Blood Bank of Hawaii launches Kaua‘i drive after severe weather flooding
Flooding around Hanalei and Kūhiō Highway gave Kaua‘i blood donations fresh urgency as Blood Bank of Hawaii opened three days of collection at the Sheraton in Kapa‘a. Every April donation also sent money to disaster recovery.
Flooding from elevated stream levels at the Hanalei River kept Kaua‘i on alert even as Blood Bank of Hawaii opened a three-day blood drive at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa‘a, turning a routine collection event into part of the island’s storm recovery response. County of Kaua‘i officials urged continued vigilance on April 10 as Kūhiō Highway remained under the effects of severe weather, adding urgency to a drive meant to keep blood supplies steady while the island was still dealing with flood impacts.
The drive ran Tuesday, April 14, through Thursday, April 16, at 650 Aleka Loop. BBH listed hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Appointments were preferred, though walk-ins were accepted as space allowed.
BBH said every blood donation made in April also triggered a monetary contribution to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Stronger Hawaii Fund, giving each visit to the donor chair a second purpose beyond the blood itself. The added donation tied Kaua‘i’s local collection effort to broader disaster recovery support across Hawai‘i as communities continued to recover from recent severe weather and flooding.
The Sheraton drive was one of the most practical ways for Kaua‘i residents to help, especially with blood collection on neighbor islands carrying outsized importance for statewide supply. BBH said it has provided a safe and adequate supply of blood, blood products and related transfusion services to Hawai‘i patients for more than 60 years, a record built on regular community donations like the one in Kapa‘a.
The resort site was not new territory for BBH. A Kaua‘i drive at the same Sheraton location was held April 15, 2025, and BBH’s public schedule also listed additional Kaua‘i drives at the hotel for Aug. 18-20 and Dec. 8-10. For donors who missed the spring window, those later dates pointed to a continuing need that would not end when the floodwaters receded.
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