Five Ways the Boo Boo Zoo Benefits Maui
For nearly half a century, the East Maui Animal Refuge has cared for abandoned, injured, and orphaned animals at no charge to the community. The Boo Boo Zoo does more than rescue animals. It strengthens Maui in ways that ripple through schools, families, and the island's economy. Here are five ways we benefit our community.
1. Building Compassion and Purpose in Young People
When a Girl Scout designs wheelchairs for disabled chickens, or a child from the Boys and Girls Club discovers that Mike the Goose has his own personality and preferences, something shifts. Meeting animals who've survived hardship teaches empathy in a way no textbook can.
Schools and youth groups across Maui, including King Kamehameha School Just Serve Club, Seabury Hall, Montessori School of Maui, and 4H, regularly visit the Boo Boo Zoo. Some kids come back to volunteer. Others launch their own fundraising projects. We’re helping to raise a generation of engaged, compassionate community members who know how to turn energy into positive action.
2. Providing Emotional Support Through Animal Connection
Stress hits everyone differently, but sanctuaries like the Boo Boo Zoo offer something simple and profound: the chance to slow down and connect with living beings who ask nothing of us but care. Research shows that time with animals reduces anxiety, relieves loneliness, and improves overall wellbeing. For Maui residents navigating the high cost of living, traffic, dual-earner pressures, and the aftershocks of recent disasters, sanctuaries provide access to therapeutic contact with animals.
The Boo Boo Zoo understands the need for that healing connection, whether they are families looking for respite, teens working through challenges, or individuals seeking comfort. In an island community still recovering from trauma, animal sanctuaries serve as quiet havens where people can find stability and peace.
3. Creating Volunteer Opportunities That Build Community
The Boo Boo Zoo runs on volunteer power. These aren't just people doing chores. They're building relationships with each other and the animals, forming bonds that strengthen the social fabric of East Maui.
Volunteer programs at animal sanctuaries give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to contribute something meaningful. They meet others who share their values. They develop new skills. They belong to something bigger than themselves. In a place like Maui, where community connection matters deeply, sanctuaries provide a focal point for people to come together around shared purpose.
4. Supporting Ethical Tourism and Repeat Visitors
Travelers increasingly seek experiences that align with their values. They want to spend money at places that give back, not exploit. Animal sanctuaries attract visitors who care about Maui's culture, environment, and animals. These aren't casual tourists, they're people who remember the island fondly and often return, bringing family and friends.
Ethical animal encounters also set Maui apart from destinations where animal welfare takes a backseat to profit. Sanctuaries like the Boo Boo Zoo offer something authentic: real stories of rescue and resilience, not performances or photo ops. That authenticity resonates with visitors who want to support local organizations making a genuine difference. When tourists visit the sanctuary, they often shop locally, eat at nearby restaurants, and spread the word about Maui's compassionate community.
5. Keeping a Half Century Legacy of Compassion Alive
The Boo Boo Zoo began in 1977 when Sylvan Schwab brought home injured animals to help his wife Suzie fight terminal cancer. Her love for those animals contributed to her recovery, and that love became a mission that has now endured for nearly 50 years. The sanctuary has cared for thousands of animals, never charging a fee.
That kind of consistency matters. It signals to the community that some values, care, compassion, commitment, don't shift with trends or economic pressures. It provides stability in an ever-changing island. And it reminds us that Maui is a place where people protect the vulnerable, whether human or animal. Preserving that legacy preserves part of what makes Maui special.
A Wise Investment
The Boo Boo Zoo doesn't just help animals. It helps build the kind of Maui we all want to live in: compassionate, connected, and resilient. Supporting the Boo Boo Zoo means investing in the health and character of our entire community. Please donate to help us continue our work.
