Hawaii Health Systems Corporation – Kauai Region

Public healthcare network on the island of Kauai

The Kauai Region is part of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC), a public corporation created in 1996 through Act 262 of the Hawaii State Legislature. Its facilities are defined as "safety-net" facilities: they provide essential medical care to the island's communities, including patients who cannot afford the cost of treatment.

Two hospitals and a network of clinics on the island

The region comprises two hospitals and several primary and specialty care clinics distributed across various communities on Kauai:

• Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital (KVMH), in Waimea
• Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (SMMH), in Kapaa
• The Clinic at Waimea
• The Clinic at Port Allen
• The Clinic at Kalaheo
• The Specialty Clinic at Kalaheo
• The Clinic at Poipu / Urgent Care at Poipu
• The Clinic at Lihue
• The Clinic at Kapaa

The network also includes Kawaiola Pharmacy. According to the entity itself, the location of the clinics in different towns across the island aims to facilitate access to healthcare for both residents and visitors.

Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital

KVMH is named in honor of Kauai veterans and has been part of the community since 1957. It is a full-service hospital classified as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), the U.S. category for critical access facilities in low-population-density areas.

Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital

SMMH originally opened in 1917 as a 50-bed hospital for local tuberculosis patients. In 1996, it became part of the HHSC Kauai Region healthcare facilities. In 2005, it became a CAH hospital and opened a 24-hour emergency department.

Emergency care and patient services

The network has an emergency department at SMMH and an urgent care clinic in Poipu. The site reported extended weekend hours for Urgent Care starting October 3, 2026. Patient services include a patient portal, childbirth education classes with a registration form, and online billing.

Accessibility, languages, and non-discrimination

The entity states its commitment to website accessibility and offers assistance to those who encounter difficulties accessing content. It also states that it complies with applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status. Information is provided in English, Ilocano, Tagalog, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Samoan, Marshallese, Hawaiian, Bisayan, Pohnpeian, Spanish, Chuukese, Tongan, Vietnamese, and Lao.

Posted operational notices

The site included several notices: The Clinic at Kalaheo would be temporarily closed starting Thursday, August 13, 2026, and HHSC Kauai Region would go cashless starting September 1, 2026. The Walk with a Doc activity, aimed at promoting healthy habits, was also announced.