Mayor Alameda Welcomes Plans for Air Ambulance Serving Hawaiʻi Island

Mayor Alameda Welcomes Plans for Air Ambulance Serving Hawaiʻi Island

County of Hawaiʻi Mayor Kimo Alameda applauded an agreement between the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, Inc. and Life Flight Network, LLC to operate an air ambulance on Hawaiʻi Island.

“This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing emergency medical services,” Mayor Alameda said. “This is an amazing opportunity that will add life-saving capacity across our island, especially in our rural areas. We want to mahalo the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation for their immense contributions to public safety on Hawaiʻi Island and we welcome Life Flight Network as an important partner for emergency response.”

The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation and Life Flight Network recently announced the signing of a Letter of Intent to expand air medical services in Hawaiʻi. To support this initiative, the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation purchased a twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopter, fully configured as an air ambulance, with donations from visionaries for Hawaiʻi’s healthcare needs.

The helicopter, which will be operated by Life Flight Network on Hawaiʻi Island, is currently being manufactured. Through integration with the County and State emergency response services, this air ambulance will be able to provide direct critical care transport to Oʻahu from any district on the island.

“The need for emergency air medical transport is constant, and every second counts in a crisis,” said Laura Mallery-Sayre, Executive Director of the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation. “The primary mission of both our non-profits is to save lives. This partnership is about expanding resources to ensure communities across Hawaiʻi Island have access to lifesaving care whenever and wherever it’s needed. We sought an organization with an impeccable safety record and a proactive approach to risk mitigation. With Life Flight Network, we found not only a commitment to safety but also a dedication to providing educational opportunities for community members pursuing careers or advancement in this vital field.”

The Airbus H145 is designed for rapid response, equipped with cutting-edge avionics, and offers a spacious cabin optimized for critical care transport. Its versatility and performance in challenging environments make it an ideal solution for providing life-saving medical care across Hawaiʻi’s diverse and remote regions.

As the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical provider, Life Flight Network has been delivering world-class ICU-level care and transport to the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West for 47 years.

“We are honored to have been selected by the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation to help strengthen Hawaiʻi’s air medical services and contribute to lives saved,” said Ben Clayton, Chief Executive Officer at Life Flight Network. “We are excited to bring Life Flight Network’s legacy of compassion and lifesaving service to the Island of Hawaiʻi while collaborating with and learning from local healthcare providers. Together, we can ensure residents and visitors have access to critical care when every second counts.”

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ABOUT THE DANIEL R. SAYRE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives in Hawai‘i. Since its inception in 1997, the Foundation has raised over $40 million in donations and pledged equipment, directly funding essential rescue equipment and training for the Hawai‘i Island Fire Department. This support enables the department to serve the local community and more than 1.5 million visitors each year. With 100% of donations invested into lifesaving resources or community service projects, the Foundation remains committed to enhancing emergency response capabilities. For more information, visit www.danielsayrefoundation.org.

ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK

Life Flight Network exists to fulfill its mission of saving lives through industry leading care and transport. It is the largest not-for-profit air medical service in the United States and is accredited by national and international accrediting bodies for safety, operations, and clinical excellence. Life Flight Network maintains its own FAA Part 135 Operating Certificate, offering ICU-level care during air and ground transport across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Headquartered in Aurora, Oregon, Life Flight Network is owned by a consortium of Legacy Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Providence Health and Services, and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. It was named the 2021 Program of the Year by the Association for Air Medical Services. For more information or to become a member visit www.lifeflight.org.