Dr. Richard Fujie
Dr. Richard Fujie
* Dr. Fujie has retired from practice as of December 2023. He is enjoying retirement with his family. You might catch him at one of the CFA cat shows or other community pet events.
Dr. Fujie grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii, where his favorite outdoor activities were surfing, fishing, and free diving. In addition to his love for nature, he was active in baseball, scouting, student government, church, and the YMCA Model Legislature.
He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his Bachelor of Arts in Zoology and a Master of Science in Animal Science. During his undergraduate studies, he spent a semester as a biology teaching assistant at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. One of the best summers of his life was working on the Kona Coast for the UH Sea Grant Marine Options Program as a research assistant. He was part of a team of five scientists that completed a biological survey of the coastal brackish ponds from Puoko to Keahole. The discovery of a new species of invertebrate was the highlight of his summer.
At Washington State University, Dr. Fujie did a concurrent degree program and received his DVM and PhD. His doctoral research focused on the effects of a new antimicrobial drug on the renal function of poultry. He then gained practical experience by working at Sorrento Animal Hospital in Portland, Oregon, for two years after graduation. Returning to Hawaii, Dr. Fujie worked for the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture for a year before practicing small animal medicine for 20 years at Kahala Pet Hospital. He also served on the State of Hawaii Veterinary Licensing Board and the Executive Board of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association. He was also was an active participant in the Hawaii Pet Expo planning committee for over 15 years.