History

The Hawaiʻi Cord Blood Bank was founded in July of 1998 by Jana Hall, Ph.D. (Genetics) and Randal Wada, M.D. (Pediatric Hematology/Oncology). The program was initially piloted at the Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children, but is now also operating at the Queen's Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Castle Medical Center, and Tripler Army Medical Center.

This community based approach, and Hawaiʻi's unique racial demographics, make Hawaiʻi Cord Blood Bank a national model for a system of cord blood collection and banking that is truly capable of reflecting the full spectrum of ethnic diversity within the population it seeks to serve.

A smiling baby wearing a white knitted hat and outfit, lying in a wooden bed on a soft blanket, holding a crocheted teddy bear.
A sleeping newborn baby girl resting in a woven basket with pink blanket and a white headband with a bow.
A sleeping baby with curly hair lying on its side on a beige surface, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and white diaper.

From Vision to Lifesaving Impact: Our Journey

1997

Dr. Randal Wada & Dr. Jana Hall embark on a journey to help mitigate the challenges of finding cord blood donors for Hawaiʻi's ethnically diverse patient population.

An elderly woman wearing a white dress, pearl necklace, and floral lei speaking at a podium with a microphone, while a man looks on.

1998

Thanks to a generous donation from Emily Castle, HCBB is established as a pilot demonstration project at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children. Through a collaboration with Bloodworks Northwest in Seattle, umbilical cord blood collected on Oʻahu is flown to the mainland to be processed and stored.

Logo of The Queen's Health Systems with a crest and the text "The Queen's Health Systems" and "1869"
Kaiser Permanente logo with stylized blue figures and the company name in blue letters.

1999

Cord blood collections expand to Queen's Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. Kaiser Permanente Moanalua is the first Kaiser Permanente facility in the country to be involved in a public cord blood banking program.

Logo of Tripler Army Medical Center with a shield, a white cross, and a red flower

2000

HCBB becomes an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tripler Army Medical Center is added as a collection site and is the first military medical center in the country to be involved in a public cord blood banking program.

The logo of nmdp with colorful vertical bars and the tagline "Find Cures. Save Lives."

2002

HCBB becomes part of the National Marrow Donor Program network of Cord Blood Banks.

2004

First transplant from a unit collected in Hawai'i. Donated in 1999 at Kapiʻolani Medical Center, and transplanted to a teen with Acute Leukemia.

Logo of Adventist Health Castle featuring a stylized leaf design in green, orange, and blue with the text 'Adventist Health Castle'.

2007

Adventist Health Castle Medical Center joins as a collection site. HCBB now offers cord blood donation at all Oʻahu birthing hospitals.

An elderly woman and a middle-aged man smiling for a photo indoors.

2010

Emily Castle names HCBB as the major beneficiary of her trust.

2012

Transplanted units #99 and #100 go to the same patient. The units were collected at Kapiʻolani Medical Center in 2005 and 2010 from two different donor families.

Wooden door with a blue sign that reads 'The Emily O Castle Cellular Therapy Laboratory'.
Logo of Hawaii Cellular Therapy and Transplant Laboratory with a green DNA helix design.

2014

HCBB establishes the Hawaiʻi Cellular Therapy & Transplant Laboratory. To recognize Mrs. Castle's bequest, and to honor her generosity, the stem cell processing facility is named The Emily O. Castle Cellular Therapy Laboratory.

2016

Transplanted units #199 and #200 go to the same patient. The units used are from siblings born 6 years apart, both collected by Dr. Eesha Bhattacharyya.

A framed certificate from the Hawaii State Senate honoring and congratulating Hawaii Credit Union on its 25th anniversary, signed by several officials, with a gold seal at the bottom left corner.

2018

HCBB celebrates 20 years!

View Anniversary Booklet here.

Group of eight people, five women and three men, at a celebration dinner in a banquet hall. Some wear leis and floral skirts, and two women sit at a table with glassware and paper menus. The background has decorated lights and a window reflecting the celebration.

2023

HCBB celebrates 25 years!

View Anniversary Booklet here.

Certificate of accreditation issued to Hawaii Cellular Therapy and Transplant Laboratory by AABB for cell therapy activity in HPC processing, storage, and distribution, signed by President Aaron Tolain and Chair Kevin Sand.
Certificate for Cellular Starting Material Qualification issued by ABC Hawaii Cellular Therapy and Transplant Laboratory, valid from July 15, 2024, to June 30, 2026, signed by Melanie Sloan, Senior Director.
Certificate titled 'Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy' awarded to Bloodworks Northwest Cord Blood Program in Seattle, Washington, valid from December 5, 2024, to December 5, 2026, with a gold embossed seal at the bottom left corner, and a red vertical stripe on the left side with the word 'accredited' written vertically.

2024

Hawaiʻi Cellular Therapy & Transplant Laboratory receives AABB accreditation for cell therapy activities and accredited facility for cellular storage material.

Bloodworks Northwest receives NetCord FACT accreditation for cord blood collection.

2025 - Present

Looking Ahead

We are committed to focus on expanding community awareness, enhancing clinical collaboration, and strive to increase access to transplants for future recipients.

A woman and a man smiling and posing together indoors, with a framed picture of palm trees and a sunset on the wall behind them.