Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation’s Be a Lifesaver Hawaii Program Donates 127 AEDs to Hawaii Police Department, Bringing Island Closer to AEDs in Every Patrol Vehicle

HILO, Hawaii – December 18, 2025 – The Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation (HBMCF), through its Be a Lifesaver Hawaii program, announces the donation of 127 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Hawaii Police Department (HPD), significantly expanding the department’s lifesaving capacity across Hawaii Island.

Today’s donation includes 82 new AED units and 45 replacement units for aging devices currently in service. With this contribution, the Hawaii Police Department will have 220 AEDs deployed with patrol officers, bringing the department close to its goal of equipping every patrol officer with an AED in their vehicle. HPD currently has 268 patrol officers and approximately 503 sworn positions in total.

The $200,000 investment was made possible through a $100,000 gift 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.

“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 Hawaii Police Department is unique in that patrol officers use their assigned vehicles throughout Hawaii Island’s vast and rural geography, allowing officers to carry essential emergency equipment with them while on patrol and during community activities. Expanding AED access in patrol vehicles strengthens emergency response times, particularly in rural and remote areas where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Lives Already Saved

The impact of AED access is already being felt on Hawaii Island. Two recent incidents, one in Hilo and one in Kona, resulted in lives being saved through the deployment of AEDs, underscoring the critical importance of rapid defibrillation and early response in cardiac emergencies.

“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.”

Donor Perspective

“As a cardiologist, I know that early access to an AED can be the deciding factor between life and death,” said Dr. Richard Robbins, representing the Max and Yetta Karasik Foundation. “Cardiac arrest does not wait for proximity to a hospital. By supporting the Hawaii Police Department with this equipment, we are extending lifesaving care into neighborhoods, rural communities, and public spaces across the island. Lois and I are honored to support this effort alongside partners who share a deep commitment to community well-being.”

About Be a Lifesaver Hawai‘i

Be a Lifesaver Hawaii is an HBMCF initiative focused on strengthening emergency response and improving survival outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest across Hawaii Island. Through public-private partnerships, the program expands access to AEDs, supports training, and promotes community awareness around lifesaving interventions.

About the Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation

The Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening Hilo Benioff Medical Center while improving health outcomes for communities across Hawaii Island. Through donor support, strategic partnerships, and targeted investments, the Foundation enhances patient care, expands access to healthcare services, and supports innovative hospital-based and community-centered programs. Its work spans rural health, workforce development, community education, and emergency preparedness, ensuring lifesaving resources reach people where and when they are needed most.