Blood Bank of Hawai‘i returns to Waimea with many donating to support young leukemia patient

Waimea resident Melissa Mitchell has been asking the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi to bring donation drives back to her community since the leukemia diagnosis of then 9-year-old Abel Walker in 2022.

She knew people wanted to help support the boy’s treatment, and the best way to do so for many was to donate blood. But blood drives stalled in Waimea, first because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and then because of a lack of available staff to run the drives.

But that changed today, with the return of the blood bank at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. It comes about a week after Walker, now 12, returned home after spending 100 days successfully recovering from his second bone marrow transplant in California at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center.

To show support, more than 200 people have signed up to give blood in Waimea.

And the other good news: “Abel is doing great,” said his mother, Malia Walker.

Abel Walker was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia three years ago and entered remission after chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. In 2024, he began fighting cancer a second time and entered remission again in April.

He has received at least 40 blood and platelet transfusions since being diagnosed.

Nick Perih, Director of Donor Recruitment and Community Relations at Blood Bank of Hawaii, said Waimea’s blood drive puts a face to the ongoing need for blood products in the state, particularly platelet and Type O blood donors.

Perih said blood and platelet donations are critical for people like Abel, who undergo chemotherapy as the treatment destroys platelets in blood, which aid in blood clotting and wound healing.

Abel’s dad, Greg Walker, said these transfusions were critical in saving his son’s life.

Before Abel’s diagnosis, Malia Walker said she didn’t know the different blood types or what they are used for.

“I just feel like if you’re not involved or if you’re not in a scenario where you need to know about blood, you wouldn’t,” Malia Walker said.

Mitchell said there are a lot of people in Waimea who want to give blood, but it was difficult when the closest drivers were in Hilo or Kona. But the response for the drive, she said, has been mind-blowing.

They started with 165 appointments and by Monday afternoon, more than 200 people had signed up for the event.

“Just to see our community come together and save lives is huge,” Mitchell said.

Greg Walker said donating blood is the best way to help kids and others like Abel in their battle against cancer.

“When they know someone who needs something, they jump in,” Greg Walker said of the Big Island community.

Blood Bank of Hawai‘i is the sole supplier of blood to all 18 local hospitals in the state. Perih said the nonprofit has daily inventory calls to ensure all the facilities have what they need.

Summer is an especially good time to donate, with the blood bank typically seeing a 15% dip in donations.

Following Waimea’s drive, the blood bank will set up in Kona on Wednesday and Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel on Kalani Street. Click here to schedule an appointment to donate.

Blood drives are held on Maui, Kaua‘i and the Big Island – in Kona and Hilo – three times a year to ensure that residents across the state have the opportunity to donate. The next drive in West Hawai‘i will be in October.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit bbh.org or call 808-848-4745.