HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-25 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran SB 1410, SD1 Relating to Emergency Services (Kau Hospital)
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
February 25, 2019
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Keith-Agaran, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 1410, SD1 Relating to Emergency Services (Kaʻu Hospital)
Kaʻu Hospital is a small rural facility serving a very large geographic area. Although the traditional
population centers of Pahala and Naalehu are fairly stable, the number of residents in Ocean View has grown
enormously, and so has traffic (and the potential for traffic-related injuries). While Ocean View can be serviced
by either Kaʻu Hospital or Kona Community Hospital, the need for emergency care in Kaʻu is clear.
I know you have limited resources and unlimited priorities. I must defer to you as to whether SB 1410
can “make the cut,” but hopefully it will be seen as a small investment of funds with life-saving rewards.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR