Neighborhood Pet Caregiver · Honolulu

Care for pets in your own neighborhood.

Serve a compact local route with familiar pets, a written care plan and a prepared backup. Short commutes. Real employment, not an app.

$20/hourpart-time W-2

About $100–$500 in an active week. Base wages are $100–$360 at our 5–18 paid-hour launch range; the upper end includes eligible tips, premiums or bonuses. Assigned hours and variable pay are not guaranteed.

See the job
A HoloHolo walker with a golden retriever at Kakaʻako Waterfront

What this is

  • A part-time W-2 job at $20/hour, with payroll tax withholding.
  • A compact assigned territory. We match you close to home.
  • Familiar pets on recurring routes whenever possible, with a prepared backup.
  • Pet First Aid and CPR certification, paid for by us.
  • Required care, notes, training and between-client travel are paid. Approved gear is provided.
  • Backup coverage when life happens. You are not alone out there.

What this is not

  • Not a gig marketplace. No bidding, ratings roulette or commission taken from your stated wage or eligible tips.
  • Not guaranteed hours. The schedule moves week to week.
  • Not a full-time role at launch. It should fit what you want from a supplemental, variable schedule.
  • Not indoor work. You are outside in whatever the day brings.
  • Not a job you can be late for. A dog is waiting.

The standard

Every one of these is checked before a first solo visit. Clients read this page too, which is the point.

Eighteen or olderThis role involves independent client access, animal custody and field work. Applicants must be at least 18.
Background screeningAfter a conditional offer and written authorization, we use a compliant provider for a job-related review. No key or client access before clearance.
Pet First Aid and CPRCertified before your first solo visit. We pay for it and we schedule it. It is not optional.
References that answerTwo job-relevant references: at least one who can speak to your reliability, plus someone who knows your care, judgment or dependability.
Judgment, in writingTwo scenario questions in the application. We are hiring for what you do when something is wrong and nobody answers the phone.
Force-free handlingPositive reinforcement only. No prong collars, no e-collars, no jerking a leash to make a point.
A working phonePhotos, GPS check-ins and report cards go out from your phone before you leave. Every visit.

A day, honestly

Two different jobs in one shift. Both are on foot and both are in your neighborhood.

10:40am

Kakaʻako, floor 21

Fob in, freight elevator, two dogs from the same unit. You know the desk staff by name and they know you. Out and back in twenty minutes.

2:15pm

Kaimuki, back gate

Single-family yard, a senior lab who takes his time, meds with lunch. Check the pavement before you go. It is Hawaiʻi and the sidewalk lies.

You do not buy anything

The uniform, leashes, bags and safety kit show up before your first field shift. We maintain ordinary wear.

A HoloHolo walker in uniform with a golden retriever at Kakaʻako Waterfront
A uniform that earns its place Two teal polos, name badge and waist pack. The polos and pack become yours after 90 days.
Branded HoloHolo leash and waste bag dispenser
Safety gear, supplied Approved handling gear, bags, first-aid kit, cooling gear and pavement thermometer—maintained by HoloHolo.

What we pay for

Beyond the hourly. These exist because walkers who stay make better walkers.

Your pay stays yours$20/hour base, with no marketplace commission. Eligible caregivers receive 100% of client-designated tips.
Certification, paidPet First Aid and CPR up front. Fear Free and behavior coursework once you are established.
Neighborhood mobilityAfter 30 days and 20 paid hours, up to $35/month toward one approved HOLO or Biki option.
Full kitUniform, dual-handle leashes, harnesses, waste bags, first aid kit, cooling gear and a pavement thermometer.
Defined rewards$100 earned quarterly quality bonus, +$5/hour holiday-care premium, and $150 for an eligible successful referral.
A small territoryYou are not driving across the island. One neighborhood, walkable routes, no parking hunt.

Written eligibility rules apply. Hours, tips, premiums and bonuses vary and are not guaranteed. These programs begin only after payroll setup and required professional review.

The application

It takes about ten minutes. We read every one, and we reply either way.

Where in our Honolulu service corridor do you live? We hire close to the clients you’ll serve across Honolulu, from Salt Lake and Moanalua through town and East Honolulu to Hawaiʻi Kai. Tell us your neighborhood so we can assess a practical local route.
Does a supplemental, variable schedule fit what you want? Hours are not guaranteed. Tell us what kind of part-time schedule works for you—there is no need to describe other income.
When are you actually free? Field caregivers commit at least 12 predictable availability hours across three days. Tell us the schedule you can reliably keep, not the answer you think gets you hired.
Tell us about your own pets. Or the ones you grew up with. Or the neighbor's dog you walk for free.
Halfway through a walk you notice the dog's front paw is red and irritated. Write the exact message you would send the client, right now. Not a summary. The actual message.
Next visit the paw is worse and the client never replied. What do you do? This is the one that matters most to us.
A client's building has no lockbox allowed and you are running eight minutes late. What happens next? There is no trick answer. We want to see how you think.

Come walk with us.

Tell us your neighborhood and your availability. If it fits, we will call you this week.

Need an accommodation for the application or interview? Email drew@drewbuchanan.com.

Start your application