Native Hawaiian Health Care Centers to Receive Federal Funds to Fight COVID-19

Native Hawaiian health care centers across the state will receive $20 million in federal funding as they continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, Aug. 13, Sen. Brian Schatz secured the funds in the American Rescue Plan, which will be distributed to Papa Ola Lokahi and five Native Hawaiian Health Care Centers to support vaccination efforts, respond to and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and strengthen health care services for Native Hawaiian families across the state.

One of the health care centers is Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi, located in Hilo, and is set to receive $3.25 million.

“This new funding will help more Native Hawaiian families get the health care they need and fight this pandemic,” said Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, my job is to help deliver federal funding to Native communities in Hawai‘i and across the country, and that’s what I will continue to do.”

Papa Ola Lokahi will receive $4.75 million.