About Us

About Us

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Our Story

Between 2019 and 2020, four dedicated cat lovers met and bonded over the idea that something more, and BIG, was needed to address the free-roaming cat problem on the Big Island. They had all been volunteering individually in Trap, Neuter, Return, Manage (TNRM) and cat colony management, and saw that the work they were doing was only slowing down, not solving, the never-ending cycle of kittens born wild, and being hit by cars or killed by predators or disease, while also posing a danger to local wildlife. Their brainchild is Aloha Animal Oasis.

Mission

Our mission is to reduce the number of free-roaming cats on Hawaii island in a humane way through spay/neuter clinics, TNR programs, and providing refuge by establishing a tourist friendly cat sanctuary. In doing so, we will also improve the well-being of native wildlife, animals, and residents of the Big Island.

Vision Statement

Imagining the Big Island where no cats are without safe shelter.

Our Goal

Our goal is to reduce the free-roaming cat population of the Big Island. Aloha Animal Oasis has four main goals that will lead to a tangible impact on the free-roaming cat population:

  • Weekly “Pay what you can” TNRM clinics open to the public
  • Open a cat sanctuary that can be a tourist destination
  • Be the islands solution to surrendered cats and kittens
  • Relocate cats from native bird habitats and coastal areas
  • Educate the next generation in order to break the cycle
Cat Population Big Island Hawaii about aloha animal oasis
Big Island Animal Rescue Brown Tabby Cat about aloha animal oasis
Big Island Hawaii Cat Rescue about aloha animal oasis
Cats Cuddling Hawaii Big Island about aloha animal oasis

Through our dedicated, capable team and the generosity of our donors, we believe the Big Island can get the free-roaming cat population under control.

Founders

John

John Hopf
President

John was born and raised in Wisconsin. After obtaining his MBA, he did a stint in the corporate world before feeling a calling for something bigger. Quitting his job and selling his possessions, he set off on a 3-yr adventure traveling the world, learning about other cultures. He finally settled in Hawaii, where he met his wife, started a family, and began a career as a realtor. In 2019, he started trapping free-roaming cats in his neighborhood, and this proved to be the first step in a consuming dedication to helping cats: colony management, trapping and fostering. He lives in Kailua Kona with his wife, daughter, two rescue dogs and more cats than he would like to admit.

Lori Luchette Treasurer about aloha animal oasis

Lori Luchette
Vice President

Lori has been an animal lover since early childhood when she had a menagerie of stuffed animals rather than dolls. Her family has also included (live) furry members all her life. After a career in Silicon Valley, first in technology and then in real estate, in 2017, Lori moved with her gray tabby, Noni, to her favorite vacation destination, Kona, where she began volunteering for both a community TNRM group and the local animal shelter and adopted Archie, an orange tabby. She has been caring for a community cat colony, providing regular feedings and meds, as well as trapping cats to take them in for veterinary care, soliciting donations for their care, and organizing adoption fairs. She has certainly been earning her stripes as a ‘crazy cat lady’!

Bliss

Amanda Bliss
Chief Operating Officer

Amanda grew up traveling the world loving all the animals she met along the way. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and a CPA (inactive) license that led to a 20+ year career in corporate tax accounting. She now works full-time in property management and spends her other waking hours striving to protect and improve the life of the cats on Hawaii island. Her love of animals drove her to begin feeding community cats, but she couldn’t ignore the critical need to do more for their welfare. She started volunteering at AAO spay / neuter clinics and quickly became involved in every facet of the organization. This feline enthusiast brings her years of corporate experience and a lifetime love of animals to the fight to make the island a healthier, safer place for its animal and human inhabitants.

Additional Board members

  • Julie Surjan –  Chief Events & Marketing Officer for Valley Medical Center Foundation

  • Fiona Hamilton –  Retired International Marketing in the hospitality industry

  • Srimoyee Chakraborty – Technology Advisor

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