Category: HVMA Updates

Meet a Board Member – Christine Nishimoto

Christine Nishimoto, DVM
Kaua’i Representative

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.

Letter from the President – Spring 2026

Heather Kihara, DVM
President, HVMA

Aloha everyone,

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

Pet Expo May 2-3, 2026

Dear Colleagues, Staff, and Friends,
It’s that time again when the HVMA celebrates National Pet Week (May 3-9) with the sponsorship of the Hawaii Pet Expo on May 2 and 3, 2026. The association has hosted this FREE community event for the last 34 years. This event continues to draw large crowds ( over 10,000 in the weekend) and is one of the few events that welcome the attendance of pets.

This year the HVMA booth will contain exhibits on topics such as pet myths, heat stroke, and other veterinary issues. We will once again have our snack bar and “Ask-A-Vet” area. This year we will need 5 volunteers (vets and/or staff) to effectively man the booth. We also need volunteers to man our Make-N-Take It booth, Foodbank/Info booth, Pet Snack Bar, Photo and Fundraiser booths, show marshals, and greeters.

The Hawaii Pet Expo would not have been such a success all these years, without the volunteerism of veterinarians, staff, family, and friends. Volunteers work a 2 hour shift and receive an Expo t-shirt. Lunch will be included for those who participate in the 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. shift. We can never have too many volunteers! Please sign-up and also help to promote the event by posting the Expo fliers and discussing the event with your clients. Your association delegates will also call you to remind you.

SIGN UP HERE

Sincerely,
Lissa Kam, DVM
Chairperson
Hawaii Pet Expo

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

HVMA BOOTH

  • Ask-A-Vet
  • Answer questions and encourage public to enjoy the educational displays in the booth

    GREETERS
  • Pass out programs, poop bags
  • Aid in helping attendees with strollers, wheelchairs, etc. through turnstiles
  • Smile

    FOODBANK & INFO BOOTH
  • Be able to answer questions, direct venders and public to booth area
  • Lost and found center
  • Be able to find security, expo organizers
  • Collection and packing of food donations
  • Collection of monetary donations
  • Coordinate volunteers (show where shirts are and their work areas)

    MAKE & TAKE CRAFT BOOTH
  • Help kids and adult with crafts
  • Encourage participation

    SHOW MARSHALS
  • Walk around exhibition hall and outside to clean-up spills and accidents (take poop to outside dumpster)
  • Mop areas where there has been accidents
  • Make sure exhibition hall doors are closed
  • Remind pet owners to keep dogs leashed or secured and have cats, birds and pocket pets in carriers for the safety of all pets involved
  • Assist exhibitors with removal of trash and put in outside dumpster
  • All cleaning supplies provided (poop bags, disinfectants, mops)

    SNACK BAR
  • Help pet owners create snacks for pets

    PHOTO BOOTH
  • Help public take their photos with props

    FUNDRAISER BOOTH
  • Sell fundraiser merchandise
  • Help purchasers decorate tote bags

SIGN UP HERE

2026 HVMA Scholarship Now Open!

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!

Please contact Dr. Jenee Odani if you have any questions. 

2026 Legislative Update

The 2026 legislative session has begun! Here are a few pieces of legislation we are tracking as we advocate on behalf of veterinarians in Hawaii:

  • SB 874 – Requires written prescriptions on request. HVMA submitted testimony to ensure the law would not cause undue burden upon veterinarians.
  • SB 2158 – Establish Vet Workforce Development Special Fund and Loan Repayment/Scholarship Program. HVMA supports.
  • SB 2086 – Requires any health care professional being sued to inform the licensing board within 30 days of filing and allows for non-economic damages. HVMA opposes.

Want to track bills of interest? Sign up for hearing notifications so you can submit testimony. Make your voice heard by your legislators!

2/2/2026 Update: SB 2158 has a scheduled hearing on Friday 2/6/2026. Submit online testimony to support this bill that will allow state funding to go toward supporting vet school graduates returning to Hawaii to work in the state.

4/3/2026 Update:
SB 874 – Requires written prescriptions on request. Still moving through, currently includes language supported by HVMA to avoid undue burdens on veterinarians

SB 2158 – Establish Vet Workforce Development Special Fund and Loan Repayment/Scholarship Program. Did not advance this session

SB 2086 – Requires any health care professional being sued to inform the licensing board within 30 days of filing and allows for non-economic damages. Did not advance this session

72nd Annual Conference Recap

Thank you for joining us at the 72nd Annual Conference at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel. This was a new venue for the HVMA, but we enjoyed being back in the heart of Waikiki and seeing friends old and new.

We had a packed exhibit hall with 34 exhibitors, 2 day of labs and workshops including orthopedic surgery, pain management, and fish medicine. Our 3 days of lectures featured 4 concurrent sessions with something for everyone, including a dedicated veterinary technician track. At the Annual HVMA Hui we were visited by AVMA Past-President Sandra Faeh and District X Director Dick Sullivan. We also enjoyed a wet but delicious Dinner at the Zoo on Saturday night.  

Save the date for our 73rd Annual Conference November 12-15, 2026 at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel. Registration will open in the summer. In the meantime, keep at eye on our conference website for more information!

2026 HVMA Membership Renewal

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!

Renew or apply today!

Letter from the President – Winter 2026

Heather Kihara, DVM
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 

Public Health Vet Joins Hawaii Department of Health

Ariella Barry, DVM, MPH
VMO, Hawaii Dept of Health

Please join us in welcoming Ariella Barry, DVM, MPH, who is serving as the new Veterinary Medical Officer with the Hawai‘i State Department of Health. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University and her Master of Public Health in Global Health from Harvard
University.

Ariella has a strong interest in One Health and disease surveillance, particularly zoonotic diseases with high prevalence in Hawai‘i such as toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, and brucellosis. She is dedicated to strengthening interagency collaboration across the state to enhance public health preparedness and response at the human–animal–environment interface.

Originally from California, Ariella is passionate about advancing public health through collaborative, evidence-based approaches that bridge veterinary and medical sciences. She also works as an Emergency Veterinarian. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and going to the beach with her German Shepherd.

Letter from the President – Fall 2025

Heather Kihara, DVM
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