Island Pacific Academy’s commitment to service shone bright at our recent fall blood drive, where our community came together to make a powerful impact. Partnering with the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi, IPA collected 64 viable pints of blood from 73 registered donors – surpassing our goal of 50 and setting a new school record.
“Island Pacific Academy is a model for what it means to show school spirit,” said Traci Takehara, Donor Services Senior Recruiter at Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi. “Even though your enrollment isn’t large, your commitment to saving lives is incredible and your blood drive achievements clearly display this high level of dedication. Please let your whole school know what a difference they have made for the state of Hawaii.”
The drive was led by Secondary students Mila Dul ’26 and Aiden Tan ’27 as part of their National Honor Society individual service projects.
Ruby Fernandez, Student Activities Coordinator and faculty advisor for the drive, reflected, “The first time I donated blood was also in high school. I was afraid of the process but knew it was important to give. Seeing new donors, especially our students and faculty and staff donate for the first time, brings a lot of joy to many of us who’ve benefited from blood transfusions.”
The results place IPA third in the state for highest percentage of donations in relation to community size—a remarkable achievement for a school of our size. Among the day’s 73 registered donors were 28 first-time participants, underscoring IPA’s spirit of generosity and willingness to step up for others.
IPA will host its next blood drive on Friday, January 30, 2026. In light of recent events, donations are needed more than ever. Our record-breaking results remind us of one simple truth – “Whenever you can, help!“
