Hawaii Approves Funding for Hospital Upgrades

HONOLULU — The state of Hawaii has approved $9.2 million for capital improvement projects, including the renovation of two state hospital facilities and other health care upgrades.

“These funds will help renovate and maintain facilities that are dedicated to the health and safety of Hawaii’s people,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie, in a statement. “The planned improvements will include the renovation of two hospitals on the neighbor islands that are in desperate need of repair. We are also grateful for the federal funds provided to the state that will be used to construct water treatment facilities throughout our islands.”

Part of the money will be spent on the Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii. The state has reserved $1.8 million to renovate the acute hospital’s patient rooms, bathrooms and office spaces. Water is leaking from patient bathrooms into the patient rooms and walls as a result of cracked shower tiles, which creates a potentially hazardous environment for patients, visitors and workers.

At the Leahi Hospital campus in Honolulu, $1.5 million will go toward a master plan study for the entire campus. The master plan would include new building construction and renovations of existing buildings, expanding long-term care services and exploring public-private partnerships, according to Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC). Another $748,000 will be used to renovate a vacated area on the campus to construct office and administrative rooms and work areas for the hospital staff. The renovation projects include removal of equipment, construction of walls, replacement of doors and windows, installation of lighting and electrical systems, and other health and safety improvements.

Construction funds totaling $1 million will be used to renovate the entire Kohala Hospital in Kapaau, Hawaii. Renovations include updating the parking lot, along with the electrical and hot water systems. The hospital’s incinerator will also be removed. The Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kauai will receive $172,000 to remove asbestos-insulated pipes that were discovered in a crawl space below the administration wing of the hospital.