West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation: Strengthening Local Healthcare Together

In West Hawaii, our hospitals are more than just buildings; they are lifelines for our families, neighbors, and visitors. Every day, Kona Community Hospital (KCH) and Kohala Hospital (KH) provide essential care to our communities from routine check-ups to lifesaving emergency services. In a region where distances can be challenging and with limited resources, these hospitals stand as pillars of health and safety for our community.

Like healthcare systems nationwide, we face challenges: evolving patient needs, rising costs, and potential reductions in Medicare reimbursements. Providing care in a rural region like West Hawaii comes with unique hurdles: recruiting specialists, updating technology, and maintaining emergency readiness require significant resources, and therefore support in these areas is more critical than ever.

To meet these challenges, we have launched the West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that our community continues to have access to high-quality, compassionate care for generations to come.

The West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation serves as the official philanthropic arm for KCH and KH. Our mission is simple but vital: to fund programs, services, and improvements that elevate patient care, promote wellness, and expand access to healthcare across the region. By aligning charitable giving with strategic investment, we can strengthen our hospitals and outpatient services while building a healthier future for West Hawaii.

We have identified several critical priorities:

• Expansion of New Sites & Services: Funding strategic initiatives that increase access to specialty and primary care across the region.
• Supporting Critical, Emergency Needs: A major campaign that aims to raise $3.5 million to improve emergency services and critical care for West Hawaii.
• Healthcare Academy: A campaign to raise $500,000 to support workforce development, including educational opportunities for existing employees and students pursuing healthcare careers. This initiative will create pathways for local talent, addressing the workforce shortages and keeping skilled professionals here locally.
• Regional Approach: Strengthening collaboration across Kona Community Hospital, Kohala Hospital, and affiliated services to maximize impact and avoid duplication of resources.

This foundation is more than an organization; it’s a community partnership. Your support, large or small, becomes part of a coordinated effort to support the current and future needs of our hospitals. Together, we can ensure that our healthcare system remains strong, resilient, and responsive to the community it serves.

To learn more or support us, visit whrhospitalfoundation.org | amy@whrhospitalfoundation.org | call (808) 322-5866