Native Hawaiian Health Care System Set to Receive Federal Funding

The Native Hawaiian Health Care System (NHHCS), which coordinates health care programs and services for Native Hawaiians on five of the Hawaiian Islands, will receive a total of $18.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – a $1.2 million increase from last year.

This funding will go toward Papa Ola Lokahi and its various locations statewide. The Native Hawaiian Health Care Program helps more Native Hawaiians get access to health education, promotion, disease prevention, and basic primary care services.

On Hawai‘i Island, Hui Malama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi is set to receive approximately $3.13 million.

“Thousands of Native Hawaiian families across the state rely on these clinics for health care. This year, we were able to secure additional funding, which means these clinics will have the resources to help even more people connect with their doctors and get the health care they need,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Schatz has led efforts in the Senate to deliver federal resources to the Native Hawaiian community, including the NHHCS. In addition to securing this increase in annual funding for the NHHCS, he successfully secured $20 million for the NHHCS in COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan in March.