IMPACT REPORT
2025 | 2026
The Power of Compassion
From the Executive Director
Aloha, I can’t believe this is already my 12th year at the Sanctuary. During that time, I’ve watched a single habitat grow into eight, 350 cats become more than 700 Lānaʻi Lions, and a small local effort become a model of coexistence that inspires communities around the world. None of it would have been possible without people like you who chose compassion. Compassion isn’t just something you feel. It’s something you do. To me, compassion means making hundreds of thoughtful decisions every week, always asking one question: “What’s best for this cat?” Sometimes the answer is medical care. Sometimes it’s patience. Sometimes it’s simply making sure there’s food in every bowl. No matter the situation, compassion means showing up every day and doing what’s right for each individual Lānaʻi Lion. That philosophy guides everything we do. It means giving every cat the space, care, and time they need, whether that means helping a frightened cat learn to trust after generations in the wild, finding a loving home for a cat that’s ready, providing foster care for one that needs a little extra time, or offering a safe, comfortable home for those who may never leave the Sanctuary. It means caring for cats while protecting Lānaʻi’s fragile ecosystem, proving that compassion for one species can also protect another.
The stories in these pages are all different, but they share one thing in common. Every one began with someone choosing compassion.
Most animal welfare organizations are supported by the communities around them. Our island is home to only about 3,000 people, which means the community that makes this work possible stretches far beyond Lānaʻi.
Mahalo,
Every gift you make, every can of food you send, every cat you sponsor, and every story you share is an act of compassion that reaches across the ocean and changes lives.
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Compassion heals. It doesn’t give up. It creates second chances. It changes lives. And none of it would be possible without you. Thank you for your compassion this past year. I hope these pages remind you of the incredible difference your compassion continues to make.
Keoni Vaughn Executive Director
Compassion Heals The Cat who Chose Them When Estelle’s family visited the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary in January 2024, adopting a cat wasn’t part of the plan. They had recently experienced a loss and traveled to Lānaʻi hoping to heal. Then a tiny one-eyed senior cat climbed into her future mom’s lap and wouldn’t leave. As they later wrote, “Estelle chose us.” Three years earlier, Estelle had arrived at the Sanctuary after being rescued by our conservation partners from Palawai Basin. She was frightened, feral, and already in poor health. Over the next few years, she continued to face significant medical challenges, including the loss of an eye and severe stomatitis that required both a partial and full-mouth extraction. Through it all, staff remained committed to keeping her comfortable and giving her the best quality of life possible. Like every Lānaʻi Lion, Estelle remained available for adoption. Every decision begins with one simple question: “What’s best for this cat?” When her family fell in love with her, staff talked openly about Estelle’s medical needs, uncertain prognosis, and the possibility that they might only have a short time together.
They chose her anyway. The next two years brought medications, surgeries, and countless veterinary appointments. But no matter what came her way, Estelle met each challenge with remarkable resilience, bouncing back stronger every time. Through it all, they never stopped choosing her. The tiny four-pound senior cat soon became the queen of the house. She gained weight, claimed every soft bed, collected nicknames like Stelly, Stompy Stelly, and Stelly Welly, and became affectionately known as Stelly Starfish, a name inspired by the old fable reminding us that one act of compassion can change a life. When their son was born, she quietly appointed herself his protector. This past spring, after just over two years together, Estelle passed away peacefully with her parents beside her. The family who came to Lānaʻi hoping to heal found exactly who they needed. Thanks to the compassion of everyone who cared for her along the way, Estelle found the life she always deserved. When it came time to say goodbye, they put it best:
“But what a life. What a soul. What a miracle she was.”
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Compassion Doesn’t Give Up Every Lānaʻi Lion has a different story. Some need emergency medical care. Some need years to learn to trust people. Some find loving homes. Others spend the rest of their lives at the Sanctuary. Compassion means meeting every cat where they are and giving them exactly what they need.
Tabasco’s Journey to Trust When Tabasco arrived at the Sanctuary in 2014, he wanted nothing to do with people. Like the majority of Lānaʻi Lions, he was born into generations of cats that had lived in the wild with little to no positive interaction with humans. Trust didn’t come easily. Over the years, staff got to know him, monitored his health, and adjusted his care as his needs changed. In 2024, at 16 years old, he underwent dental surgery. While he recovered, something unexpected happened. The once-feral cat who had spent years keeping his distance began seeking out visitors for treats. Today, Tabasco has moved into one of the TLC habitats, where he continues to grow more comfortable around people every day. Compassion means understanding that trust doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes patience. Sometimes it takes years. Every time, it means never giving up on a cat who is still writing their story.
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-ānaʻ‘i Lion Better Care for Every Lāa Beginning in July 2026, the Sanctuary added one additional visiting veterinary clinic every month, helping more cats receive care sooner and spend less time waiting for treatment. As more Lānaʻi Lions grow older, they need more wellness exams, dental procedures, and specialized care to stay healthy and comfortable. One additional clinic every month means: • More preventative care • Earlier treatment when health or behavior changes • Less time waiting for medical care Because Lānaʻi has no full-time veterinarian, each clinic requires flying a visiting veterinary team to the island. Providing this additional level of care costs about $2,000 per clinic, or $24,000 each year, in addition to the approximately $151,000 invested annually in visiting veterinary care. Healing takes time. Thanks to your compassion, more cats will have it.
