Meet Nalu, Tripler Army Medical Center’s “Goodest Boy”

When pediatric patients at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, are feeling distressed, they can find comfort in Nalu, a two-year-old Labrador retriever and the cuddliest member of the TAMC team.

Nalu is a therapy dog, sometimes called a comfort dog. He supports the mental health of TAMC’s youngest patients by offering attention and unconditional love, helping to ease their anxiety, facilitate communication, and build trust with the medical staff.

Nalu has worked for TAMC’s Child and Family Behavioral Health Service and Pediatric Specialty clinic since March 2023. Prior to being matched with TAMC, he trained with Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, where he worked with children and adults with disabilities. Now at TAMC, he works under the guidance of two licensed clinical social workers to provide support for sick children and their families.

To learn more about how Nalu helps patients at Tripler Amy Medical Center and whether more therapy dogs are coming to the center, read this Army.mil story.