About Us

Lynn Morrison, PhD, is the President and Co-Founder of Action 4 Animals Hawaii—and she’s as loyal as they come! With 25 years of experience in rescue work and two dogs and five cats of her own, Lynn leads our A4A Doggie Brigade with a wagging heart. She’s always on the move, coordinating adoption events, organizing walks for kenneled pups, facilitating fostering and adoption, and working closely with rescues off-island (especially in Canada) to make sure our pups find their fur-ever homes. As an anthropologist, Lynn’s research dives into cultural attitudes toward animals and the realities of occupational stress for shelter staff. As a long-time cat foster too, she is dedicated to making life better for all animals and the people who care for them.

Meet Elaine Partlow, Vice President of Action 4 Animals Hawaii and one of our treasured cat foster mentors. With a background as a trained nurse and veterinary assistant, Elaine brings a wealth of expertise to our mission. For years, she has volunteered at spay/neuter clinics, expertly administering anesthesia and preparing cats for surgery. Elaine is a hands-on hero in the world of fostering, specializing in nursing sick, injured, or debilitated kittens back to health. From bottle-feeding and tube-feeding to administering subQ fluids, vaccinations, microchips, and more, Elaine’s skill set rivals that of a full-service animal hospital. She has a remarkable ability to tackle everything from ringworm to respiratory infections and is passionate about socializing fearful kittens to prepare them for loving homes. At home, Elaine is surrounded by her own joyful menagerie: six cats, two dogs, a parrot, seven miniature donkeys, a llama, and about 50 wild chickens! One of her donkeys even doubles as her driving partner with the Hawaii Carriage Driving Society. When she’s not caring for animals, Elaine enjoys life as a happily married vegetarian, an unwavering (if occasionally disappointed) liberal, and a proud Taurus. Her guiding philosophy is simple yet profound: "Peace and health to all beings!"

Lucretia Worster has been with A4A since 2022 and is, among other things, the Treasurer of Action 4 Animals Hawaii. Even with a house full of kitties of her own (all black and whites and tabbies!), she continuously maxes out her kitty foster space. In her past life, Lucretia worked in technology and communications and puts those skills to use as both a foster mentor and as Shelterluv administrator. She jokes that she spends more time in her car than at home, zipping around the island delivering medications, supplies, and cats. She truly believes that relationships, between Fosters and with other Rescues is, the key to battling the island’s animal crisis. It takes an island!

Meet Team French—Loretta and David! After retiring as educators in California, we settled in Hilo in 2016 to embrace island life. Alongside our family, we brought Tula, our beloved Labrador and the last of our Californian companions, who graced us with 16 and a half wonderful years before her passing. Today, our family includes Hazel, adopted from Rainbow Friends, and Malama, our “World War Covid” rescue from HIHS. We joined Action 4 Animals in November 2023 and have had the joy of fostering a few pups over the past year. However, our main passion lies in helping with dog adoptions at Petco, where we work to match furry friends with their forever homes. Beyond our dedication to animals, we share a love for Irish traditional music, bringing a touch of melody to every endeavor.

We are house trained, loyal, and know a trick or two—ready to help in any way we can!

Sandra Alstrand’s lifelong love for animals began in her early childhood with Zorro, her family’s big, charismatic Seal Point Siamese cat. From that moment on, animals—both cats and dogs—have been an inseparable part of her life. Sandi’s passion for animal welfare has led her to be involved in numerous animal-focused organizations over the years. Growing up in San Pablo, a small town in the San Francisco Bay Area, she got her start as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Richmond animal control facility. Soon after, she became a pivotal member of The Friendship Foundation, an Animal Assisted Therapy group. Alongside her Sheltie mix, Rajah, she brought comfort and joy to hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities for individuals with developmental challenges. Rajah, the undeniable star of the program, worked his magic until his passing at the impressive age of 18. After earning her BA in Social Work, Sandi continued her animal advocacy work before relocating to Pāhoa, Hawai‘i, with her husband, Dennis, in 2002. There, she became a cornerstone of Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary, where she initiated and coordinated the first spay/neuter clinics on the east side of the island. Her dedication to animal welfare inspired her to co-found Action 4 Animals alongside an extraordinary team of fellow board members. Today, Sandi divides her time between managing two community cat colonies, fostering animals, and caring for her own beloved pets, which include several cats and one dog. Alongside her animal work, she has pursued a Master’s degree in Consciousness and Transformative Studies and worked as a Case Manager and Mediator at Kuʻikahi Mediation Center. Now, she channels her expertise into her career as a Women-Centered Life Coach and Disaster Survivor Coach, empowering others while continuing to be a champion for animals.

