President, HVMA
As I reflect on the past two years as President of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA), I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our members for your participation, support, and dedication to our profession. Together, we have worked to strengthen our association and build a more connected, representative veterinary community across Hawaii. We have expanded our voluntary board to include more representatives from each island and representatives of the many aspects of the veterinary industry. We have supported our shelter and higher education colleagues in everything from disaster relief to legislation to scholarships. We have also increased opportunities for connection through our newsletter, events throughout the year, growing our social media presence, and continued support of signature events such as the HVMA Pet Expo in May and the HVMA Conference in November. These accomplishments reflect the collective efforts of our volunteers, board members, and engaged membership, and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, energy, and support.
Perhaps most importantly HVMA continues to advocate for our profession and the interests of both veterinarians and the clients we serve. One example of our political advocacy is our amendments to Hawaii Senate Bill 874. SB 874 requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription for animal patients upon a client’s request. The HVMA Board proposed amendments to the original draft of the senate bill to help ensure fair, practical requirements for veterinary practices. Our proposed amendments clarify that posted signage or electronic notification through a website or email is sufficient to inform clients of their right to receive a written prescription (instead of direct communication to each one), removed the requirement for drug label cautionary statements by placing that responsibility with the dispensing pharmacist, and provided a release of liability for veterinarians when clients choose to have a written prescription filled elsewhere. This work highlights the importance of having a unified voice in legislative discussions that affect our profession.
As I transition into the next two years as Past President, I will continue working with the DCCA Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine on clarifying and adjusting the language in the Hawaii Practice Act. I will also continue to support Dr. Lissa Kam, the current chairperson of the HVMA Pet Expo, and co-chair if needed (save the date- Pet Expo 2027 on May 1 & 2). Finally, I plan to keep doing what I do best: build meaningful relationships, connect people, and strengthen our veterinary community across the islands through networking. I hope to see many of you at the HVMA Conference, November 11–15, 2026, at the Sheraton Princess Kaʻiulani, where we can continue building connections, sharing knowledge, and strengthening our profession together. It has been an honor to serve as your president, and I thank you for your trust, collaboration, and commitment to advancing veterinary medicine in Hawaii.
Mahalo!
Dr. Heather Kihara
President, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association
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