$2M awarded for Native Hawaiian healthcare on Kauai
Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a $2 million grant to address Native Hawaiian healthcare needs on Kaua'i.
Hoola Lahui Hawaii will use the money to provide a number of services. They include primary healthcare and dental care, substance-abuse counseling and chronic disease management.
Hawai'i Congresswoman Mazie Hirono said Thursday that Kaua'i is considered an underserved area for Native Hawaiians who struggle to access comprehensive health care.
The Democratic lawmaker cited several reasons, including poverty and the declining number of primary care providers.
Hirono says 14,741 Native Hawaiians live on Kaua'i. That's 24 percent of the island's population.
