Kaiser Hosts Meetings to Discuss Future of Maui Hospitals

Image of Maui Memorial Medical Center Emergency Room entrance, courtesy Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi.

By Wendy Osher

Kaiser Permanente hosts two town hall meetings on Maui this week to discuss the future of the Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kula Hospital.

In May Kaiser Permanente expressed interest in participating in the process for selection as Maui Memorial Medical Center seeks a management company for a public private partnership.

The meetings will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at the Waiola Church Hall (535 Waineʻe Street) in Lahaina; and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday Aug. 13 at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College multi-purpose room (Pilina building, second floor) in Kahului.

The public is invited to hear Kaiser Permanente’s vision for the Maui Memorial and Kula facilities, and share their thoughts, questions and concerns.

A bill aimed at setting the groundwork for a public-private partnership passed into law this past legislative session as the hospital administration sought protections from potential job and service cuts due to a $28 million budget shortfall.

In a letter to legislators earlier this year, Kaiser representatives said, “We view our long-established presence on the island, coupled with our dedication to exceptional patient-centered medicine, as key factors in ensuring a robust partnership that creates a meaningful and positive impact on the health of the entire community.”

A meeting announcement flyer stated, “We welcome the opportunity to partner with you, your physicians, and the teams at Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kula Hospital to ensure a healthy future for Maui.  You deserve safe, compassionate, and high-quality care with exceptional service, and we would be honored to be selected to manage your hospitals.”