Senior Campaign Advisor / Interim Director of Development

Richard and the Capital Campaign Pro team:

• Maintained campaign momentum and donor confidence through the leadership change
• Managed the development staff overseeing all fundraising relating to achieving their operating goal
• Drafted a fundraising plan to align with the organization’s capacity and timeline
• Supported board and campaign committee members to stay engaged and energized

This unique partnership helped Hawaiian Humane not only navigate a leadership transition but also sustain its bold vision for the future of animal welfare in Hawaiʻi.

The Impact:

In 2023, the Hawaiian Humane Society opened its Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili — a five-acre property donated by D.R. Horton Hawaiʻi. The campaign ultimately met its $30 million goal, funding a campus that now serves thousands of animals and families each year.

In its first year of operation, the West Oʻahu campus:

• Found homes for 2,300 shelter pets
• Reunited 288 lost animals with their families
• Provided care for 3,400 animals
• Distributed 17,000 pounds of pet food through its Pet Food Bank

The project stands as a testament to resilience and teamwork, and proof that with the right support, even the most complex campaigns can weather leadership change and still succeed.

Today, Hawaiian Humane continues to grow, with two thriving campuses and a renewed vision for a compassionate, animal-friendly Hawaiʻi.