Maui Humane Society, Beach Buddies Program ~ Volunteer on Vacation

At home and when travelling, we are always on the lookout for family-friendly ways to volunteer, get involved and give back to the community. So, when my issue of Hawaii Magazine arrived a few weeks prior to us leaving for Maui, I was thrilled to see information about the Maui Humane Society Beach Buddies program!

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The Beach Buddies program allows visitors (and locals) the opportunity to volunteer to take a shelter dog out into the community for some sunshine, exercise, mingling and aloha. Adorable, right?!

I’m so excited to share our experience with you, along with some information about the Maui Humane Society Beach Buddies program and how you too can sign-up to help a dog in need!

**Update: After writing this post, I learned that Lulu was adopted on the mainland through Maui Humane Society’s Wings of Aloha program! YAY!

Beach Buddies Basics

The first thing you need to know about the Beach Buddies program is that it is very popular and books up fast! The program is currently offered on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each date has only five volunteer spots available, as well as five wait list spots.

On the first of each month, the next month’s dates are opened up online for scheduling (I signed up on January 1st for our February 21st slot). I highly recommend signing up as soon as possible, once you are certain of the specific date you’d like to volunteer.

Maui Humane Society

There is no charge to participate in the Maui Humane Society Beach Buddies program, however a suggested donation of $25 is much appreciated to help with supplies and to keep the program running.

Our donated goodies!

We couldn’t resist picking out some items off their Amazon Wishlist to bring with us to donate. I never imagined my Hawaii packing list would ever include a baby animal nursing kit, flower leis for animal photo-ops and dog socks to keep little furry feet warm after surgery.

Meet Lulu Lemon… Our Beach Buddy for the Day

On the morning of our Beach Buddies experience, we were really excited to finally meet our furry friend. We had been anticipating this day for several weeks and couldn’t wait to get started on the outing our daughter had been planning for just as long!

Beach Buddies participants are asked to arrive promptly at 11 a.m. for a brief overview, and to sign necessary waivers and paperwork. Guests are asked their comfort level with dogs and given suggestions of dog-friendly places to visit such as hiking trails, beaches, parks and restaurants.

Maui Humane Society’s outdoor kennels.

Most of the Beach Buddy dogs are medium to large sized, so children are not allowed to hold the leash throughout the day. In addition, the harness and leash must stay on the dog the entire time they are in your care.

Breeds (and strength) of Beach Buddies dogs vary depending on animals eligible for adoption. Because available dogs are constantly changing, Maui Humane Society is unable to fulfill requests for preferences of breeds or sizes you would prefer to be (or not to be) paired with.

Check out that tortise!

During orientation, volunteers are given a backpack full of supplies needed for the day, including a beach towel, water bottle, bowl, poop bags, treats, and even a seatbelt. There are also information cards regarding adoption and emergency contact numbers.

After the backpacks were given out, it was time to meet our Beach Buddy! We were introduced to Miss Lulu Lemon, a quiet, energetic little gal, who was visibly excited and curious about us. So much tail wagging!!

Maui Humane Society Beach Buddies! Check out Lulu Lemon and her backpack!

Once Lulu had determined she approved of us, she wasted no time heading for the parking lot gate. She had already been bathed that day, and knew that it meant she was going on an adventure.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Lulu was eager to hop into our vehicle and chose exactly where she wanted to sit… the back row, near the window. She was patient with this first time “dog mom” as I fastened her seat belt adaptor to her harness.

On the lookout for adventure!

Our first stop of the day was the carwash… how boring, right?! It seemed it was probably Lulu’s first time riding through one, as she was a little nervous. She walked as far as she could between the seats, towards my husband, her favorite member of our family.

Lulu did great with some calming words of encouragement and petting and just as quickly as the carwash had started, it was over.

You’re a good girl, Lulu!

When planning our Beach Buddies day, we knew that we wanted to be at the beach for the majority of our time with our buddy. We just can’t get enough of the gorgeous Maui shores and ate a quick picnic lunch, at a local park, and then headed to one of our favorite beaches in Kihei.

Lulu was pretty thrilled to arrive on the shoreline and headed down to the water to check things out. She wasn’t really interested in swimming or splashing, just dipping her toes into the cool, ocean water.

Hello, ocean!

There were two activities that were by far Lulu’s favorite at the beach, running along the water and digging in the sand.

Lulu must’ve known when choosing my husband as her favorite person in our family, that he was a runner. I cannot tell you how many times the two of them ran along the water’s edge. I honestly don’t know which one enjoyed it more and I think Lulu spent more time at the beach with him that day than I did!

Can we run just one more time… please?!

