On Thursday, the Blood Bank of Hawaii officially opened its new Kapolei headquarters, the Clarence T.C. Ching Building, wrapping up about two years of construction. The 19,000-square-foot facility is set to serve as the islands' principal hub for blood processing, storage and training, built to preserve rare blood types and strengthen emergency readiness. The move shifts critical infrastructure to West Oahu and creates a secondary site away from central Honolulu.
The grand-opening ceremony also doubled as a cultural showcase. A traditional Hawaiian blessing opened the event, followed by a Chinese lion-dance performance and remarks from Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Queen’s Health Systems President and CEO Jason Chang, and Blood Bank of Hawaii President and CEO Kim-Anh Nguyen, according to Hawaii News Now. The new facility is located at 2212 Lauwiliwili St.
What the Kapolei headquarters will do
According to Blood Bank of Hawaii, the Kapolei building includes advanced temperature controls, integrated cold-chain storage and laboratory space designed to store rare blood types and to support clinical and laboratory training. BBH materials describe the site as a strategic addition to the state's emergency preparedness plan, providing geographic redundancy for the blood supply.
Funding and the Clarence T.C. Ching name
Building Industry Hawaii reports the roughly $25.9 million project was financed through federal and state funding alongside private donations, including a $1 million gift from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation that helped secure the building’s name. Local leaders and BBH officials credited the combination of public and philanthropic support with pushing the project to completion.
How to make an appointment
According to the Blood Bank of Hawaii contact information, the appointments call center is listed at (808) 848-4770 and general inquiries can be sent to [email protected], while (808) 848-4745 is provided for donation eligibility and test-result questions. Hawaii News Now listed (808) 848-4745 for scheduling in its story, so donors may want to double-check they have reached the correct department when calling. Donors can also find Kapolei donor hours and mobile-drive schedules on BBH's public information pages.
Why this matters for Hawaiʻi
The Blood Bank of Hawaii functions as the primary supplier of blood for the state's civilian hospitals, a role noted in local reporting and legislative discussions. That reliance makes the Kapolei hub an important statewide asset for routine transfusions and disaster response, according to Maui News.
Looking ahead
BBH leaders say the Kapolei donor center will complement existing Oahu locations and expand access for West Oahu residents while the Young Street, Dillingham and Waikele sites continue serving the rest of the island. Community leaders at the ceremony framed the new headquarters as an investment in resilience, workforce training and the long-term stability of Hawaiʻi’s blood supply.
