127 AEDs Donated to Hawaii Police Department, Expanding Coverage

The Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation announced a donation of 127 automated external defibrillators to the Hawaii Police Department on December 23, 2025, expanding lifesaving capacity across Hawaii Island. The donation included 82 new AED units and 45 replacement units for aging devices, bringing the number of AEDs deployed with patrol officers to 220. The gift follows a $200,000 investment enabled by a $100,000 contribution from the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation represented by Dr. Richard and Lois Robbins, and a $100,000 matching donation from Marc and Lynne Benioff.

The additional AEDs move the department closer to its goal of equipping every patrol officer with a device in their vehicle. The Hawaii Police Department has 268 patrol officers and approximately 503 sworn positions in total. Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna emphasized the life saving potential of the project. “We are deeply grateful to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation and its philanthropic partners for their continued commitment to public safety.” Said Interim Chief Reed Mahuna of the Hawaii Police Department. “All of these AEDs represent a possible future life saved. We have already had success with saving lives from the previous donation and we will keep working toward our goal of having each officer equipped with their own AED out on the road.”

The program is particularly relevant on Hawaii Island because patrol officers routinely use assigned vehicles while covering vast and rural areas, allowing them to carry essential emergency equipment during patrol and community activities. Faster access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, especially where emergency medical services face longer travel times.

Local impact is already evident. Two recent incidents, one in Hilo and one in Kona, resulted in lives saved through AED deployment, underscoring the importance of rapid defibrillation and early response. Lisa Rantz, Executive Director of the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation, framed the donation in human terms. “These are exactly the moments we think about when we make investments like this,” said Lisa Rantz, Executive Director of the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation. “Through the Be a Lifesaver Hawaii program, our goal is simple but profound: to put lifesaving tools into the hands of those who arrive first on the scene. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation and Marc and Lynne Benioff, we are helping ensure that more people on Hawaii Island have a fighting chance in a cardiac emergency.”

Be a Lifesaver Hawaii is an HBMCF initiative that expands access to AEDs, supports training, and promotes community awareness to improve survival outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest. For more information contact the Hawaii Police Department Office of the Chief of Police at (808) 935-3311.