Honolulu Honors Pamela Foster for Lifesaving AED Work

Mayor Rick Blangiardi officially recognized Pamela Foster for her long-standing efforts to expand cardiac emergency preparedness.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Safety

A modern metallic emergency cabinet mounted on a light concrete wall in a bright, airy terminal corridor, representing public cardiac safety equipment. — Honolulu officials honored advocate Pamela Foster on October 20 for her two-decade contribution to cardiac emergency preparedness across Hawaii. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi declared October 20 as Pamela Foster Day to honor her two decades of work in heart health awareness. The recognition coincided with a successful emergency response involving an automated external defibrillator at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Why it matters

Foster has been instrumental in increasing access to life-saving technology and training across Hawaii during National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Her work highlights the critical role of public access to AEDs in improving survival rates for cardiac arrest incidents.

The Operation Stay'N Alive program has placed 10,000 AEDs in local communities and provided free training to 200,000 elementary school students across 13 airports. These efforts have successfully saved 86 cardiac arrest patients.

The players

Pamela Foster

She is the founder of the AED Institute of America and a dedicated advocate for cardiac emergency preparedness in Hawaii.

Rick Blangiardi

He is the current Mayor of Honolulu who officially designated October 20 as Pamela Foster Day.

The details

On October 20, 2026, a bystander saved a non-breathing cardiac arrest patient at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport by using an AED provided through Foster’s initiatives. The AED Institute of America and the Hawaii Heart Foundation continue to coordinate this wide-reaching equipment distribution and public training strategy.

2004: Pamela Foster founded the AED Institute of America.
2006: The Operation Stay'N Alive program was implemented.
October 20, 2026: Mayor Rick Blangiardi declared Pamela Foster Day.
October 20, 2026: A cardiac arrest survivor was saved at the Honolulu airport.

Seasonal Patterns

The recognition of Foster aligns with the annual national focus on cardiac health awareness held throughout October. This honor reflects a broader trend of leveraging seasonal public health campaigns to highlight community-led emergency response successes.

Residents should familiarize themselves with the location of AEDs in public spaces like the airport to ensure they can provide immediate assistance. The successful use of these devices by bystanders underscores the importance of participating in community CPR and AED training programs.

The takeaway

Effective emergency response relies on both the availability of medical equipment and the public's willingness to use it during critical moments. Citizens can improve survival outcomes in their own neighborhoods by seeking out AED training opportunities provided by local health foundations.