HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu is the least pet-friendly city in the United States, according to a new 2025 study. The report compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 categories that included affordability, health care access, walkability and outdoor amenities. Honolulu ranked 100th overall.
Here’s what the study found:
High cost and limited access
Pet ownership in Hawaiʻi’s capital comes with a steep price. Honolulu placed 92nd in the “pet budget” category. This category accounts for costs like veterinary care and insurance. Out of 100 cities, Honolulu had the fourth-highest veterinary care costs nationwide.
The cost of pet insurance also remains high in the region. While cities like Fort Wayne, Indiana, top the list for low premiums, Honolulu drops the ball on providing affordable care for our furry family members.
Wellness and care access are low
The city also ranked last in “pet health and wellness”. This includes the availability of veterinarians per capita.
Pet businesses are another area where Honolulu fell short. This included limited and low access to services like grooming, pet boarding and retail.
Outdoor options do little to offset poor scores
Despite ranking 12th in outdoor pet-friendliness, which included metrics like walkability and access to parks, Honolulu’s high costs and limited pet care infrastructure brought its overall score down. The city’s total score was 37.33 out of 100.
“The most pet-friendly cities aren’t just those where it’s cheapest to own an animal and take care of its health, although cost is definitely a major consideration. Many factors contribute to a good environment for pets, from the availability of vets and pet-friendly stores to the prevalence of parks and how walkable each city is,” said Chip Lupo, an analyst for the report.
You can click here to read the full report.
The Hawaiian Humane Society’s response
While the national study ranked Honolulu the least pet-friendly city in the U.S., the Hawaiian Humane Society said that’s not the full story.
“Let’s be transparent,” said Brandy Shimabukuro, communications director, Hawaiian Humane Society. “This study does a really good job of raising the awareness of barriers to pet ownership here in Hawaiʻi. What it doesn’t do is acknowledge that there are some really unique challenges to Hawaiʻi and having pets here.”
Shimabukuro pointed to a high cost of living and limited affordable, pet-friendly housing. “Affordable housing period is at a premium here, and it’s few and far between,” she said.
She also said local efforts are already underway.
“The City and County of Honolulu has their dog friendly parks initiative… That’s a huge step,” said Shimabukuro. “The fact that they even want to open that conversation and are actively seeking public input… is huge.”
And she pushed back on the report’s framing.
“I would push back on the fact that it’s saying we don’t have a pet friendly community here in Hawaiʻi. One in three households here have pets.”
You can click here to learn more about the Hawaiian Humane Society and their multitude of volunteer opportunities for walks of life.
In 2025, pet ownership costs in the U.S. are expected to reach $157 billion. With rising expenses and limited access to services, Honolulu remains the most challenging major U.S. city for animal owners.