our team
LEADERSHIP
helena lundblad
Founder & Co-Executive Director
Helena Lundblad, originally from Sweden, has always gravitated towards animals of all kinds. She spent much of her childhood around horses, and always had several companion animals in her home. Raised in a small town in the northern part of Sweden, vegetarianism or veganism was never something she was exposed to. It wasn’t until she was studying Public Health Science at the university that she started eliminating meat from her diet. At first it was mainly for health,and environmental reasons, but later on, when learning more about standard practices in animal agriculture, both Helena and her husband, Mathias went fully vegan in 2017 and started advocating for animal rights.
Helena moved from Sweden to San Diego 2012, and a few years after that she and Mathias relocated to Hawaii’s Big Island for his work. When searching for the property that would become their home, Helena knew she wanted the space to be able to have animals around her, but starting a sanctuary was never in the plans.
It was when an orphaned, four pound, wild goat named Janice came into their lives in 2016 that everything changed. Janice arrived with severe injuries to all of her hooves. It’s unclear exactly what had happened to her, but it appeared she had burnt all her legs. Her injuries caused two of her hooves to fall off, and the remaining two became badly deformed. Janice lived in the house for the first six months of her life while healing from her injuries and learning to walk in prosthetic legs. The bond between Helena and Janice grew very strong during that time – and with that bond also came the realization that, in all the ways that matter, there’s no difference between the species we call pets and the ones we call farm animals. Janice will always hold a very special place in Helena’s heart and is the reason Magical Creatures came to be.
Since founding Magical Creatures Sanctuary in January 2018, Helena has worked tirelessly to provide sanctuary to the many farmed animals on the Big Island who need rescue — whether from slaughter or neglect, wildlings who have been orphaned due to hunting or car accidents, or animals with special needs — and continue outreach and education efforts in the community.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Jill Vanderhoef first came to Magical Creatures Sanctuary after graduating from the University of St Andrews with a degree in Economics and Management—planning to spend just three months as an intern before starting a “real-world” job. Those three months changed the trajectory of her life forever. Experiencing the sanctuary’s magic firsthand ignited a lifelong commitment to animals and their welfare, and a passion for sharing that impact with the world.
Before returning to MCS in a leadership role, Jill spent four years working for Lindblad Expeditions as a Purser and Assistant Expedition Leader. Traveling the world and fostering connections between people, wildlife, and wild places deepened her belief in the healing power of compassion and coexistence.
Now as Co-Executive Director, Jill is helping to reshape and expand MCS—growing its programs, deepening its educational impact, and strengthening its role as both a refuge for animals who will live out their days in peace and a sanctuary for humans who need a place to rest, reflect, and reconnect. She is committed to honoring and learning from the Hawaiian community and culture that surrounds the sanctuary, ensuring that MCS’s work reflects the spirit of aloha and deep respect for the land and its people.
For Jill, Magical Creatures Sanctuary is more than a place—it’s a vision of how the world could be when kindness guides the way.
Co-Executive Director
Jill Vanderhoef
Melissa Peterson
Technology Manager
Melissa Peterson originally joined Magical Creatures Sanctuary as a local feed volunteer in 2018, right after arriving on Hawaiʻi Island from Pennsylvania. The lava evacuees (goats, sheep, pigs, and cows) had just moved in, and help was needed. She has a long time love of animals and rescue work with dogs and cats, and found that the residents of the sanctuary stole her heart. So much so that she was fostering piglets before a year had gone by: MCS's Nimbus and Jo!
She has had several different roles at the sanctuary since then. However, she still brings her family every week, feeds all of the residents, and is a storyteller to new volunteers about the history of the sanctuary and the individual residents.
With experience as a designer and developer of online educational technology, she recently took on the role of Technology Manager, managing the tech needs of the sanctuary and the website.
Facilities Manager
Animal Health Manager
Board of Directors
Lolita Perez Ayala, Board Chair - photo and bio coming soon!
Danielle Spitz, Vice Chair
Danielle Spitz is New York born and bred. As an only child, she frequently sought the companionship of animals. She met her husband Andrew as a young teen at a horse ranch his family owned and operated. During the years before they went off to college, they rescued and rehabilitated a variety of creatures, domestic and wild. After attending business school at the University of South Florida, Danielle worked in multicultural communications, assisting Fortune 500 companies with their international marketing campaigns. Within a few years, they relocated to Northern California for Andrew to pursue a career in veterinary medicine at UC Davis. Danielle was introduced to vegetarianism by vet student friends and eliminated meat from her diet. Danielle and Andrew then relocated to Santa Barbara, where they began working with ASAP Cats, a nonprofit organization that sheltered cats for Santa Barbara County. They created the Sponsor-A-Cat program in 2000 that is still a part of the fundraising efforts for ASAP Cats today. Danielle and her family relocated to the Big Island in 2012. Living in Waimea, they rescued their first goat kid in 2017, and their small farm quickly became home to other animals in need of assistance. Danielle met Helena and the Magical Creatures team while assisting with the placement of rescued cows and calves from a shuttered dairy. She currently serves on the Board of Directors.
Mathias Lundblad, Secretary/Treasurer - photo and bio coming soon!
Lucy Codron joined the MCS Board of Directors in April 2023. She has spent her whole career working in the nonprofit and social impact sectors, with experience in grantmaking, development, and philanthropy. Lucy was lucky enough to visit MCS in early 2023 and experience how special the sanctuary is in-person. She fell in love with the residents and was eager to get more involved with the organization. Lucy lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and dog, Rae.
Lucy Codron, Board Member
Pat VanEvery, Board Member - photo and bio coming soon!
Agnes Horvath, Board Member - photo and bio coming soon!
