News & Current Events

Hawaii Pacific Health Accepting Applications for 2022-2023 Medical Assistant Program

Hawaii Pacific Health is accepting applications for its 2022-2023 Medical Assistant Program, a unique opportunity that gives high school seniors a hands-on introduction to a career in the health care field. Held in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Pacific Health’s groundbreaking education and training program prepares high school students for a career as a medical assistant through a combination of in-classroom instruction and clinical experience.

Wilcox Medical Center Blesses New Generators That Will Keep Kauai's Hospital Powered Through Outages for Decades to Come

Three new generators that will provide electricity to Wilcox Medical Center during emergencies and power outages were blessed during a ceremony that celebrated these critical, one-megawatt power sources. The new generator system will provide uninterrupted power for hospital operations at Wilcox Medical Center when needed, and was a collaborative project between Wilcox and federal, state and county agencies.

Straub Medical Center Breaking Ground on New Health Care Campus

Straub Medical Center's multi-year redevelopment project for its future health care campus is highlighted in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Straub Medical Center Commemorates 100th Anniversary With Groundbreaking for Redevelopment Project

Straub Medical Center, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, held a groundbreaking to officially kickoff a comprehensive, redevelopment project for its current campus. The project will create a health care campus of the future that will provide the space, tools and resources necessary to impact all aspects of patient health – prevention, treatment, access and affordability. When completed, the multi-year project will be nearly triple the existing size at 760,000 square feet and will be a state-of-the-art health care campus that will truly reflect the quality of care Straub is known to deliver.

Hawaii Pacific Health President & CEO Ray Vara Discusses COVID-19 Vaccines with Pfizer and Moderna Leaders

As national chairman of the American Heart Association, Hawaii Pacific Health President and CEO Ray Vara helped moderate a featured presentation of the Association's recent Scientific Sessions international conference that included American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown and leaders from Pfizer and Moderna discussing the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and future applications for the technology used to create it.

Hawaii Pacific Health Partners with Honolulu Fire Department and Department of Health for Keiki Drive-Through COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Department of Health and the Honolulu Fire Department are teaming up to allow parents to get their kids vaccinated from the comfort of their vehicle with upcoming drive-through vaccine clinics for children ages 5-11 and their families on Oahu. The HPH Keiki Vax Squad Drive-Through clinics are scheduled on Nov. 13-14 at Aloha Stadium and Nov. 20-21 at Kapolei High School. The drive-through clinics will help make the vaccination process quick, convenient and kid-friendly.

Hawaii Pacific Health Employees Donate More Than $1 Million to Support Patient Care Through Annual Employee Giving Campaign

As part of the 2021 Hawaii Pacific Health Employee Giving Campaign, nearly 4,000 employees raised a total of $1,068,127 through generous donations of either gifts or pledges, which will go toward Hawaii Pacific Health medical programs and services that directly benefit the local community. This is the fifth straight year that employees have raised at least $1 million to support the organization’s mission to create a healthier Hawaii.

John McNamara to Join Hawaii Pacific Health as Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications

John McNamara will join Hawaii Pacific Health as senior vice president for marketing and communications on November 1. McNamara has more than 30 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry, having spent the last six years as president of CommPac, a Honolulu-based public relations agency, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company and providing strategic counsel to local, mainland, and international clients on media relations, marketing, crisis management and community engagement.

Hawaii Pacific Health Names David Underriner as Executive Vice President of Oahu Operations

David Underriner has been named executive vice president of Oahu operations for Hawaii Pacific Health, serving as chief executive officer of Hawaii Pacific Health’s three medical centers on Oahu – Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center and Straub Medical Center. Underriner has extensive experience in the health care industry, with more than 35 years serving in various administrative and executive leadership roles in Hawaii and Oregon.

Hawaii Pacific Health President & CEO Ray Vara to lead American Heart Association as new national chair

Wilcox Medical Center Receives 5-Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Wilcox Medical Center has received an overall hospital quality star rating of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in its 2021 star ratings update. Wilcox is one of only seven hospitals in Hawaii to achieve a 5-star rating, and is one of 455 hospitals out of 4,586 across the United States to receive five stars.

Hawaii Pacific Health and North Kansas City Hospital Healthcare Workers Help Deliver Baby on Flight to Hawaii

Hawaii Pacific Health Family Medicine Physician Dr. Dale Glenn and North Kansas City Hospital NICU Nurses Lani Bamfield, Amanda Beeding and Mimi Ho helped deliver a premature baby and provide care for mom and baby on a Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Honolulu. Mom and baby were immediately taken to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and doing well.

Straub Medical Center Only Hospital in Hawaii to be Recognized as One of America's 250 Best Hospitals for 2021

Straub Medical Center has achieved the Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award™ for the second year in a row (2020-2021). The only hospital in Hawaii to receive this distinction in 2021, Straub is in the top five percent of nearly 4,500 hospitals assessed across the U.S. for its superior clinical performance.

Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children Welcomes New Chief Canine Officer Ruby

Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children's new Chief Canine Officer Ruby is a two-year-old Labrador Retriever who serves as a full-time Hospital Facility Dog for the medical center. Trained and donated by Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, Ruby works with pediatric patients, families and staff at the medical center.

Kapiolani Medical Center and Hawaii Nurses Association Reach Agreement on New Nurses Contract

Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and the Hawaii Nurses Association (HNA) reached a tentative agreement last night on a new three-year contract that covers approximately 725 nurses at Kapiolani. Nurses will vote on whether to ratify the tentative agreement on January 20-21, 2021.