Author: Site Administrator

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.

Save the Date – Hawai’i Animal LawDownload

Meet a Board Member – Heidi Choy

Heidi Choy, DVM
Oahu County Representative

Dr. Heidi Choy is a small animal vet currently practicing at Oahu Veterinary Clinic. She is originally from Mo’ili’ili and graduated from Maryknoll High School. She received her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from Santa Clara University and her veterinary degree at Purdue University in Indiana. After school, she moved to Seattle, where she spent six years working at Rainier Veterinary Hospital and volunteering at the Seattle Humane Society and PAWS.

In 2016, Dr. Choy returned to Hawaii to be closer to family. She spent many years as the treasurer for the Honolulu Veterinary Society.

Dr. Choy has a 13 month old little girl who keeps her busy! She loves traveling (especially to National Parks), hiking, solving escape rooms, and she has a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Bowie.

2025 HVMA Scholarship Recipients

HVMA would like to congratulate our 2025 scholarship recipients this year! We had a record number of applicants and it was very difficult to choose our awardees. Your dues help to provide these scholarships and support our local veterinary students – thank you!

Kylie Ebisuya
Washington State University

Kylie Ebisuya is a rising third year student at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine who intends to practice in small animal clinical medicine when she returns to Hawaii. She has a strong interest in organized veterinary medicine and serves as the WSU Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) President. She is also a WSU Clinical Skills lab peer instructor, a position that requires strong clinical skills, approachability, creativity, calm demeanor, and the ability to work with all types of people. Kylie received a B.S. in Animal Sciences and a B.A.in Japanese from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While an undergraduate student, she worked at The Pet Clinic in Honolulu and was active in the research laboratories of Dr. Birendra Mishra and Dr. Jenee Odani.

Eric Fukawa
Oregon State University

Eric Fukawa will also be starting his third year at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University this September.  Eric grew up in Mililani and is a proud graduate of Damien Memorial School Class of 2016.  His aim is to focus on small animal general practice with interest in small animal surgery. Eric is looking forward to coming back to Hawaii to serve his community when he graduates.

Letter from the President – Summer 2025

Heather Kihara, DVM
HVMA President

Aloha HVMA members! 

I can’t believe that we are half way through 2025 already! The PetExpo was a resounding success thanks to all of you, Dr. Lissa Kam, her wonderful staff at Ohana Vet Clinic, and her new extended ohana, Veterinary Solutions Inc! Just a few weeks ago, our wonderful AVMA delegates, Dr. Jenee Odani and Dr. Carolyn Naun, represented us at the AVMA convention in Washington DC and helped lobby for important animal welfare changes and discussed important topics like the Veterinary Practice Act Model. We are now looking forward to our HVMA convention in November and trying to find ways to make it better than ever! We will be trying another venue and hope that you will join us for our amazing speakers, wetlabs, and social events at the zoo! 

As a volunteer organization, I like to thank every member for your passion and helping to advance veterinary medicine and animal welfare in Hawai’i! If you would like to see any changes that HVMA can help with, please let us! Please keep in touch with us via email, facebook, or instagram! 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Heather Kihara

AVMA July 2025 Resolutions

These resolutions will be voted on at the AVMA House of Delegates meeting July 18-22, 2025. Please send comments/opinions to our HVMA House of Delegate Reps: Carolyn Naun and Jenee Odani

Resolution 9: Pediatric Sterilization of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

Resolution 10: Therapeutic Pet Food Health Claims

Resolution 11: Sow Housing

Resolution 12: Declawing of Domestic Cats

Resolution 13: Pain in Animals

Resolution 14: Model Veterinary Practice Act

Resolution 15: Mitigating Hazards in the Veterinary Workplace

One Health Lecture

Species-Spanning Medicine for Humans and Other Animals

Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz will be presenting a One Health lecture sponsored by UH John A Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz is a cardiologist and evolutionary biologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, Harvard University’s Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, and the School of Medicine at UCLA. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology and the natural world as sources of insights for human health and development. A leader in the field of evolutionary medicine, she co-chairs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research (BAHSCR). 

Zoobiquity, her best-selling popular science book co-authored with K. Bowers, was a finalist in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Excellence in Science Books Award, a Smithsonian Top Book of 2012, and a Discover Magazine Best Book of the Year. Her recently published Wildhood chronicles the transition from juvenile to adult biology and behavior across vertebrate species. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz earned her B.A. and M.A. at Harvard University and her M.D. at University of California, San Francisco. 

Her presentation “Species-Spanning Medicine for Humans and Other Animals” will be held at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka’ako.

Friday May 9, 2025
5:30pm
Room 102

RSVP here

Legislative Update – Spring 2025

The 2025 Hawaii legislative session is wrapping up. Here are the bills still winding their way through the legislative process:

It’s easy to stay informed and get involved in our local legislative process!

Toxoplasma Research Study

Dr. Jerrisa Ching Choe is still looking for participants for her study on the risk factors and seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis in Hawaiʻi. The purpose of the study is to see what risk factors are associated with exposure and/or latent disease against Toxoplasma gondii among human populations in the state. 

To be eligible to participate in the study, volunteers need to be 1) within 18-65 years old, 2) are generally healthy and free of severe comorbidities (e.g. HIV/AIDs, immune-mediated diseases, autoimmune diseases etc.), and 3) have lived in a Hawaiʻi household for at least six months or more at a time. The study involves one visit to the JABSOM campus to complete a questionnaire and have a small amount of blood drawn from them. All participants of the study will be compensated with a $5 gift card to Starbucks or Jamba Juice of their choice! 

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the study, please contact Dr. Jerrisa Ching Choe (PhD Student) directly. Mahalo for your time and consideration!