State releases $50 million for proposed outpatient care center in Kona
The project will include a 50,000-square-foot medical facility that will expand access to healthcare services in West Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has released $50 million in state funding for a proposed medical facility in Kona that will strengthen healthcare services for West Hawaiʻi residents.
Green had pledged a year ago to put the $50 million in his upcoming proposed executive budget, which the State Legislature included in the final budget for this fiscal year.
The 2026 state budget included funding for the project, a private-public partnership with The Queen’s Health Systems. Funding will go toward the planning, design and prep work for the proposed medical campus and outpatient care center.
When construction is complete, the facility will reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for medical services.
“West Hawaiʻi residents have been asking for better access to healthcare for decades,” said Rep. Nicole Lowen in a press release. “This funding is a major step toward making that a reality.”
The new 50,000-square foot medical facility is meant to be a companion to the new $400 to $500 million hospital that Queen’s plans to build off Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway near Costco, Big Island Now previously reported.
Many West Hawaiʻi residents can relate to the challenges of finding a doctor, getting an appointment or flying to see a specialist, said Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa in the release.
“This investment and the partnership with Queen’s are helping write the next chapter of healthcare for our community,” she said.
