Bringing a Hospital to West Maui

Nearly 50,000 people--residents, visitors, workers like those shown here live, play or work in West Maui, one of the world's premier resort communities. For unique reasons, the closest acute emergency hospital is an average 66 minutes away over a single double lane road that passes through mountainous terrain. The West Maui Improvement Foundation and its affiliate the West Maui Taxpayers Association and the people we represent want a new full service hospital of our own to address what physicians call the Golden Hour. If victims of critical heart attacks, strokes or accidents can receive treatment within this golden hour, the statistics show survival rates soar.

The case for a new hospital, backed by studies by one of the nationals leading health care firms, is clear. Two hurdles remain:

• The need to raise $4 million through public donations to complete preliminary work in order to secure a $36 million HUD loan to finance the hospital.

• Proving to the the state of Hawaii that that a second full service hospital on Maui will be financially viable and and will meet the overall health care needs of Maui County.

For potential donors and decision makers and the community at large, here is our west side story. Watch this space for continuing updates on our plans and progress. For the privilege of living here, for past joys of playing here, please consider giving something back through a generous contribution to the Golden Hour Fund for the West Maui Hospital.