Who we are
Our Mission
Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs builds greater independence and quality of life for those in Hawaii with disabilities by training and teaming them with service dogs.
Our Vision
To tap the healing potential of the human–dog relationship to improve the physical, mental and emotional well being of Hawai‘i residents.
We are
Service dog and healing dog trainers
Hawaii Fi-Do trains our own bred, exceptionally qualified service dogs, primarily for mobility, for people in Hawaii with disabilities. We also prepare and make our ‘healing dogs’ available for compassionate and therapeutic programs with veterans, children, seniors, and the hospitalized. Our goal is to provide greater independence and enhanced quality of life for isolated and vulnerable people including those with disabilities. We tailor each service dog’s training to suit our client’s needs regardless of ability to pay.
Volunteers
We are a grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and the only Certified Training Center on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In 2008 we were Internationally Accredited under Assistance Dogs International, Inc.
Our volunteer community has built Hawaii Fi-Do from the ground up. We have no formal training facilities; instead, our dogs-in-training live in the homes of our loyal and committed band of puppy raisers. By training in public settings, our puppies learn to ignore distractions—preparation for focusing on their future handler.
Community members
While we train our dogs, we work with our community to raise public awareness about service dog teams. And, we offer compassionate and educational programming in schools, eldercare facilities, on-base, and with US Veterans wherever they live in the islands.
Our funding comes mainly from generous individuals, businesses, and local human services grants such as Aloha United Way, and Friends of Hawaii Charities.
Did you know?
Service dog training requires approximately two years.
Each dog learns multiple skills
and
over
90 commands!
Before placing a dog with a client, we test for obedience, temperament, and health.
Meet our team
SUSAN LUEHRS, FOUNDER
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.
Kiley Esprecion, Program Director
Kiley joined us in 2023. Born and raised on Oahu, she returns home from Nevada where she worked for Heaven Can Wait Animals Society-Pups on Parole. At Heaven Can Wait Animal Society she was the Canine Program Coordinator-Dog Trainer/Behaviorist and spent almost a decade fulfilling its mission and rehabilitating canines and humans.
She received her BS in Criminal Justice and MBA from Chaminade University. Kiley enjoys the outdoors and loves spending time with her three senior rescues, Miloli’i, Elfie and Thumper. With Kiley’s compassionate heart, dedication, and expertise, she looks forward to focusing on our mission and vision.
Board of Directors
DARA FUKUHARA - Marketing/Public Relations
Chair
SUSAN TAMASHIRO - Retired Educator
Secretary
CHARLES CARDINAL - Retired U.S. Army
Treasurer
PAULA KALIMA - Financial Advisor
JOHN SEELY - Veteran
Service Dog Team
JODIE MILLER - ADI Certified Dog Trainer
JENNIFER RAAMS - Physical Therapist
Susan Leuhrs - ADI Certified Dog Trainer (Founder)
Advisory Board
JAMES KENNEDY - Retired Executive Director (Hawaii Fi-do)
SANDI MEEHAN - Retired IL Specialist
KAREN BERNSTEIN - Attorney