HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-26 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran re SB 1235, Proposed SD 2 Relating to Funding for Hilo Medical CenterHarry Kim
Mayor
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
Offirr �k fhr
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
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February 26, 2018
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 211
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice -Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 211
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice -Chair Keith-Agaran and Committee Members:
Re SB 1235, Proposed SD 2 Relating to Funding for Hilo Medical Center
Hearing Date: 02/28/18 — 10:30 am; Conference Room 211
S; 1235, proposed SD 2, is not our initiative, nor is it our 1 tention to highjack a
bill that was intended to fund Hana and Waianae. However, if the authors of SB 1235
and the affected communities have no objections, we appreciate the opportunity to
endorse the benefits of increasing services at Hilo Medical Center, the largest provider
of care on the Big Island.
Cardiac care in Hawaii County is clearly substandard by 21st century standards.
The idea that almost 200,000 residents, plus all our visitors, are served by a system that
requires an airlift to another island, was once thought to be the price of living on a
neighbor island. Now that we see the potential to provide treatment on -island, if only
adequate funding were made available, the lack of local service becomes less tenable.
Hana, Waianae, and Hawaii County are rural areas in need of better healthcare.
We hope you can find the funds to provide more services to them, and to us.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Ki
Mayor, County of Hawaii
County of Hawai6i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer