Blood Bank of Hawai‘i returns to Outrigger Kona Feb. 10-12 seeking O-negative

The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i has returned to Kona with a donor drive at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa’s Keauhou Ballroom from Feb. 10-12 as hospitals face an urgent need for O-negative blood. The drive is underway across multiple time slots, with a confirmed session on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and additional slots available on Feb. 11 and 12.

Local participation is pivotal on Hawai‘i’s islands, where geography and limited transport options make a steady blood supply essential. Big Island Now highlights that “only about 3% of eligible donors nationally actually donate blood,” a gap the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i is asking West Hawai‘i residents to help close. Organizers are urging first-time donors to participate and encouraging community members to invite friends: “Bring a friend, roll up your sleeve, and help save lives!”

The Keauhou Ballroom drive is located at 78-128 ʻEhukai St., Kailua-Kona 96740. For scheduling and information, the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i asks people to “Visit the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i website or call 808-848-4770 for additional information or to schedule an appointment.” Organizers also post updates to @bloodbankhawaii on social media.

Statewide, high school blood programs play an outsized role in the islands’ supply. Blood Bank of Hawai‘i notes that “In Hawaii, one in 8 patient doses of blood comes from a high school - high school blood programs provide up to 12% of the state’s blood supply.” BBH has spotlighted outreach efforts such as a recent visit by Senator Mazie Hirono to Kaimuki High School to promote donations and recruit a new generation of donors.

The Blood Bank is also responding to a seasonal falloff. BBH social posts warn that “hospital needs remain constant, but donations typically drop after the holidays. This year, that gap is especially concerning.” To boost participation, BBH runs outreach and partner promotions across the islands, including community drives and incentives tied to local businesses.

Blood drives on the neighbor islands occur regularly; Big Island Now reports that drives are staged three times a year on Maui and Kaua‘i and in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island, with the next West Hawai‘i drive planned for June. The Kona event is one in a series designed to keep donor pools healthy and local patients served.

For Kona residents, the immediate takeaway is practical: if you are eligible, consider making an appointment and showing up. With a specific shortfall in O-negative units, every eligible donation in Keauhou this week can directly affect hospital care and recovery for patients across the islands.