Gerty is a proud pet parent to four dogs and five cats, which means her house is always full of wagging tails, purrs, and plenty of personality! She first got involved with Action 4 Animals by volunteering and opening her home to foster pups, and she hasn’t looked back since. Now, Gerty brings her creative and technical skills to the team by helping with website management, organizing fundraisers, and anything else that keeps our mission on track and our pups on their way to loving homes. From coordinating events to crafting the purr-fect posts, Gerty is dedicated to making sure every four-legged friend gets their moment in the spotlight and the chance to find their fur-ever family!

Aloha from Team French—Loretta and David! We’ve called Hilo home since 2016, after hanging up our chalkboards and retiring from teaching in California. When we moved, our Labrador, Tula, came along as the last of our Californian crew. She recently crossed the rainbow bridge at a wise 16 and a half years. Now, we’re proud parents to Hazel (a Rainbow Friends alum) and Malama (our pandemic pup adopted from HIHS). Since joining Action 4 Animals in November 2023, we’ve fostered a handful of pups, but you’ll usually find us at Petco helping dogs find their forever families. We’re passionate, reliable, and full of love for every wagging tail we meet! Oh, and did we mention? We also play Irish traditional music—so our lives are a lively mix of paws and jigs! We’re house trained, know a few tricks, and are ready to lend a hand (or a tune) wherever needed. If do, do; if can, can!

Paula Adams, Ph.D., is our lead for the Makuu Market events. She brings both a wealth of experience and a big heart for animal welfare to our team. Her journey in animal rescue began nearly 20 years ago, when she and her partner, Dennis, spearheaded a small TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) project with their neighbors on the mainland to manage a rapidly growing community cat population. Thanks to local animal welfare nonprofits offering advice, resources, and accessible spay/neuter services, Paula saw firsthand the incredible impact TNR can have on communities. This experience inspired her lifelong belief in the power of community involvement and animal welfare organizations working together to make a real difference. Paula and Dennis joined Action 4 Animals Hawaii in May 2023 as dedicated "cat cubby cleaners" at the Petco Adoption Center in Hilo, where they volunteer every Saturday morning. Stop by to say "Aloha" and maybe meet your new best friend! Paula took on the role of Secretary in July 2023, lending her expertise from nearly 40 years in the biotechnology industry and her Ph.D. in Toxicology. She continues to assist clients with regulatory affairs in their development programs through her consulting business. Paula and Dennis now call beautiful Pahoa home, where they live with their four indoor cats and care for a lively 15-member community cat colony!

Banka’s deep love and respect for all living creatures fuel her unwavering commitment to animal welfare. A vegan for over 35 years, she believes that action is the antidote to despair and encourages everyone to take meaningful steps to reduce suffering for animals everywhere. Banka’s guiding principles—humility, patience, kindness, and just the right dash of rebellion—shine through in everything she does. As a key member of Action 4 Animals Hawaii, Banka is a force for good, taking on a variety of roles (often accessorized with a little cat fur!). She feeds feral colonies, fosters kittens, and helps dogs on their journeys to forever homes, including driving them to the Kona airport. Banka is also a dedicated cubby cleaner at Petco, lends a hand with spay/neuter efforts through PetFix, and steps in wherever needed to make a difference for animals. Beyond her work with A4A, Banka volunteers at Magical Creatures Sanctuary, further expanding her mission to protect and care for animals in need. Her compassion, energy, and sense of purpose inspire all who meet her, making Banka a true champion for the voiceless.

Vivian Lin loves nothing more than spending her free time with the A4A pups, volunteering at adoption events and capturing the perfect glamour shots of our adoptable pets to show off on social media. By day, she works in Escrow—gotta fund those treat and toy splurges for her two very spoiled rescue pups, after all! When she’s not helping others close deals, she’s helping our furry friends find their fur-ever homes, one adorable photo (and treat) at a time.