HOPE Services celebrates grand opening of integreated care hub in ʻĀinaloa

HOPE Services Hawaiʻi recently celebrated the blessing and grand opening of its Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub, a new medical respite and behavioral health care facility in ʻĀinaloa, marking a major milestone in expanding care for Hawaiʻi Island’s homeless population.

The integrated care hub represents a significant expansion of HOPE Services’ medical respite program, which began in 2021 with just four beds at the nonprofit’s women’s shelter.

“Today, Kahua Kahe Mālie becomes a foundation for hope and transformation,” said HOPE Services Hawaiʻi Chief Executive Officer Brandee Menino in an announcement of the new facility’s blessing and grand opening. “By bringing together medical care, housing support and community partnerships, we’re helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity.”

Patients are scheduled to begin moving in Aug. 1.

Key partnerships with Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Hawaiʻi Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions (ʻOhana Zones), Hawaiʻi County and ʻOhana Health Plan enabled the program to grown and provide critical care for people recovering from illness or injury while experiencing homelessness.

Kahua Kahe Mālie offers medical respite and wraparound services — including wound care, chronic disease management, medication support and behavioral health care — in a stable and supportive environment. It features 24/7 housing staff, mental health professionals, case managers and an on-call advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, ensuring comprehensive care for residents.

“We’re excited to celebrate the opening of Kahua Kahe Mālie with our partners at HOPE Services,” said East Hawaiʻi Regional Chief Executive Officer of Hilo Benioff Medical Center Dan Brinkman in the announcement. “Medical respite plays a key role in helping people — especially those experiencing homelessness — recover safely after a hospital stay.”

Brinkman added that having a place that offers care and stability can make a real difference in someone’s healing and long-term health.

The new ʻĀinaloa location, which consists of two adjacent homes, co-locates two previously separate programs — Hilo-based Wilder House and Kuleana House — allowing for more efficient service delivery and enhanced care coordination.

Additional support from AlohaCare, United Healthcare and Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association allows beds to be added, strengthening the program’s positive impact in the community.

“The island of Hawaiʻi does not have a residential psychiatric facility except for the limited space allowed by the Hilo Benioff Medical Center; thus, I am pleased that key medical providers, health plans and our county and state governments have partnered with HOPE Services to create a medical respite behavioral health care hub in Puna,” said Puna state Sen. Joy San Buenaventura in the announcement. “It is a small step in the right direction towards providing more intensive behavioral health care in East Hawaiʻi.”

Referrals to the programs are made by partner organizations, which also offer partial funding. The state and county provide additional operational funds.

Find additional information or learn how you can help HOPE Services Hawai‘i continue programs such as the new integrated care hub by donating your time, talent or treasure by visiting the nonprofit’s website or contacting Joycelyn Cabal via email at jcabal@hopeserviceshawaii.org.