Service Dog Programs and Trainers in Hawaii
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact the agency listed on this site or an attorney.
People in Hawaii who want a service dog often start by looking for service dog organizations in Hawaii that place or train dogs. This guide lists the three organizations we have verified information for. It says who each one serves, what kind of organization it is, what has been published about cost and waitlists, and how to take a first step.
It is a directory, not a ranking. The programs serve different people, so they are described side by side without scores. Where a detail is not published, the guide says so and points you to the organization.
What counts as a service dog in Hawaii
Two definitions apply, and they match on the core point. ADA.gov says a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Hawaii Revised Statutes 347-2.5, as shown by the Animal Legal & Historical Center, uses the same idea. The dog must be trained, the tasks must relate to the disability, and crime deterrence, emotional support, comfort and companionship do not count.
That means emotional support, therapy and comfort animals are not service animals under the ADA. A program that places true service dogs is teaching specific tasks, not just providing companionship.
Two other points matter before you compare programs:
- There is no official service dog registry and no required certification under the ADA. The Hawaii Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) says no state license, certification or ID is required, and it does not endorse private registries or sell certification.
- When a disability is not obvious, ADA.gov says staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform.
What ADI accreditation means
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition of assistance dog organizations. Accreditation is something an organization earns by meeting ADI's standards for how it trains, places and supports assistance dogs. It is a mark on the organization, not on an individual dog or handler.
Accreditation is voluntary. The ADA does not require a dog to come from an ADI organization, and a dog from one does not need a certificate to have access rights. A person can also train their own service dog. DCAB confirms that handlers may do this.
For a reader comparing programs, ADI accreditation is one signal about how a nonprofit operates. It does not say a program is a better fit for your needs. The accreditation status in this guide comes from each organization's own page or from news coverage, so confirm it with the organization or with ADI before you rely on it.
Programs at a glance
| Program | Kind | Serves | City | Published cost | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs | ADI accredited nonprofit | People with disabilities other than blindness; veterans with PTSD | Check the organization | Not published for current clients; ask the organization | Not published |
| Assistance Dogs of Hawaii | ADI accredited nonprofit | Children and adults with disabilities; hospital and courthouse facility dogs; veteran therapy dog teams | Check the organization | Assistance dogs and lifetime follow-up support provided free of charge, per the organization | Not published |
| Guide Dogs of Hawaii | Nonprofit | Blind and visually impaired residents | Honolulu | Continuity services free of charge, per the organization | Not published |
No private service dog trainer is listed in the sources used for this guide. See the trainers section below for what that means for you.
Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs
Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs is a nonprofit described in Hawaii news coverage as ADI accredited. Its listed service population is people with disabilities other than blindness, along with veterans with PTSD. A recent Aloha State Daily article on the nonprofit's new leader covers the organization.
Who it may suit
- Adults or children with mobility, medical, hearing or psychiatric disabilities who want a dog placed by an accredited nonprofit.
- Veterans living with PTSD who are interested in a task-trained service dog.
Points in its favor
- It focuses on service dogs for disabilities other than blindness, which is a wide range of needs.
- It has a veteran-focused track. A 2014 MidWeek article describes Labrador puppies trained as PTSD service dogs in its veteran dogs program, with an information session for veterans at its Haleiwa site.
Points to check
- Current fees for clients are not published in the sources used here. Ask the organization directly what, if anything, an applicant pays.
- The waitlist length is not published.
- The veteran program article dates from 2014. Ask whether that program is still running and what it covers today.
- The city is not stated in the sources used here, so confirm where training and applicant meetings take place.
How to apply
Start at the organization's website, hawaiifido.org. Ask about eligibility, the application steps, the cost to you, and the expected wait. Application details are not published in the sources used for this guide.
Assistance Dogs of Hawaii
Assistance Dogs of Hawaii is a nonprofit that its own site presents as ADI accredited. It has the broadest set of programs of the three. It serves children and adults with disabilities, places hospital facility dogs and courthouse facility dogs, and runs therapy dog teams for veterans.
Who it may suit
- Children and adults with disabilities who want an assistance dog placed by a nonprofit.
- Hospitals or courts interested in facility dogs, which are a different role from a personal service dog.
- Veterans who would like a therapy dog team to visit them at a local agency.
Points in its favor
- The organization states that assistance dogs and lifetime follow-up support are provided free of charge.
- Lifetime follow-up support means the relationship continues after placement.
Points to check
- The waitlist length is not published.
- The city is not stated in the sources used here.
- Its veterans' program, as described on its site, is a set of therapy dog team visits to veterans with physical disabilities, amputations and PTSD at local agencies around the state. A therapy dog team is not the same thing as a service dog placed with one veteran. Veterans who want an assistance dog for PTSD are pointed to the Assistance Dogs International site.
- Facility dogs work in a facility with a professional. They are not service dogs for a single person's disability, so do not expect the same access rights for them.
How to apply
Begin at assistancedogshawaii.org. Its veterans' program page explains the therapy dog visits and the referral to ADI for veterans seeking an assistance dog. Ask the organization about its application process, since steps are not published in the sources used here.
Guide Dogs of Hawaii
Guide Dogs of Hawaii is a Honolulu nonprofit that serves blind and visually impaired residents. It is the only one of the three whose listed service population is vision loss. That makes it a different path from Hawaii Fi-Do, which lists people with disabilities other than blindness.
Who it may suit
- Blind and visually impaired residents of Hawaii who want a guide dog.
Points in its favor
- It is based in Honolulu and has a clear, single focus.
- The organization states that its continuity services are free of charge.
Points to check
- The sources used here do not give ADI accreditation status for this organization. Ask the organization or check with ADI.
- The cost of the initial guide dog placement and the waitlist length are not published in the sources used here.
