Hawaii Fi-Do was founded in 2000 by Susan Luehrs, who was trained at the Assistance Dog Institute in Santa Rosa, California.

Susan had great success using dogs to aid her in her previous profession as a special-education teacher at Kahuku High School. She noticed that when dogs were around, kids who were reserved opened up and became much more engaged. It was Susan’s love for dogs and desire to help people with disabilities that lead to her founding Hawaii Fi-Do. As lead trainer, Susan works daily with all our puppy raisers.

Katelyn has been a dedicated volunteer with Hawaii Fi-Do since 2018. Through her volunteer work with the organization, she lovingly fostered a retired service dog for the final two years of its life, offering comfort and companionship through its golden years. As a proud Army veteran, Katelyn joined Hawaii Fi-Do to give back by supporting fellow veterans, the local community, and people of all ages, from keiki to kūpuna.

She is a passionate advocate for mental health and is deeply committed to nonprofit work, thriving on giving back to her community. Katelyn earned her Master’s in Business for Veterans from the University of Southern California and brings a strong background in human resources, community engagement, caregiving, and a passion for marketing. Originally from California, Katelyn is excited to contribute to our mission and help the organization grow.