Aloha
Today, our brand reflects our growth and unity as West Hawaii Region, including Kona Community Hospital (KCH), Kohala Hospital, and Kona Health, a department of KCH. West Hawaii Region is a member of the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation, an agency of the State of Hawaiʻi established in 1996.
We believe that healthcare starts with a sense of belonging. For generations we’ve proudly served the West Hawaiʻi community with a simple philosophy: everyone who walks through our doors is treated like ‘ohana. We are here to offer not just quality care, but also comfort, compassion and connection.
West Hawaii Region includes more than 840 skilled employees and over 100 dedicated medical staff practitioners, many who have served here for over two decades. We are proud to be one of the largest employers in region, and we are even prouder to call this community home.
The moment you walk through our doors, you become part of our family and we are ready to walk with you through every moment, whether it’s a time of need, celebration or healing.
History of West Hawaii Region
The Kona-Kohala Coast has been the birthplace and home to a number of culturally historical individuals over the centuries, from King Kamehameha the Great who united the Islands under a single rule to Ellison Onizuka, the State’s first astronaut.
Along with museums, the numerous historical and cultural sites throughout West Hawaiʻi provide a perspective on developments that are the legacy of present-day Hawaiʻi. These range from Hawaiian archaeological sites such as Moʻokini Heiau in Kohala, the graceful Huliheʻe Palace and Mokuʻaikaua Church in Kailua-Kona, Waimea’s Parker Ranch.
Kona Community Hospital
Kona Community Hospital (KCH) was established by an Act of the Territory of Hawaiʻi in 1914 to “provide a hospital in each of the Districts of North and South Kona.” The original Kona Hospital was located approximately two miles south of today’s hospital in Kealakekua. The hospital became part of the County of Hawaiʻi in 1939 when it was relocated to a new building with a 50-bed capacity and four physicians. The hospital moved 100 yards up Haukapila Street to its current location on 11 acres in 1974. Finally, in 1994, the hospital’s name was changed to Kona Community Hospital by HB 3406 Act 011 SLH. Today, KCH is a full-service acute care, safety-net hospital and certified Level III Trauma Center, accredited by The Joint Commission and proudly serving the West Hawaiʻi community.
Kohala Hospital
Located in Kapaʻau, Kohala Hospital has gone through many changes since its first opening in 1917. Through its early years, it was known as a ‘stand alone’ healthcare facility for the people of North Kohala.
In 1962, the current structure was built and provided 24 long-term and four acute-care beds and offered emergency service 24/7. When the major employer, Kohala Sugar Company, shut down in 1975 the population declined and the hospital settled into a holding pattern.
In 2002, the Hawaiʻi State legislatures proposed closing Kohala Hospital in a cost saving effort. As a result, the community gathered support for the hospital to continue its role in managing the region’s health.
Today, Kohala Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with acute care services and a 24-hour emergency room. The hospital’s future is not only secure, but it has much improved capability for saving lives, a better quality of life for patients and offer a more pleasant work environment for its employees.