After months of carefully planned construction, Straub Benioff Medical Center opened its new Emergency Department (ED). The renovated and reimagined space is nearly 4,000 square feet more than the previous ED and features additional private treatment areas and specialized spaces for more efficient care.
“This project is an investment in our patients and represents our ongoing commitment to healthier communities,” said Terence Young, Straub Benioff CEO. “Medical teams at Straub Benioff have been caring for patients for more than 100 years, and we’ll continue that legacy as we build the healthcare campus of the future.”
There were 37,280 patient visits to Straub Benioff’s ED from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Phase 1 of the renovation, which was completed in December 2025, features a larger dedicated waiting room, eight private treatment rooms, two triage rooms, and an expanded, centralized workspace for physicians, nurses, and the ED team.
The second phase of the project added a hazmat shower and decontamination space, 13 treatment bays, and a ninth private treatment room. Crews also refreshed isolation rooms, including ones with negative pressure for patients who might have infectious diseases. The South Hotel Street parking and drop-off area has also been enhanced for better access to the ED.
Throughout the 14 months of construction, the ED team provided uninterrupted, around-the-clock care for the community.
“The renovated ED makes a significant difference for our entire staff,” said Dr. Dana Watanabe, Straub Benioff chief of emergency medicine. “The design supports more efficient collaboration and gives our care teams the space they need to provide high-quality care for patients and their families every day.”
The newly renovated ED will serve the community until a new area is built in the future medical tower, as part of the Straub Benioff Redevelopment project. Construction on the first phase of the redevelopment project, which includes a new parking building and conference center, is currently underway.
Photo (top): Hawaii Pacific Health and Straub Benioff teams celebrate the opening of the new Emergency Department (ED).
Left to right: Dr. Jenefer Oyama, Straub Benioff emergency medicine physician; Travis Clegg, Straub Benioff chief operating officer; Stella Laroza, Straub Benioff vice president of patient services and chief nurse executive; Dr. Dana Watanabe, Straub Benioff chief of emergency medicine; Dr. Adam Weightman, Straub Benioff emergency medicine physician, Kunāne Wooton, Straub Benioff ED manager; Virgie Choy, Straub Benioff ED supervisor; Dr. Leslie Chun, Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group CEO; Dr. Matthew Gadbaw, Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group chief of hospital based medicine; Terence Young, Straub Benioff CEO; Glenn Kawabata, Straub Benioff vice president of hospital operations; and Dr. Samuel Evans, Straub Benioff chief of staff.