Who We Are
Pūlama i nā mea ola mai uka a i kai.
Protecting all creatures from mauka to makai.
Hawai'i Animal Kuleana Alliance cultivates the reciprocal relationship between our community and its animals by offering integrated services, cooperative networks, and disaster & emergency rescue services.
HAKA’s mission began in 2018, when Kīlauea volcano erupted and threatened the lives of countless animals. Alessandra and a friend quickly rallied together and started a Facebook group, the Hawaii Lava Flow Animal Rescue Network. Soon after, Syndi, Laurie, and other volunteers joined forces with Alessandra to form a cohesive team dedicated to saving these vulnerable creatures. By the end of the eruption, this grassroots effort saved and cared for more than 1,000 animals. In 2021 HAKA became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit in order to continue its goals of aiding the community and its animals during emergencies and disasters.
Our Team
Syndi Halualani Texeira
Executive Director
Syndi Halulani Texeira is a native Hawaiian, born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island. She began rescuing animals at age nine, saving stray cats, rats, and dogs… unbeknownst to her family. Syndi began her career in the legal field in New York City while continuing to foster and rescue animals. She continued her career, working for an international law firm and public relations agency, at the same time volunteering with several animal nonprofit agencies, including Animal Care Centers of NYC, ASPCA, Rescue Dogs Rock, 2000 Spays and Neuters, and Social Tees Animal Rescue. Eventually, she transitioned to working in animal enforcement and became a program manager overseeing spay and neuter, adoption events, and large-scale fundraising. Syndi brings her extensive experience and knowledge to the head leadership role of HAKA.
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku
Communications Coordinator
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku began her professional career at an affordable housing nonprofit, organizing after-school and summer programs, community events, and other services for low-income families of all kinds. Animals have always been a huge passion for Laurie throughout her entire life, so it makes sense that when she finally had the opportunity to help start an organization that it would be to help animals and their people. As a volunteer, Laurie helped care for medically fragile cats and kittens at the city’s shelter and the Austin Pets Alive! shelter in Austin, TX. Additionally, she volunteered for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, the Austin (now American) Pets Alive! No Kill Conference, and she was a founding member of the Friends of Austin Animal Center. Soon after moving to Hawai‘i, Laurie began volunteering with animals again, excitedly jumping into the fray during the 2018 eruption. She now works on HAKA’s corporate communications, grant writing, and youth programs.
Alessandra Rupar Weber
Compassion Coordinator
Alessandra Rupar came to Hawaiʻi via Austria. She began her career in the fashion industry and transitioned into entrepreneurship, co-founding several businesses, eventually striking out on her own with Divine Goods Hawai‘i and Vegan Aloha. In 2018, Alessandra co-founded the Hawai‘i Lava Flow Animal Rescue Network (HLFARN), a grassroots group that became the primary information hub for animal-related services during the Kīlauea eruption. After the eruption, HLFARN went on to rescue more than 400 cows from the shuttered Big Island Dairy. Alessandra is an active member of Animal Rights Hawai‘i and coordinates Big Island Veg Fest. Alessandra has a huge heart for animals and their people and is instrumental in coordinating community assistance and running the HAKA ‘Ohana Facebook group. Alessandra’s intimate relationships with animal lovers, animal advocacy leaders, and animal organizations support HAKA’s goal to aid spay and neuter efforts in our community.
Vanessa Jagow
Project Manager
Vanessa, originally from the Midwest, grew up with animals starting from a young age. She has worked with and owned several types of animals, including bunnies, cats, chickens, dogs, hamsters, horses, and different types of lizards. She has worked for Habitat for Humanity to help repair homes for kūpuna in need, and after moving to Hawai’i Island in 2021, joined HAKA to help with the animals of Hawai’i and meet new people. She started her professional career in telecommunications, eventually transitioning to project management. Vaness brings those organizational and time management skills to the HAKA team to help juggle all of the balls that are constantly in the air.