Kaʻū Hospital & Clinic Expansion Project
The first and only elevator in Ka‘ū! L-R: Jay Taganas, Ka’u Hospital Building Construction and Maintenance Supervisor II; Tre Soultz, NAN Project Manager; Erika Polido, Assistant Hospital Administrator in Training
By Elena Cabatu, Director of Marketing, Legislative & Public Affairs, Hilo Medical Center
Funded by the state of Hawaiʻi, groundbreaking for the $9 million project to upgrade and modernize the Kaʻū facility began in December 2024 and will be completed over four phases.
Hospital Administrator Erika Polido shared, “We have nearly completed Phase 1. The Business office has moved downstairs. Phase 2 is almost halfway done, giving clinical labs a brand new space. The hospital will then get a brand-new entrance for the Emergency Department and hospital patients.”
About the Expansion Project:
Five exam rooms added to the existing four exam rooms in the clinic for primary care and behavioral health for a total of nine
Updating clinic interior, new flooring, paint and ceiling tiles
Relocation of administration and business offices to the lower level
Relocation and updating the laboratory
Upgrading wastewater infrastructure
Phase 1 completion:
Business office space, bill payment, billing questions, medical records
New computer lab for staff for education/training etc.
New conference room for staff meetings, education and training etc.
New EVS storage
New elevator for staff and patients to access the lower level
New staff break room
Wastewater treatment
Phase 2 completion:
Hospital and Emergency Room entrance
Administration Office
New space for clinical labs
Two clinic exam rooms
Lobby window at the front entrance for easy access for patients needing information or who need to make payments
