The new year means it’s time to renew your membership for 2026! Why be a member of the HVMA? Your participation in local organized veterinary medicine makes our voice stronger. We actively advocate to promote Hawaii’s veterinary profession in the eyes of the public and the legislature. We support you and your staff by keeping you up to date with important news that impacts you as veterinary health professionals, maintaining online resources, coordinating local veterinary disaster response, and bringing top-notch continuing education in Hawaii. Your dues help to support all of this and more.
Choose the automatic annual renewal option and never forget to renew your membership again! If you can’t remember whether you signed up for automatic renewals, feel free to email us to check before registering again. Automatic renewal option will be available until February 28. Your renewal date will be one year from registration.
We appreciate your participation and support!
Author: Site Administrator
AVMA News – January 2026
Greetings from your AVMA delegates! We recently returned from the January House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, where we reviewed and approved several small updates to the AVMA Bylaws.
We also spent time discussing two resolutions. The first focused on the importance of early socialization and training in animals. While there was broad support for the intent, it was noted that the language was written broadly enough to include wildlife, zoo animals, and other species for which human socialization may not be appropriate. Because of this, the resolution was referred back to the AVMA Board of Directors for refinement, and we expect a revised version—with clearer species-specific guidance—to return to the House in the future.
The second resolution addressed castration in camelid species, an area where the AVMA had not previously had a formal policy. Although policies already exist for other small ruminants and pigs, this prompted an important discussion about anesthesia and pain management. Your Hawaii delegates proposed strengthening the language to strongly recommend anesthesia and pain management for camelid castration. While this amendment did not pass—largely due to concerns about keeping wording consistent across species—we continue to stand behind the recommendation. Camelids are typically castrated later in life, often between 18 and 24 months of age, which raises additional animal welfare considerations. Our plan is to return this summer with a proposal to strengthen the language across all applicable species, improving consistency while still allowing veterinarians appropriate clinical discretion.
We also had two topics for the Veterinary Information Forum. One focused on educational standards for veterinary technicians; no formal action was taken at this time. The second addressed the role of allied organizations within the House of Delegates. In addition to state delegations, the House includes representatives from allied veterinary organizations that bring valuable expertise from specialized areas of practice. These voices are especially important when we’re discussing niche topics, like the aforementioned camelid medicine. There is some concern that changes in membership numbers could affect continued representation for certain groups, so a task force has been created to explore ways to ensure these perspectives remain part of the conversation. The National Association of Federal Veterinarians has been particularly engaged in this discussion, as federal veterinary positions may be impacted by ongoing workforce reductions.
Our next House of Delegates meeting will take place July 9–10, 2026, in Anaheim, California, alongside the AVMA Annual Convention. We’re hoping to bring forward our proposed resolutions at that time. Before then, we’ll be reaching out through a future newsletter to gather your input—so please keep an eye out. If you have experience or insights you’d like to share, we would truly welcome your involvement.
As always, thank you for allowing us to represent Hawaii and keep you connected to what’s happening at the national level.
Carolyn Naun, DVM
AVMA Hawaii Delegate
cnaun@armsofaloha.com
Jenee Odani, DVM, DACVP
AVMA Hawaii Alternate Delegate
Toxoplasma Research Study
Welcome to the new year of 2026! We are getting closer to our Toxoplasma study recruitment. We are still looking for volunteers to participate in our study to get more information about how common and what risk factors are associated with human toxoplasmosis in Hawaii.
The purpose of the study is to see how common toxoplasmosis is and to evaluate the risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in people living in Hawaii.
To be eligible to participate in the study, participants need to be between 18-65 years old, are generally healthy and free of severe health conditions (e.g. HIV/AIDs, cancer, immune-mediated diseases, etc), and have lived in Hawaii for at least 6 months or more at the time of study participation.
The study will involve one in-person visit to the John A. Burns School of Medicine campus in Kaka’ako clinics to complete a questionnaire and have ~5-10 mL (1-2 tbsp) of blood drawn from them. The study visit will take 30-45 minutes total. After completion of the study, ALL participants will be compensated with a $5 gift card to either Starbucks or Jamba Juice of their choice!
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in our study, please contact jching21@hawaii.edu.
HDAB Update
Did you know HDOA is now HDAB?
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is now the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Find them at https://dab.hawaii.gov/.
Here are some updates from HVMA Oahu representative and Veterinary Medical Officer Raquel Wong:
Animal Diseases
- Avian Influenza – HDAB has introduced a dashboard to follow HPAI testing performed by the Division. Dashboard can be found here.
- Equine Herpes Virus – Multistate outbreak associated with a rodeo event held in Texas in November 2025. Importation of horses impacted with additional conditions for veterinarians to attest horse did not originate from quarantined area. Reference here.
– Diagnosis of EHV is reportable to the Animal Industry Division
– Encourage horse owners/caretakers to practice good hygiene practices,
especially if attending events
Animal Movement
California has change import requirements for dogs entering CA for resale or change of ownership. There are new timeline and document review requirements for this category of movement. Link to CDFA here.