Healing by the Numbers 496 veterinary exams 138 dental procedures 90 spay and neuter surgeries 72 visiting veterinary clinic days $33,716 invested in medical supplies
Compassion Creates Second Chances A Different Path for Chagoi When Chagoi arrived at the Sanctuary a few years ago, she preferred solitude and distance, spending most of her time perched in the mango tree in Manele Park. While treating a facial abscess and painful dental disease, staff noticed something unexpected. Beneath the frightened exterior was a cat with the potential to trust. Instead of returning Chagoi to her habitat, the team chose a different path: a foster home where she could build confidence one-on-one. Chagoi blossomed in her foster home and later transferred to our partners at the Maui Cat Café, where she captured the heart of a family and found her forever home in California. Some cats simply need the right place to flourish.
Second Chances Sea Biscuit’s Fresh Start Sea Biscuit was only five months old when he arrived at the Sanctuary. Friendly from the beginning, he quickly became a favorite, but persistent gastrointestinal illness left him losing weight despite weeks of treatment. The veterinary team tried everything they could. Foster families cared for him around the clock. Multiple treatment plans were adjusted as new symptoms appeared. At one point, his condition became so serious that the veterinary team began discussing whether the kindest option might be humane euthanasia. Then something changed. Little by little, Sea Biscuit began eating again. His weight started climbing.
by the Numbers
102 cats brought to the Sanctuary 50 cats admitted through conservation partnerships 29 cats adopted 58 cats transferred to partner organizations
His stools improved. His energy returned. The playful kitten everyone had fallen in love with was finally getting the chance to simply be a kitten. Today, Sea Biscuit is healthy, thriving, and growing up with a local family and three children who adore him. Healing isn’t always immediate, but every cat deserves the chance.
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Compassion Changes Lives Compassion doesn’t end with the cats. Every visitor, volunteer, staff member, and supporter becomes part of a story that’s bigger than themselves. Some visits last only a few hours, but their impact can last a lifetime.
A Day Just for Dom When 10-year-old Dominic arrived at the Sanctuary, he wasn’t just excited to meet hundreds of cats. Just months earlier, his older brother, Seppe, had passed away after a 13-month battle with pediatric brain and spine cancer. Dom’s family traveled to Hawai‘i to honor the Make-A-Wish trip Seppe had wanted to take, hoping to find moments of joy together. Dom’s love for cats made the Sanctuary the place he wanted to visit most, and the entire team came together to make his day unforgettable. A personalized welcome banner greeted him. A special song, “Welcome to the Family,” was written
Looking Out for Kokoum Since 2018, Kokoum has quietly called the Koele habitat home, often staying just out of reach. Fast, elusive, and always one step ahead, he proved difficult to bring in for a wellness exam. That’s where the Sanctuary ambassadors stepped in. Caring for more than 700 Lānaʻi Lions takes the entire team, especially when it comes to the cats who are wary of the veterinary staff. As ambassadors greeted guests each day, they also kept a close eye on Kokoum, noticing changes in his behavior, tracking his whereabouts, and alerting the veterinary team whenever he ventured out of hiding. Their observations helped the team finally bring him in for an exam, where veterinarians confirmed severe dental disease. 5
and recorded just for him, and today anyone can listen to it on Spotify. He helped feed the Lānaʻi Lions and spent the day as an honorary member of the team. For a few hours, Dom simply got to be a kid surrounded by hundreds of cats, kindness, and people who cared. Compassion doesn’t always mean changing the lives of the Lānaʻi Lions. Sometimes, it’s the Lānaʻi Lions who change ours.
Today, Kokoum is recovering comfortably in the Senior Center, where the team can continue monitoring his health and provide ongoing care as he ages. The smallest observations can make the biggest difference.
Compassion by the Numbers 704 Lānaʻi Lions in care 12,603 visitors welcomed 49,046 pounds of food fed 70 flights and ferry rides for adopted and transferred cats
Your Compassion in Action Every story in this report began with someone choosing compassion. • A family who opened their hearts to an aging Lānaʻi Lion. • Caregivers who believed trust was worth waiting for. • A foster family who gave one cat the quiet place she needed to flourish. • A veterinary team that refused to give up on a sick kitten. • A community that came together to brighten the day of a little boy who needed it most. • Team members who noticed that something wasn’t quite right. The next story begins with you.
Help Provide One More Clinic Every Month The Sanctuary recently added one additional visiting veterinary clinic every month to care for our growing population of aging Lānaʻi Lions. Each clinic costs approximately $2,000, or $24,000 annually, helping more cats receive the care they need, when they need it most. Your gift today will help make that possible.
Your Gift Can Help Provide: $25
Helps provide antibiotics, fluids, and supportive care for a Lānaʻi Lion needing a little extra TLC.
$50
Helps provide a wellness exam for a cat showing new symptoms.
$100
Helps provide a spay or neuter for a newly arrived Lānaʻi Lion.
$500
Helps provide advanced medical care and diagnostics for aging Lānaʻi Lions.
$2,000
Helps fund one additional monthly visiting veterinary clinic.
Thank you for choosing compassion. Scan the code or visit qrco.de/IR-Give to donate!
-na‘i Cat Sanctuary Lāa PO Box 631577 Lāna‘i City, Hawai‘i 96763
Compassion heals. It doesn’t give up. It creates second chances. It changes lives. Mahalo for making it possible.
LanaiCatSanctuary.org info@LanaiCatSanctuary.org | 808.215.9066
Nikki Perry, Director of Development & Program | Nikki@lanaicatsanctuary.org Keoni Vaughn, Executive Director | Keoni@lanaicatsanctuary.org