Hawaii Volunteers Rescue Cats From Historic Molokai Floods

Volunteers are wading through muddy water and debris to save cats stranded by devastating floods on Molokai, a small Hawaiian island with no veterinarian.

Rescue Kitties of Hawaii, a nonprofit run by dedicated volunteers, sprang into action when the islands experienced their worst flooding in two decades this March. The group searches for sick, injured, and displaced cats across Hawaii, but this disaster created an urgent crisis on Molokai.

"When it rains, it pours … and it's pouring cats and water buckets!" one volunteer posted to Instagram on March 24. Despite roads still running with muddy water, she made it into town to help.

The lack of veterinary care on Molokai makes the situation especially dangerous. With no spay and neuter services available, pregnant cats and newborn kittens face deadly conditions outdoors. "If we can make space, we have to bring them in so their babies don't drown or get washed away in these conditions," the volunteer explained.

Over 48 hours, the team rescued as many cats as they could find. They now care for four pregnant cats in their Molokai foster program plus numerous kittens. A quick fundraising campaign brought in donations that purchased food and supplies not just for rescued animals, but for stranded pet owners too.

"Thank you to everyone who donated so quickly," a volunteer wrote. "I delivered large bags to local families who truly needed it."

The Ripple Effect

This spirit of animal rescue runs deep in Hawaii. When wildfires devastated Maui in August 2023, the island's overwhelmed animal shelter became a hub of lifesaving action. Veterinarians and volunteers worked together to evacuate injured animals while fires still burned, flying 33 dogs and 103 cats to Portland, Oregon for emergency care.

"The people of Hawaii are amazing and so resilient," said Katie Shannon from Maui Humane Society. "They love their pets."

After those fires subsided, Maui Humane Society reunited 104 pets with their families and cared for more than 350 animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, tortoises, and even a pet pig. CEO Lisa Labrecque praised her team's dedication: "They are truly the best of the best."

Now that same community determination shines on Molokai, where volunteers navigate flooded streets with smiles, waves, and helping hands extended to neighbors digging out homes buried in mud.

These rescuers prove that even in disaster, compassion flows as strong as the floodwaters.