$800,000 Released for Maui Hospital Air Conditioning Replacement

Maui Memorial Medical Center, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release today of $800,000 to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for the replacement of the hospital’s aging air conditioning system.

The funds were part of a larger $19.1 million release for capital improvement projects aimed at upgrading and improving eight facilities within the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation.

According to the announcement, the funds for the Maui Memorial Medical Center will be directed toward care rooms in the East, South and West Wings, electrical rooms, and the pharmacy and laundry areas.

Authorities say the existing air conditioning system has become “prone to mechanical breakdowns and needs to be replaced.”

Also in Maui County, $50,000 was released to the Lānaʻi Community Hospital for the replacement of the facility’s emergency generator.  Work involves the transfer of a generator from Maui Memorial Medical Center which is no longer needed to the Lānaʻi facility.

In announcing the funding release, Governor Abercrombie said, “In addition to increasing safety and functionality, these projects, part of more than $2.1 billion in capital improvement projects released since I took office, will further stimulate our economy and generate more local jobs.”

The largest appropriation in the amount of $4 million was earmarked for upgrades and renovations at Kona Community Hospital on Hawaiʻi Island.  Other hospitals included in the funding release included: West Kauaʻi Medical Center; Hilo Medical Center; Maluhia Hospital on Oʻahu; Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital on Kauaʻi; Maluhia Hospital on Oʻahu; Leahi Hospital on Oʻahu; and Kaʻu Hospital on Hawaiʻi Island.