- It does not list service dogs for other disability types.
How to apply
Start at guidedogsofhawaii.org and ask about eligibility, the application, cost and timing.
Service dog trainers in Hawaii
Searching for service dog trainers in Hawaii leads to a gap in the verified information. The sources behind this guide list no private trainer, so none is named here. We will not guess at a business, a price or a credential.
What the sources do support:
- DCAB says handlers may train their own service animals. Working with a trainer is a choice, not a legal requirement.
- No state license, certification or ID is required, so a trainer's certificate does not create legal status for a dog. Under the ADA, what matters is that the dog is individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability.
- Be cautious of anyone selling a registration, ID card or certificate as legal proof. DCAB does not endorse private registries or sell certification.
If you decide to work with a trainer, ask about their methods first. Humane, reward-based training is consistent with the position of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB). Shock, prong and choke collars, alpha rolls, scruffing and dominance methods are not part of that approach. Also ask what tasks the trainer can teach for your specific disability, and how progress will be measured.
Dogs in training do not have public access rights in Hawaii
This catches many people off guard. According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center's 2025 table of state service animal laws, Hawaii is the one state whose public accommodation law does not cover service animals in training. The ADA does not cover dogs in training either.
Practically, a puppy or a dog still in training should not be assumed to have the right to enter stores, restaurants or other businesses. Plan training outings around places that allow dogs, and ask permission from the business first.
Programs side by side: who each may suit
| Your situation | Program to look at first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Disability other than blindness, wanting a placed service dog | Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs | Its listed service population is people with disabilities other than blindness |
| Veteran with PTSD wanting a service dog | Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs | It has a veteran dogs program, though the published article is from 2014 and the program's current status should be confirmed |
| Child or adult with a disability who wants an assistance dog with lifetime follow-up | Assistance Dogs of Hawaii | It serves children and adults and states that follow-up support is lifetime and free |
| Veteran who would welcome a therapy dog visit | Assistance Dogs of Hawaii | Its veterans' program sends therapy dog teams to local agencies |
| Hospital or court exploring a facility dog | Assistance Dogs of Hawaii | It lists hospital and courthouse facility dogs |
| Blind or visually impaired | Guide Dogs of Hawaii | It serves blind and visually impaired residents and is based in Honolulu |
| Prefer to train your own dog | Your own plan, with a trainer if you choose | DCAB confirms handlers may train their own service animals |
Questions to ask any program
Published details are thin in several places, so a first phone call or email matters. These questions work for any of the three:
- What disabilities and ages do you serve right now?
- What does it cost me, including any application, travel or equipment costs?
- How long is the waitlist, and how is it managed?
- What tasks are your dogs trained to perform, and how are they matched to a person?
- What follow-up support do you offer after placement?
- What are your training methods?
- Are you currently accepting applications?
Your rights once you have a service dog
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes 347-13, as shown by the Animal Legal & Historical Center, disabled persons have full and equal access to common carriers, lodging and places of public accommodation. A person may be accompanied by a service animal without an extra charge. The handler is liable for damage the animal causes. An unmuzzled service animal is not dangerous for that reason alone.
The same source says HRS 347-14 allows a fine of up to $1,000 against a person, business or agency that violates 347-13. HRS 347-13.5 lets an injured person sue for three times actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorneys' fees. These descriptions are summaries, so read the statute text or ask the agency below before relying on exact wording.
Hawaii also has a misrepresentation law. HRS 347-2.6 makes it unlawful to knowingly present a non-qualifying animal as a service animal. The civil fine is $100 to $250 for a first violation and at least $500 for a later one, on clear and convincing evidence. The law took effect January 1, 2019 under Act 217 of 2018. In 2018 the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said it does not enforce that penalty.
Housing is a different rule
Housing law is broader than service animal law. Under state and federal fair housing law, a person with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal. That includes support, therapy and comfort animals. A landlord may ask for some documentation. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission enforces HRS 515-3 and publishes a handout called "Assistance Animals as a Reasonable Accommodation in Housing." That position comes from 2018 Commission statements, so confirm the current approach with the Commission.
Where to take questions or complaints
The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission enforces HRS Chapter 489 (public accommodations), Chapter 515 (housing) and Chapter 378 Part I (employment). Its office is at 830 Punchbowl St., Rm. 411, Honolulu, HI 96813, and the phone number is (808) 586-8636. DCAB, at (808) 586-8121, handles general questions but not complaints. This guide states the law and is not legal advice.
Verdict
There is no single right program, because the three organizations serve different people. Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs lists disabilities other than blindness and veterans with PTSD. Assistance Dogs of Hawaii serves children and adults, and also runs facility dog and veteran therapy team work. Guide Dogs of Hawaii serves people who are blind or visually impaired.
Start with the one whose listed service population matches your disability. Then ask about cost, waitlist and process, because those details are not published in the sources used here. If you want a trainer, no individual trainer could be verified, so ask about methods and tasks, and do not pay for a registration or certificate that carries no legal weight.
Last, remember that a dog in training has no public access rights in Hawaii. Plan for that from the first week of training.
Sources
- ADA.gov, Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
- Hawaii Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board: Service and Assistance Animals
- Animal Legal & Historical Center, Consolidated Assistance Animal/Guide Dog Laws (Hawaii)
- Animal Legal & Historical Center, Table of State Service Animal Laws (2025)
- Hawaii Civil Rights Commission
- Maui Now, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission Weighs In on New Service Animal Law (2018)
- Aloha State Daily, Nonprofit that trains service dogs taps new leader
- Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs
- MidWeek, Hawaii Fi-Do veteran dogs program (2014)
- Assistance Dogs of Hawaii
- Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, Veteran's Program
- Guide Dogs of Hawaii