When Hurricane Lala swept across Hawaii, the people caring for hundreds of cats at the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary had one overwhelming concern: keeping every animal safe. Powerful winds and heavy rain battered the property near Lānaʻi City, testing the sanctuary built to protect more than 700 cats. When the worst of the storm finally passed, staff were able to share the news they had hoped for. All the cats, affectionately known as the Lānaʻi Lions, were safe, even though the surrounding sanctuary had suffered significant damage.
Lānaʻi is one of Hawaii’s smaller inhabited islands, sitting in Maui County between Maui and Molokaʻi. Roughly 3,000 people call the island home, with most residents living in Lānaʻi City. Not far from the community is the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary, a refuge where hundreds of cats have room to roam in protected outdoor spaces. For the animals who depend on the sanctuary each day, its secure habitats and fencing became especially important as Hurricane Lala approached.
Critical Protections Held Through the Storm
Despite the intense weather, the sanctuary’s secure habitats and perimeter fencing remained standing. Those protections helped keep the more than 700 resident cats safely contained while rain and strong winds moved across the property.
The outcome offered tremendous relief for staff, but the surrounding damage quickly revealed how much work lay ahead. Floodwater had moved through parts of the property, while fallen tree limbs and scattered debris covered areas of the sanctuary.
Several structures were also badly affected. A newly built carport was destroyed, and a storage shed sustained heavy damage during the storm. Around 30 cat houses now need to be replaced as well. These shelters are an important part of the cats’ everyday environment, providing places where they can rest, retreat, and feel secure throughout the day.
The sanctuary estimates that the storm caused approximately $15,000 to $20,000 in total damage. Repairs will involve replacing damaged cat houses, restoring structures, clearing debris, and returning affected areas of the property to normal. Cleanup efforts began soon after the storm passed. Staff have already made enough progress for the sanctuary to reopen to visitors, even as recovery work continues throughout the property.
Through all the destruction, one fact has remained more important than the damaged buildings and scattered debris. The cats and staff survived the hurricane safely, and the sanctuary’s most critical protective systems worked when they were needed most.
For more than 700 cats who depend on this special place, Hurricane Lala left behind a difficult cleanup rather than a tragedy. As the sanctuary repairs what was lost, the sight of its Lānaʻi Lions safe in their familiar home offers a hopeful beginning to the recovery.