After each running session, Lulu would return to me, the keeper of the treats and water (right, moms?!) for some much needed refreshment and rest. We had selected a spot on the beach that was under a small tree, so there was plenty of shade to escape the tropical sun.

Lulu and I spent most of our one-on-one time sitting under the tree, watching the waves roll in and the kids playing. There was also LOTS of digging in the sand! She couldn’t resist digging next to the towel I had laid down for her and several times accidently buried it.

Dig, dig, dig… she just loved it!

All of that exercise and digging is exhausting, so a few “pup” naps were squeezed into the afternoon too.

Dreaming of her “fur”ever home.

Throughout the day, several people stopped to chat about Lulu and her bright yellow “Adopt Me” leash. Lulu seemed to enjoy the attention and didn’t seem to mind being pet or approached by other adults.

Before leaving the beach, Lulu took one more run along the shoreline, pausing briefly to check out (from a distance) a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle basking on the sand.

Fun in the sun!

Back at the car, we tried to brush off as much sand as possible. It was literally everywhere on Lulu. She had done a great job of getting outside to play!

Lulu quickly settled into her seat and this time, instead of looking out the window, she laid down for a little shut eye.

Best Wishes Lulu

When we arrived back at Maui Humane Society, a staff member greeted us at the front entrance to take Lulu back for a bath, before settling her into her kennel.

Our five hours spent with Lulu went by very quickly! I never would’ve imagined that in that short amount of time we would’ve bonded with her and it would be hard to say goodbye (I say that as a “cat lady” too).

Mahalo, Lulu for a memorable day!

After saying our farewells to Lulu, we were given a form to fill out which included questions about where we went throughout the day and her behavior while with us.

Dogs often behave differently in a kennel setting than they would in the “real world.” The information provided by Beach Buddies volunteers is extremely helpful to Maui Humane Society for getting to know a dog’s personality and when helping people choose a dog to adopt.

Great report Lulu! Job well done!

Once our form was complete, we brought it inside to turn in and to take a look at the variety of Maui Humane Society items available to purchase. So many options to choose from to show your support!

Maui Humane Society Swag

As we drove away, we couldn’t help but look back and wonder what would happen to Lulu. Who would adopt her? Did she have fun with us? How long before she found her “fur”ever home? Was she bathed yet? Was she getting ready to eat dinner? Did she miss us?!

One question we knew the answer to was, “Can we do this again?”

Hope to see you again soon, Maui Humane Society!

Know Before You Go

If you are comfortable with dogs and have experience with them, we highly recommend volunteering with the Maui Humane Society Beach Buddies program!

We’ve included some information below that we found useful when planning our Beach Buddies day. We hope it helps you too!

• Address, Maui Humane Society: 1350 Mehameha Loop, Pu’unene, HI 96784
• Main Phone: (808) 877-3680
  • Extension 224 for Volunteer Programs
• Beach Buddies Email Address: beachbuddies@mauihumanesociety.org
• Age Requirements: You must be 18 years of age to sign-up for the Beach Buddies Program.
• How to Sign-up for Beach Buddies: http://www.mauihumanesociety.org/content/55023e863f81e/Beach_Buddies_Visitor_Program.html
• What to Bring:
  • Driver’s License and Credit Card: Make sure to bring your driver’s license and a credit card with you on the morning of your outing, as both are required upon check-in.
  • Extra Water: If you plan on taking your Beach Buddy to an area that doesn’t have access to drinking water, you may want to bring a gallon of water with you. Hawaii’s tropical heat can be intense, especially for active, furry friends. We offered water frequently and refilled our provided water bottle several times for Lula, a medium sized dog. Don’t forget water for yourself!

Read about our other Hawaiian adventures:

Maui

• Volunteering at O’o Organic Farm 
• Maui Ocean Center, Aquarium
• Stargazing at Haleakala National Park
• Best Snorkeling in Maui ~ Molokini Crater & Turtle Arches Cruise with Pacific Whale Foundation
• The Best Luau in Maui ~ The ‘Aha’aina Wailea Luau, at Grand Wailea Resort

Big Island

• Hilo Tropical Waterfall Tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail
• Kona House Condo
• Giving Back on Vacation: Hawai’i Wildlife Center
• Meet the Artist; Mattie Mae Larson of Upcycle Hawaii (Big Island, plastic pollution, marine debris, unique wearable art.)
• Upcycle Hawaii ~ A Peek Inside their Studio
• A Visit with Upcycle Hawaii to One of the Most Plastic Polluted Beaches in the World
• One Aloha Organic Shave Ice

Also be sure to check out our Top 30 Gift Ideas for Travelers. It is full of unique gift ideas for those in your life who love to travel… or to add to your own personal carry-on.  We’ve even included the one item we won’t go to Disney without! It might surprise you!