Blood Bank of Hawaii’s mission is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood, blood products and related transfusion services to the patients of our state.

Blood Bank of Hawaii opened its doors in February 1941 on the grounds of what is now The Queen’s Medical Center. Known then as Honolulu Blood-Plasma Bank, the blood bank served as a wartime agency under the Office of Civilian Defense, returning to its non-profit civilian status in 1943. Honolulu Blood-Plasma Bank officially changed its name to Blood Bank of Hawaii in 1946.

In the early years, blood was collected in glass bottles, hemoglobin checks were done via the earlobe, and a single van went around the island to collect blood. Services were expanded to included neighbor island blood drives and Hawaii’s unique ethnic population became nationally recognized as a source for many types of rare blood.

Today, state-of-the-art blood bags are used for collections, adequate iron levels are verified through technology, and blood is collected at two fixed sites, along with two bloodmobiles that travel to Oahu’s neighborhoods providing convenience for donors. Blood Bank of Hawaii adheres to the highest standards of safety and quality and continues its long commitment to providing a safe and adequate blood supply for Hawaii’s patients.

Blood Bank of Hawaii is accredited by AABB and is a member of America’s Blood Centers (ABC), the nation’s largest network of community-based blood programs. Blood Bank of Hawaii is licensed and regulated by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Kim-Anh Nguyen, MD, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Christopher B. D. Abbott
Senior Vice President
Bank of Hawaii

Darlene Blakeney
Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer, Wholesale Banking
First Hawaiian Bank

Joseph A. Ernst, Esq.
Employment Compliance, Employment Litigation, Labor Relations
Torkildson Katz, A Law Corporation

Keith T. Hayashi
Superintendent
State of Hawaii Board of Education

Elizabeth M. Ignacio, MD
Advanced Arthroscopic & Reconstructive Surgery, Sports Medicine
IMUA Orthopedics Sports & Health

Kevin M. Katsura
Director, Regulatory Non-Rate Proceedings
Hawaiian Electric Company

Brennon Morioka, PhD
Dean
University of Hawaii, College of Engineering