For nearly two decades, Tails of Hawaii has been more than just a pet care provider — it’s been a trusted part of the community for Honolulu families. With services ranging from dog lodging and daycare to training, grooming, and even global relocation, the business has grown into one of Hawaii’s premier pet care destinations.
At the heart of it all is owner and operator Heather Manuel, who has guided Tails of Hawaii through growth, setbacks, and renewal — always with a deep love of dogs and the people who care for them. She works as the owner-operator.
"Our journey has been a mixed bag of exploration, growth, setbacks and more growth," she said, "I feel so very blessed to play with dogs all day while their owners have to actually ‘work’!”
When Tails of Hawaii opened in 2006, the concept of social, play-based boarding and daycare wasn’t widely accepted on the islands.
“Tails of Hawaii started as an absurd idea to give dogs a better alternative to boarding at veterinary establishments," Heather said. "Vets offered a needed service and no one in Hawaii thought to do it differently."
That “absurd idea” quickly caught on. Families realized that their dogs could enjoy structured play, enrichment, and safe socialization while they were away.
Over the years, Heather built a 40-person team dedicated to providing not just services, but a sense of community for pets and their owners.
"We started out as a family business with me doing the bulk of the work, including the overnight shift," Heather said. "Today we have a fabulous team and offer a cache of services to make each dogs visit a balanced experience.”
In 2023, Tails of Hawaii reopened in a brand-new facility in Pearl City, just off the freeway ramps and only eight minutes from Honolulu International Airport.
The new home features spacious play zones, dedicated lodging areas, and thoughtfully designed enrichment spaces. It was built to be both convenient for pet parents and comfortable for dogs and cats.
The relocation was a bold move. After shutting down for a year between 2022 and 2023, Heather and her team not only reopened but came back stronger than ever. Switching to Gingr helped make the move seamless and successful.
“We moved into a new facility and were quickly able to regrow our business," Heather said. "The marketing campaigns and familiar branding brought recognition."
Heather said Tails of Hawaii increased their revenue by 60 percent in the first year of reopening.
Tails of Hawaii used K9 Bytes for years before making the switch to Gingr, but Heather is the first to admit that the old system wasn’t meeting their needs.
“We used a subpar software for too many years," she said.
She and her team searched for an alternative that was "all encompassing" and could be customized to fit their specific processes.
"Gingr was flexible and gave us the ability to keep back end operations connected to front end operations," she said, "The bonus was being able to engage our customers! We love the accountability the program allows us to provide because information is always accessible.”
Aside from the broader operational optimization that Gingr provides, seemingly small features have made a large impact on how the team conducts business. Animal icons, which provide visual cues indicating specific animal behaviors and needs, have been a major differentiator.
“The icons are the most used feature,” she said.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for Tails of Hawaii, particularly with their pet relocation services — a key component of their business. Demand skyrocketed as families moved on and off the islands.
“During COVID, the relocation services we provide went through the roof," Heather said. "We had to separate our systems because the processes for each were very different."
Heather said her team had to share timelines and keep information up to date constantly.
"The ability to get information and share information on the go has helped us many times over when flights are delayed or other unexpected challenges require instant responses,” she said,
Gingr’s accessibility and flexibility became a lifeline during those uncertain times.
Tails of Hawaii offers what they call "Slumber Pawties" — overnight stays designed to balance activity, enrichment, and rest. Dogs enjoy structured play sessions, soothing downtime with music, and cozy comforts like mattress beds and fleece blankets.
Each pet receives:
This careful balance ensures that pets return home happy, healthy, and well-rested.
Daycare isn’t just a free-for-all at Tails of Hawaii. Their Elevated Play program focuses on smaller playgroups, personalized attention, and a daily schedule of activities. Full-day and half-day options are available, with rates designed to be accessible without requiring a membership.
Pet parents can also treat their dogs to spa-like grooming services, ranging from full shampoos and blow-dries to premium upgrades like blueberry facials, micro-bubble baths, and lavender de-shedding treatments. Grooming is tailored to dogs of all sizes, with attention to both health and comfort.
Perhaps the most unique service Tails of Hawaii offers is Tail Movers, a full-service pet relocation program.
This team handles everything from documentation and veterinary inspections to flight booking, crate preparation, and door-to-door delivery. Whether pets are traveling across islands or across the globe, Tail Movers provides peace of mind for families.
Specializing in international moves to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe, and beyond, Tails of Hawaii is part of the International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA), ensuring a reliable global partner network.
Their expertise has grown to the point where, as Heather notes, they’ve even shipped a lion!
For families relocating, Tail Movers provides:
At the core of Tails of Hawaii’s success is a commitment to accountability — something Gingr helps provide.
“When I am out of state, and a customer or employee needs information, I can quickly get caught up on what is going on," Heather said. "When you are able to have a high level of accountability your professionalism and reputation goes up, that is great for the bottom line!”
That professionalism has translated into both client trust and business growth. Today, Tails of Hawaii is proud to call itself Honolulu’s Best Pet Care, serving pet families across central Oahu and beyond. With a convenient location, comprehensive services, and a reputation for compassion, the business continues to embody its mission: treating every “fur-amily” member like their own.
And for Heather, the joy of the work never fades.
“I feel so very blessed to play with dogs all day while their owners have to actually ‘work,’” she said.
Tails of Hawaii is about more than pet services. It’s about careers, connections, and community.
“We have made a family with our staff and generated lifetime connections. The dogs are the glue and make the job a joy every day — you can't get tired of that,” she said.
With a little help from Gingr, Heather and her team have become true professionals — and power users — "hacking" their way into uncovering new ways to customize the system.
“We have been using the program for eight years and have become 'master manipulators' for our benefit,” she said.
That adaptability has made Gingr feel less like a tool and more like a partner in growth. Want the tools to help your pet-care facility grow? Book a demo with Gingr today!