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Meet The Team
Lawai Diaz
Lawai Diaz is the founder, Chair of the Board, and Executive Director of Better Bunny. Lawai's journey into rabbit rescue and advocacy began with her first bunny, Cottontail. When she first welcomed him into her life, she didn't know much about rabbit care and made many beginner mistakes. With little awareness or resources available, Lawai took it upon herself to learn all she could. Through dedicated research and effort, she deepened her knowledge-and through it all, Cottontail remained patient and loving, teaching her invaluable lessons about resilience and compassion. A couple of years ago, while driving through a neighborhood, Lawai spotted a few loose rabbits that had been abandoned. That moment sparked her passion for stray rabbit rescue. As she began rescuing strays, she realized there weren't any rabbit-specific rescues on O'ahu. Seeing the need for a dedicated resource, Lawai was inspired to create one herself.
Sydney Cook
Sydney Cook is a passionate advocate for all animals and serves on the Board of Directors for Better Bunny, a rescue dedicated to the well-being of rabbits on the island of Oahu. As Secretary, she supports the organization's operations and brings her enthusiasm for animal welfare to its mission of creating a better world for rabbits and their human companions. Sydney believes in the transformative power of the human-animal bond, where mutual healing—both physical and emotional—can flourish. Her years of volunteering with animal rescues and sanctuaries have deepened her love for helping animals thrive. She has also completed specialized coursework on operating lifesaving animal sanctuaries through Best Friends Animal Society and Southern Utah University, enhancing her understanding of the unique needs of animal rescues. Through her work with Better Bunny, Sydney is dedicated to fostering a brighter future for animals, inspiring compassion, and encouraging community involvement. She is honored to be part of a team devoted to improving the lives of rabbits and raising awareness about their care.
Cris Wagner
Aloha! My name is Cris and I'm honored to be on the Board of Better Bunny! I have worked as an educator in many different capacities as well as been involved with several non-profits. Ever since college I have worked with rabbit rescue in one way or another whether it was fostering, adopting, or cleaning cages. Marley, in this photo, lived to be 15, and was one of the sweetest buns. We currently have Binky in our family, whom we adopted almost 6 years ago. My daughters are very excited to be involved as well, and are looking forward to getting more bunnies to their forever homes.
Melissa Burns
Melissa is a lifelong animal advocate and one of Better Bunny’s amazing board members. With over 20 years of rescue experience, she has cared for animals of all kinds—ducks, chickens, squirrels, horses, and so much more! Her passion for animal welfare began as a teen at the Los Angeles Zoo and grew into a lifetime of hands-on rescue work. Since moving to Hawaii in 2011, Melissa has played a key role in supporting local rescue efforts, sharing her expertise and unwavering dedication to animals in need.