Hospital planned for Big Island's west side

Associated Press

A nonprofit foundation on the Big Island has begun planning for a new $156 million hospital that would serve residents of West Hawai'i.

The foundation's planning committee is made up of representatives of Kona Community Hospital, North Hawai'i Community Hospital and the West Hawai'i community, said Ira "Lynn" Walton, chief executive officer of Kona Community Hospital and secretary of the new foundation.

Walton says the foundation will seek 32 acres of state land near Kealakehe Parkway above Honokohau Harbor in North Kona for the planned 142-bed hospital.

Walton says the new facility would serve North and South Kona as well as North and South Kohala, and would provide medical services unavailable in the area.

The existing 94-bed Kona Community Hospital would shift its focus to providing more outpatient services, such as diagnostic services and emergency care, he said.

Walton said he expects to submit a certificate of need to the state Health Planning and Development Agency early next year. The agency would evaluate the worthiness of the proposal.