Building a Lifesaving Blood Bank in Hawaii: A Story of Teamwork, Innovation, and Ohana
August 21, 2025
This summer, our Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center (VERC) in Honolulu reached a milestone that will change emergency care for pets across Hawaii: the launch of its own veterinary blood bank.
For years, critically ill dogs and cats on the islands relied on blood products flown in from the mainland. That meant higher costs, sourcing challenges, and—most importantly—delays in care. Now, with an on-site blood bank, VERC can collect, process, and store blood products right in Hawaii, giving pets access to lifesaving transfusions faster than ever before.
To support the launch, Ethos Blood Banking Director Jessie Brown, BS, LVT, traveled to Honolulu to train the VERC team on best practices for donor screening, collection, processing, and storage. “The team was eager to learn, asked thoughtful questions, and committed themselves to building a donor-safe program that reflects their fear-free hospital philosophy,” Jessie shared.
What stood out most wasn’t just the technical expertise—it was the spirit of ohana. In Hawaiian culture, ohana means extended family, and that same sense of connection defines this program. Every donor pet becomes part of a lifesaving network, helping patients they may never meet but whose futures depend on that gift.
Hawaii’s feline patients make this work especially important. Unlike the mainland, where most cats are type A, many cats on the islands are type B—a rare blood type. Having compatible feline blood readily available ensures these patients can get the care they need quickly and safely.
Here, the VERC team proudly holds their very first blood products, collected and processed on their own—a symbol of what teamwork, training, and shared mission can accomplish.
“As we celebrate this milestone in Hawaii, we are also looking ahead,” Jessie added. “Across our network, we continue to strengthen blood banking efforts to support our hospitals with reliable access to products. This work helps build a stronger, more sustainable foundation for lifesaving transfusion medicine in veterinary care.”
At Ethos Veterinary Health, stories like this are why we do what we do. From Hawaii to hospitals across North America, our teams are advancing specialty and emergency medicine in ways that change what’s possible for patients—and create meaningful career opportunities for veterinary professionals who want to make a difference.
Ready to join a team shaping the future of veterinary medicine? Explore careers with Ethos.
