Meetings On Fate Of Kahuku Hospital Set

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The future of Kahuku Hospital will be discussed at five visioning sessions through Sept. 22 at various sites on the North Shore and in Windward Oahu.

Remaining meetings are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Kahuku High School cafeteria, Sept. 15 at Laie Elementary cafeteria and Sept. 22 in the Sunset Beach area, site to be determined.

Sponsored by Koolauloa Advocates for Critical Health Services, the talks will cover the future and services of the 25-bed hospital, which is the only hospital between Kaneohe and Wahiawa.

Founded in 1929 as a plantation hospital, the facility was taken over by the state recently after it was set to close in November 2006 because of a $3.5 million debt. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is the current manager of the hospital, which was to be renamed Kahuku Medical Center on Sept. 1 when it assimilated into the state system.

“It’s crucial that the community comes out so the hospital knows ‘this is what we want for (the people) out here,‘“said Kelika Ishol, program director of KACHS, which formed last year to save the hospital.“In addition to that, our goal is to bridge the community, the hospital,physicians and HHSC.”

Also invited are state lawmakers, hospital administrators and HHSC staff, Ishol said, and refreshments will be served.

For details, call 388-6242.