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Plans Advance to Build the Kea`au Benioff Health Center

Plans Advance to Build the Kea`au Benioff Health Center

The 36,000 square-foot health center will provide critical healthcare to the people of the Puna and Ka`u Districts and Hawai`i Island

Hilo, Hawai‘i (November 14, 2024) – Plans to build the 36,000 square-foot Kea`au Benioff Health Center are advancing with the project’s Environmental Assessment (EA) published in the November 8, 2024 Environmental Notice. The health center, located in the heart of Kea`au, will provide urgent, primary, specialty and behavioral health care for people of Puna and Ka`u Districts and across Hawai`i Island.

“Our people in the Puna and Ka`u Districts have some of the state’s greatest healthcare needs,” said Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter, Chair of the East Hawaii Regional Board. “We are honored to put our full support toward the building of the Kea`au Benioff Health Center.”

“I am very pleased we are nearing a major transformation for healthcare in Puna,” said State Representative Chris Todd. “The needs of that community have gone unmet for a very long time and this is a critical step toward healthier families and better outcomes for our keiki.”

“For the past 2 decades, Puna had been leading the population growth in East Hawai`i,” said State Senator Joy San Buenaventura. “The Kea`au Benioff Health Center is a recognition of that growth. We also look forward to the behavioral health services that will be offered at this clinic; which services are in short supply throughout East Hawai`i.”

In recent days, a generous commitment of $25M have been made by Marc and Lynne Benioff and Hawai`i Governor Josh Green has pledged to work with the legislature to secure a matching $25M toward the construction of the $60M Kea`au Benioff Health Center.

“I am grateful for the generosity of the Benioff `ohana and the foresight and planning of Dan Brinkman and his team,” said Governor Josh Green. “Our administration is committed to finding a substantial portion of the funding to make this project happen to provide more healthcare access on Hawai`i Island. We will work closely with the legislature to be sure to meet everyone’s needs.”

“Marc and Lynne are fully committed to this project in Kea`au,” said Dan Brinkman, East Hawaii Regional CEO of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and Hilo Benioff Medical Center. “It is a continuation of a Benioff and Green partnership as a fundamental extension with Hilo Benioff Medical Center to continue the momentum to improve healthcare on Hawai`i Island.”

“We are excited to introduce this health center that has been in development for several years,” said Brinkman. “There are numerous benefits that come with a project of this scope and size that will improve access to healthcare for many generations to come and provide opportunities for meaningful careers in healthcare.”

About the Kea`au Benioff Health Center

  • • A one-story, 36,000 square-foot health center, providing urgent, primary, specialty, behavioral health care for children and adults, and imaging
  • • Located near Kea`au High School on a 9-acre lot
  • • $60M project paid for by public and private funding
  • • Anticipated completion is 2028

Kea`au Benioff Health Center Video

Click on link to view: https://youtu.be/4wFLrwCIv-A

  • • The case for the health center
  • • Project images and footage

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Media Contact:
Elena Cabatu
Director of Marketing, Legislative & Public Affairs at Hilo Benioff Medical Center
808.333.7223 | ecabatu@hhsc.org

EAST HAWAII REGION OF HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION
The East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, consisting of Hilo Benioff Medical Center (198 beds), Ka`u Hospital (21 beds), Honoka`a Hospital (77 beds), the Yukio Okustu State Veterans Home (95 beds) and the East Hawaii Health Clinics, delivers a full range of services and programs. The Region has 1,600 employees and a medical staff comprising 250 physicians, physician assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, representing 33 specialties. HBMC is the largest hospital in HHSC and Hawai‘i Island’s leading healthcare provider of primary and specialty care. Ka`u and Honoka`a Hospitals are Critical Access Hospitals, serving the most rural areas of the island. YOSVH opened its doors in 2007 as the first state veterans home in the state. Our network of rural healthcare under the East Hawaii Health Clinics spans throughout the Hilo, Puna and Ka`u Districts. The East Hawaii Region’s mission is: Improving our community’s health through exceptional and compassionate care. Our Region is part of the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation, a public entity established in 1996 by the State of Hawai‘i to fulfill the promise to provide quality, hometown healthcare. For more information, go to: www.HBMC.org, www.HonokaaHospital.org, www.KauHospital.org, www.YukioOkutsuStateVeteransHome.org, www.EastHawaiiHealthClinics.org.