Updates from the Animal Industry Division, Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture and Biosecurity:
Animal Disease
New World Screwworm News – Practitioners are encouraged to increase awareness regarding new world screwworm. The risk is very low for introduction into Hawai’i, likely pathways include dogs, horses and humans carrying maggots. Visit the USDA website for complete and up-to-date efforts to prevent introduction of this foreign animal disease into the United States. Link here.
Animal Movement
The Rabies Quarantine Branch recently launched an online application process for owners of dogs and cats that travel out and return to Hawai’i. The online application will allow owners to submit applications for entry, pay fees, and upload relevant rabies vaccination information. More information regarding the application can be found here.
Raquel Wong, Veterinary Medical Officer Animal Diseases
Christine Nishimoto, DVM, was born and raised on the west side of Kaua’i. She is a proud alumna of Kaua’i High School, and pursued her undergraduate education at Washington State University, where she received a Bachelors degree in Microbiology. In the spring of 2022, Dr. Christine obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently practicing as an associate veterinarian in her family practice, Paradise Animal Clinic – Kalaheo, Kauai, HI, as a small animal veterinarian.
Dr. Nishimoto has a passion for volunteer and community service. She is a proud member of her local Rotary Club of Poipu Beach and is the current president-elect for her club. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Washington State University Alumni Associate Hawaii Chapter.
As President of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, I want to share my deepest gratitude for making our recent social event such a success. It was wonderful to connect with all of you, and I look forward to the new opportunities for our members that will stem from our conversations.
Beyond the festivities, I am incredibly moved by your tireless dedication to providing relief and donations for flood victims across our islands. Your selflessness during these challenging times embodies the very best of our profession. As disaster relief shifts toward long-term recovery, we are hoping to partner on volunteer opportunities to provide community veterinary services in the hardest-hit areas.
Looking ahead, let’s carry this momentum into the Hawai’i Pet Expo on May 2nd and 3rd. This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire the public and celebrate the bond between people and their pets. I look forward to seeing our HVMA volunteers in action as we continue to lead with heart, expertise, and a shared passion for the animals we serve.
Best regards,
Dr. Heather Kihara President, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association
lhor Basko, DVM, beloved veterinarian and longtime member of the Kauai community passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, at the age of 79.
He is survived by his devoted wife and partner of 45 years, Jane Winter-Basko, whose life and work were closely intertwined with his through decades of shared purpose and compassion for animals and their community. He is also survived by his niece, Alona Dakhnenko of Ukraine, his only living family member.
Dr. Basko was born on February 13, 1947, in Aschaffenburg, Germany, the son of Dmytro Basko and Luba (Sawka) Basko. He later moved to the United States, where he pursued his lifelong calling in veterinary medicine.
After completing his veterinary education, Dr. Basko dedicated his career to compassionate and integrative animal care and eventually made Kauai his home. Over decades of practice, he became widely respected for combining traditional veterinary medicine with acupuncture, herbal therapies, and nutrition-based healing approaches, helping thousands of animals locally and internationally.
His Kapahi practice was known for its peaceful outdoor setting designed to keep animals calm and comfortable. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Basko educated pet owners through consultations, teaching, and his longtime radio program, “Pets and People in Paradise.” His book, Fresh Food & Ancient Wisdom, reflected his belief in nutrition and holistic care as foundations for animal health.
Known for his quiet kindness, humility, and deep attentiveness, Dr. Basko approached every animal with patience and respect. Clients and colleagues remember him not only as an exceptional veterinarian but as a mentor, teacher, and compassionate friend whose influence extended far beyond his clinic.
Dr. Ihor Basko passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love, the morning after celebrating his birthday on Friday the 13th — his favorite day of the year. We are deeply grateful that he was able to spend that special day in joy before his peaceful transition.
Dr. B was more than a doctor; he was a truly kind, generous, and giving soul. Everyone who met him experienced his remarkable knowledge, his gentle compassion, and the sincere care he brought to every interaction. He did not simply practice medicine — he lived it, with heart.
His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched and healed. It lives in his passion for Chinese herbs, in the comfort of his home-cooked recipes, and in the deep respect and care he showed for the human–animal bond. He taught us that healing is not just treatment, but presence, intention, and love.
Thank you for being part of his extended family and for the love you have shown him throughout the years.
With love and gratitude
Dr.Basko’s Team Staff@drbasko.com All Creatures Great & Small (808) 822-4229 https://www.drbasko.com/ https://www.drbasko.com/consultations/
The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association is pleased to announce that the 2026 HVMA scholarship application is now open! The application deadline is April 15th, 2026.
Interested veterinary students (1st-4th year, US citizens) currently enrolled in an AVMA-accredited doctoral program of veterinary medicine who graduated from a high school in Hawaii are eligible to apply. Please share this opportunity with any students you think may be interested!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.