Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation and the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation Donate Lifesaving Equipment to Hawai‘i Police Department

HILO, Hawai‘i – August 26, 2025 – The Hawai‘i Police Department has received a generous donation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) from the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation and the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation represented by Dr. and Mrs. Richard Robbins.

The contribution will help equip officers with lifesaving technology that can be deployed in emergencies, significantly improving the department’s ability to respond to cardiac arrest incidents in the community. AEDs provide critical early intervention, often making the difference between life and death.

“There’s no single device our officers can carry that has more impact on saving lives than an AED, and our goal is to equip every patrol officer with one,” said Acting Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “With this donation, we now have approximately 70 in the field, and we will continue working step by step toward reaching that goal. The Hawai‘i Police Department is unique in that each officer uses their own personal patrol vehicle, which ensures they have all of their equipment with them at all times. By placing an AED in every vehicle, our officers have the ability to respond on or off duty. We would like to thank the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation and the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation for their generous donation, and we are excited to get these AEDs deployed into the field.”

“There’s no single device our officers can carry that has more impact on saving lives than an AED.”

– Acting Police Chief Reed Mahuna

Foundation Perspective

“This gift represents the true spirit of partnership and community,” said Lisa Rantz, Executive Director of the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation. “Through the generosity of the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation and Dr. and Mrs. Richard Robbins, we are able to put lifesaving technology directly into the hands of those who arrive first on the scene. Our mission has always been to strengthen rural health and safety across Hawai‘i Island, and ensuring every patrol officer has access to an AED is a powerful step toward that vision.”

Donor Perspective

“As a cardiologist, I know how vital it is to have immediate access to an AED,” said Dr. Richard Robbins, representing the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation. “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. By supporting our police officers with this equipment, we are giving our community the best chance for survival and recovery. My wife and I are honored to continue our legacy of philanthropy through the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation. This donation is about making Hawai‘i Island a safer for everyone.”

About the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation

The Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Hawai‘i Island residents through philanthropy, community partnerships, and strategic investments in healthcare access and innovation. With support from donors, the Foundation funds critical programs and services at Hilo Benioff Medical Center and across the island. Its initiatives include expanding rural healthcare workforce training, supporting community-based health programs, and improving emergency response capacity through investments like AED distribution.

This marks the third major donation of AEDs from the Foundation and its partners: 33 devices in 2015, 20 in 2020, and now 30 more in 2025, along with hard shell carrying cases, pediatric keys, additional pads, and accessories. Together, these contributions have equipped dozens of officers with the tools to save lives when every second counts.