Waimea’s Native Hawaiian Rural Clinic Awarded OHA Grant

A native Hawaiian rural clinic in South Kohala was awarded a one-year grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Kīpuka o ke Ola/KOKO, located in Waimea, will receive $118,454 for its Kauka Noʻonoʻo program.

“Mahalo nui to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for helping KOKO bring a licensed psychiatrist to our community and to our kānaka lāhui,” said Dr. Kealoha-Beaudet, KOKOʻs Chief Executive Officer.

KOKO is an independent rural health clinic with a mission that “The Native Hawaiians living in North Hawai’i will enjoy the highest quality of comprehensive healthcare from prenatal to end of life.”

The objective of the Kauka Noʻonoʻo program is to provide culturally appropriate psychiatric services to 300 community members in need of psychiatric medication management services. Fifty percent of this group will be of Native Hawaiian ancestry.

Securing a licensed psychiatrist and having them be available to the community has been a vitally important goal given the dire shortage of psychiatric services on the Big Island and the growing need due to the pandemic. This project allows KOKO to accomplish this goal.

To reach KOKO or to learn more about the agency and its programs, call 808-885-5900 or click here.