Sue Miyahara UH Foundation Fund

The Sue Miyahara UH Foundation fund was established in recognition of Sue Miyahara, wife of the late Dr. Allen Miyahara. Dr. Miyahara served as the Vice President to the AVMA in 1995, as well as ran meetings, answered all correspondence, and put together all the educational programs in the early years of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association and Honolulu Veterinary Society. 

As a follow up to the recognition of Sue Miyahara, a fund has been established via the University of Hawaii Foundation. This fund will be exclusively used for the Pre-Vet students at the University of Hawaii. All donations to the UH Foundation are tax-deductible.

For donation checks, please make these payable to:

UH Foundation (Memo: 126-6740-4 Veterinary Research/Extension) and mail/deliver to:

“It’s been 6 years since the passing of Allen Miyahara and his legacy still lives on. In the early years of the HVMA and HVS (Honolulu Veterinary Society), he did it all. He held these organizations together. He ran all the meetings, answered all of the correspondence, and put together all of the educational programs. And back then, he never got paid for doing any of this. He was always a student advocate. Along with Bob Nakamura, they ran the pre-vet program and from then on, more Hawaii students got into veterinary school. During this time, we had many meetings at the Miyahara’s house, and Sue was a very gracious host and fed us well.

In 1995, Allen served as the Vice President to the AVMA. His charge was to be a liaison officer for the AVMA and the veterinary schools. At that time, there were twenty-two veterinary schools. He went to visit eleven schools in one year and the other eleven schools the next. He would take the veterinary faculty out for dinner one night, and the next night he would take the students out only. He even established an 800 phone line, so the students could call him directly. Along all these trips, Sue was the navigator. She packed all the bags and kept Allen focused, so he could deliver his message from the AVMA. Previously, the SCAVMA organization had not been allowed to sit and be a voting member on the AVMA House of Delegates. A year after Allen was the VP, as a result of his recommendation, a Resolution passed allowing SCAVMA students to be represented at the AVMA House of Delegates with full voting rights and privileges.

Allen was a big proponent for the Human Animal Bond and established lectures given overseas. When they traveled internationally, Sue did the same; she kept him on course. She was the quintessential wife that was always in the background, giving her total support to Allen. She was the fuel for the fire.

In recognition of Sue Miyahara, we have established a fund, via the University Foundation. Dr. Odani, UH Veterinary Extension and Pre-Vet advisor, has graciously accepted to be the administrator to these funds. This fund will be exclusively used for the Pre-Vet students and the University of Hawaii. All donations to the UH Foundation will be totally tax deductible.”