Popoki Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission
of providing a safe, loving, healthy sanctuary for homeless cats on the island of O‘ahu.
We envision a world where all cats have a safe place to live their best possible lives
while helping to protect our endangered monk seals and ground-nesting birds.
Popoki Place is the missing link in the efforts to manage the thousands of cats roaming the streets, beaches and mountains. In addition to rescue groups, shelters, adoption sites, and Trap-Neuter-Release efforts, we will serve a critical role in helping solve the crisis of cat overpopulation.
A WIN FOR THE CATS
A WIN FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE
A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY
Founded in 2021, Popoki Place is operated by a dedicated group of cat welfare specialists and cat lovers who want to end the unnecessary euthanasia of cats merely because they are “homeless.” Our sanctuary is designed to give each cat, whether friendly or shy, a safe and happy home with all of its needs met, for life, in a secure enclosure. We are actively looking for the land we need to create the sanctuary!
Popoki Place is not open to accepting cats yet, as we are still under construction.
Popoki Place will consist of several large, open-air, fenced enclosures where cats can enjoy lives similar to the way they already do but in a safe setting. Cats will be available for adoption at your home or in place at the sanctuary. Look at our frequently asked questions for more information about our plans and what your donation will do to make our dreams come true.
As Popoki People, we believe that O'ahu needs this sanctuary to help ease the current cat situation affecting the community. When you join us by signing up or donating, you are saying that you want to be part of the movement to create this awesome sanctuary on O'ahu! Do you want to be a Popoki Person?
Popoki Place will be a forever home for stray cats that are in and/or pose the greatest danger but are not readily adoptable. All cats will be spay/neutered and receive medical care to support a long, healthy life in a secure enclosure. Cats can be adopted out, as we know that many just need time and space to bloom!
We believe we can protect cats and birds. Cats are just one of many threats facing ground-nesting seabirds. Our sanctuary would provide a humane alternative to culling as a way to remove cats from protected shoreline habitat.
Learn more about how you can help Hawaii's seabirds.
Cats carry toxoplasmosis, which can sicken monk seals. Cats cannot be vaccinated against it, so to reduce this threat, we must reduce the number of outdoor cats on Oahu. Litterboxes at the sanctuary will be carefully managed. Learn more about how you can help monk seals.
Whether we love cats or hate cats, we all want to reduce the number of feral cats roaming the streets. Popoki Place will provide a new and much needed refuge! As we grow, and increase awareness about the root causes of this crisis, the community will see a significant decrease in nuisance cats.
Wanting to ensure the safety and quality of life for the cats in our care, our Founder, Holly Holowach, took an intensive 4-month course with Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah through Southern Utah University. She had the pleasure of learning from two of the founders of the Best Friends organization.
We are working every day to secure land to create Popoki Place O‘ahu Cat Sanctuary. We need you! Come back often as our site will be updated often when we have more news to share with you! Read about our plans below.
Joining Best Friends Animal Society's call to creating a no-kill country by 2025, Popoki Place has committed to being a No-Kill Sanctuary. No-kill means that no cat will be killed merely because they are homeless! However, we will provide compassionate euthanasia when it is in the best interest of the cat to end suffering.
Popoki Place will have multiple large enclosures surrounded by secure fencing in a lush setting. Cats will feel like they are free-roaming but cannot escape the enclosure and will have all of their needs met. More details to come soon.
We will be an educational resource for schools and groups who want to learn more about the environmentally safe, responsible care of cats and kittens.
Preventing cruelty to all animals, especially cats who are in serious peril here on a O‘ahu, is a high priority.
Our primary goal is to provide safe, permanent housing for O‘ahu's overwhelming “unadoptable” feral population. All cats will receive medical care and live out their lives in a beautiful setting. Ultimately, all cats will be adoptable but if not, they will live their lives happy and content in a protected, safe, loving home with all of their needs met.
Our sanctuary will be open to visitors of all ages. We will have family day events with fun activities. There will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Vet Tech students will get hands-on training.
If you love cats, you can come visit.
If you don't, our cats will be off the streets and safe from harm.
A win-win for the cats and the community.
Our goals include protecting native endangered birds and monk seals as well as the cats. We understand that cats are a serious threat to these animals and we want to do what we can to protect them too!
We believe that it is not necessary to kill one species to save another.
SAVE THEM ALL!
Your support and contributions will enable us to help these animals. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
Now that you want to join us, please sign up on our mailing list so we can keep you informed when things happen! We promise not to send you lots of junk mail.