When you think about Hawaii, you invariably picture sparkling blue water, sun-kissed sandy beaches, luxury resorts, and lush rainforests. But hidden behind this idyllic veneer is a side of this tropical paradise you probably aren’t aware of: a stray cat population, half a million strong.

Given Hawaii’s geographical isolation, this staggering number of feral felines has originated wholly from the introduction of cats from the mainland, and is now one of the largest feral cat populations in the world¹. Irresponsible ownership and abandonment have allowed the population to explode, leading not only to the suffering of the cats in question but also to the decimation of native wildlife.

Organizations like the Maui Humane Society work tirelessly to manage these overwhelming numbers, but, as is often the case, there never seems to be enough money or people to make a large enough dent in this seemingly insurmountable problem, something one Maui resident, Mike Willinsky, decided to do something about.

Becoming The Cat Man of Maui

No stranger to animals in need, Mike started volunteering with animal rescue organizations at a young age. When he moved from Los Angeles to Maui in 2006, he assumed that things would be a little quieter. It took just two nights for this illusion to be shattered by the appearance of a mother cat and her two kittens at his door.

Mike wasted no time getting back into cat rescue mode. “I quickly realized Hawaii was years behind in terms of animal rights and support. We urgently need more resources and consistent public messaging to create real, lasting change.”

It is a harsh reality that most cats on the island don’t make it past their first year due to a combination of starvation, dehydration, road accidents, and deliberate killing by humans. Despite this, the feline population continues to rise, which is why Mike and his non-profit organization, Save Maui Cats, are on a mission to use the ‘Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage’ (TNRM) approach to tackle stray cat numbers.

The TNRM method is widely regarded as a more effective, not to mention humane, way to bring feral cat populations under control. Capture or cull techniques often result in population explosions as lowered cat numbers and increased resources lead to reproductive booms and migration of individuals from other areas. By contrast, TNRM encourages stability within colonies whilst gradually reducing the number of breeding cats. Socialized cats and kittens are rehomed as pets, but the majority are returned to their colonies once they have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped to allow easy identification of treated individuals.

By July 2023, the volunteers of Save Maui Cats were caring for around 450 sterilized cats across 72 locations every night. In August 2023, deadly wildfires devastated the island, and 150 cats were lost. Today, the team continues to look after 300 cats over 32 locations. Despite facing obstacle after obstacle, Mike remains dedicated to the cause.

“I do this because no one else is — and because these animals deserve better. We don’t take days off — not for illness, injury, or even during natural disasters. These cats depend on us.”

New Law, New Problems

Now Mike faces yet another devastating blow, this time in the form of a new law.

Passed in early August by the Hawaii County Council, Bill 51 prohibits the feeding of feral animals—including cats—on county property. Set to take effect January 1, 2026, the bill imposes escalating fines on violators and is framed as a public health and environmental measure.

“Maui and Hawaii are tourist paradises, but people won’t keep coming if they see starving cats dying in the streets,” said Mike. “Our work reduces suffering, controls the population, and actually prevents the exact problems tourism officials are worried about. But this bill ties our hands—and in doing so, it risks making the island less welcoming for everyone.”

He points to the failure of a similar initiative on neighboring Kauai: “They spent $1.3 million trying to eradicate all stray cats—including fixed ones—and killed 12,000. Within two years, 10,000 were back. Rescuers were asked to step in again—many refused. They didn’t just fail; they set themselves back by decades.”

In contrast, the success of the Lanai Cat Sanctuary is a perfect example of successful and humane feral cat management. Home to around 700 cats, the sanctuary has become one of Hawaii’s most popular visitor destinations.

Save Maui Cats is urging concerned travelers, animal lovers, and Maui residents to contact Hawaii’s tourism and government leaders and ask them to support humane, effective solutions over harmful policies:

• Hawaii Tourism Authority: hawaiitourismauthority.org
• Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau: mauivcb.org
• Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr.: mauicounty.gov

How You Can Help

Mike receives no support from national animal welfare groups. His efforts rely entirely on donations, local volunteers, and his own bank account.

“We have devoted nearly half a million dollars and sacrificed 2 decades of our lives making a difference. Through our passionate and dedicated work, we have helped fix thousands of cats and have helped stabilize West Maui, but we need your help now to continue.”

Please check out SaveMauiCats.org and please share. Even a little help can make a huge difference for so many.

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Feature Image Credit: SaveMauiCats.org

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