Meet a Board Member – Blaine Ishizu
New Graduate Rep
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Dr. Blaine Ishizu serves as the new graduate representative for the Hawaiʻi Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA). He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa before attending Colorado State University, where he completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2022.
Blaine currently practices mixed animal medicine at Veterinary Associates in Waimea, providing comprehensive general and emergency care for dogs, cats, horses, and livestock. He is committed to supporting Hawaiʻi Island’s pets and livestock through compassionate, community-focused veterinary care.
When he is not working, Blaine enjoys spending time with his three German Shepherds—Mana, Icee, and Anna—while exploring the Big Island. He looks forward to meeting everyone at the next conference.
Letter from the President – Winter 2026
HVMA President
Aloha, HVMA ‘Ohana!
The New Year is here, and we wanted to send a friendly reminder that it’s time to renew your membership with the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association.
Your annual dues directly fund the key activities that benefit you and our community:
- Advocacy: We support legislative work specifically aimed at advancing your veterinary profession here in Hawaii. There are several bills in the upcoming legislative session that could impact you!
- Continuing Education (CE): We organize professional development and educational events to support your ongoing learning. We are hoping to include more events throughout the year in addition to the annual conference.
- Network: We facilitate collaboration among Hawaii’s veterinary and animal advocacy groups, strengthening your professional connections.
Please take a moment to ensure your membership is current. Renewing your dues provides the financial resources we need to operate and support our shared professional interests across the islands.
Thank you for being a part of the HVMA ‘Ohana!
Aloha,
Dr. Heather Kihara
HVMA President
HPAI Detected on Oahu
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been detected again on Oahu as the migratory season starts in Hawaii. The October 2025 sample was taken from an ill migratory pintail duck found on the UH Manoa campus which died shortly after intake by the Hawaii Wildlife Center.
H5N1 influenza A is highly infectious among wild birds and poultry, and has been responsible for widespread culling of poultry flocks worldwide. As it has become endemic in the continental United States, HPAI infections have also been reported in other animals including livestock and cats. Human infection risk remains low and human cases have been primarily linked to direct animal exposure.
Please remain cautious when dealing with wildlife, particularly any sick or dead birds. Remind your clients to not feed wildlife or attract wild birds near pets or backyard flocks, and to avoid touching any sick or dead birds. PPE such as facemasks and gloves should be worn if necessary to handle sick or dead birds.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity may be contacted for consultation on any suspected cases: 808-483-7100, Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 808-837-8092 during non-business hours and holidays, Email: dabic@hawaii.gov.
As seabird fallout season also arrives (Nov-Dec), the public can still help with lost seabirds: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/seabird-fallout-season/#response
HPAI Resources:
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza
Letter from the President – Fall 2025
HVMA President
Aloha HVMA Members,
I’m looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming HVMA 72nd Annual Conference, taking place from November 5 – 9, 2025 at the Sheraton Princess Kaʻiulani Waikiki Beach Hotel in Honolulu.
This event is much more than our annual gathering. It’s a time to be inspired, to grow professionally, and to reconnect with each other. As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of veterinary medicine, our local conference offers:
- A robust continuing-education program, approved for 117 RACE hours (max 36 for veterinarians, 28 for veterinary technicians).
- Exceptional opportunities to network with fellow veterinarians, technicians, exhibitors, and thought-leaders in the field.
- A chance to reflect on our unique island ecosystem and how our practices can continue to serve pets, families and communities across Hawaiʻi with excellence.
In times of change and challenges such as staff shortages, shifting client expectations, and economic unrest, gathering together reminds us that we are stronger together. This conference is our moment to reaffirm our commitment to the profession, exchange knowledge, and leave energized for the year ahead. We believe this conference will leave you equipped with new insights, connected to peers, and inspired to continue the important work you do every day for animals and their people.
Thank you for being part of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association community. We look forward to seeing you for a week of learning, aloha, and professional rejuvenation.
Aloha,
Dr. Heather Kihara
CE- Hawai‘i Animal Law & Forensic Investigations Conference
We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming Hawai‘i Animal Law & Forensic Investigations Conference taking place January 8–9, 2026, at the ʻAlohilani Resort in Waikīkī.
This event is sponsored by the Hawaiian Humane Society, the National Animal Care & Control Association, Maddie’s Fund, the University of Florida, and the ʻAlohilani Resort.
We will be joined by Mike Wheeler, a specialist in animal law enforcement, and Dr. Adam Stern, an expert in forensic veterinary medicine, as well as other local and national experts.
If you are interested in learning more or would like to attend, please click the flyer below and complete the registration form provided.
HIEMA Disaster Training
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) has shared a bulletin with training and exercise opportunities regarding topics including but not limited to: volcanic crises, uncrewed aircraft systems, disaster management for public services, and more!
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