The Kula Hospital on Maui will reopen, announced Gov. Josh Green Tuesday.
The historic Kula Hospital was closed indefinitely in March after sustaining extensive damage during the Kona Low storms. At the time, it was unclear if the 116-year-old building could be reopened, as stormwater intrusion was evident throughout the facility.
But on Tuesday, Green announced that the state and Kaiser Permanente will commit more than $60 million to reopen the hospital.
Hawai‘i will contribute $42 million, with Kaiser investing another $23 million, although Green’s office noted that the actual project costs might change as the plans take shape.
“Restoring Kula Hospital is essential to protecting access to emergency, inpatient and long-term care for Upcountry Maui,” said Ed Chu, President and CEO of Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.. “This investment will rebuild a stronger, more resilient facility … while helping Maui’s health care system withstand future emergencies.”
The project will replace the hospital’s exterior windows and doors with custom weather-protective units that will better shield the facility from future weather events. Furthermore, interior spaces and systems will be repaired and modernized.
However, a time frame for the project has not yet been determined, as the planning process is still underway.
In the meantime, the closure of Kula Hospital has left a gap in Maui’s emergency health coverage. The next nearest emergency room is at Maui Memorial Medical Center, about 22 miles away.
Residents at the Hale Makamae facility — an intermediate care ward for developmentally disabled patients that was also damaged during the Kona Lows — have been relocated to the Maui Memorial Center. The planned repairs to the hospital will also include repairs to Hale Makamae, and the patients will be able to return to the facility when the project is complete.
In the meantime, Kula Clinic remains open as an option for Upcountry residents.
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