Money released for Maui air ambulance
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILEA, Maui — Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday that she has released $612,000 approved by last year's Legislature for air ambulance service for Maui County.
Lingle vetoed the money last year, but the Legislature overrode her veto in a special session in July.
The governor still did not immediately release the money, however, saying the details of the plan were too vague and that the legislation might open the state to lawsuits in areas, such as Kaua'i, where air ambulance service isn't being provided.
Speaking to an audience of 300 at the Maui Chamber of Commerce Annual Governor's Luncheon at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea, Lingle said the legal issue will be addressed in a bill introduced this session. The new bill changes the wording of the authorizing legislation to say that service will be provided only when and where money is available.
Lingle said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and others lobbied to revive the air ambulance proposal and created a plan that will base a contract helicopter at Kahului Airport and paramedics at the Kula Fire Station. When incidents involving serious injury or illness occur, the paramedics will prepare for action while the chopper is in flight for the short trip from Kahului to Kula.
Arakawa said the plan not only allows for air ambulance coverage for the four-island county, but will provide 24-hour emergency medical service at the Kula Fire Station for the first time.
"We know it will save a lot of lives in Maui County," the mayor said.
The Maui County Council last year approved annual matching money of $612,000, and members allocated an additional $100,000 for a start-up process during 2004.
Ezekiela "Zeke" Kalua, executive director of West Maui Taxpayers Association, said he was gratified by Lingle's announcement. Several months ago, he traveled to Honolulu and brought scores of petitions urging the governor to release the money.
"It will help us with critical acute care," he said. "I'm very happy."
The two-lane highway leading to the West Maui area is often closed because of wrecks, fires and other disasters, preventing ambulances from reaching Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku. Even with the road open, it can take nearly an hour to get critically injured patients to the hospital.
Sen. Roz Baker, D-5th (W. Maui, S. Maui), chairwoman of the Senate Health Committee, said the move helps bring parity in medical services to outlying areas.
"This is a happy day for the people of Maui County and for all the people of Hawai'i," Baker said.
Lingle also took the opportunity to announce that she had released more than $3.6 million to widen Maui's Mokulele Highway — the main link between Central Maui and Kihei — between the vicinity of Kolaloa Bridge to the Kealia Pond driveway. Widening work is complete on a different section of the highway.
Lingle also said she released nearly $1.5 million to install an air-conditioning system in various buildings at Kihei Elementary School, where classroom temperatures have been known to hit 90 degrees and hotter.
Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.
