How is Healthcare in Hawaii? What to Expect on Oahu

Healthcare in Hawaii is generally high-quality, especially on Oahu, where major hospitals and specialists are located. Neighbor islands offer solid care, though more complex cases are often transferred to Oahu. Access to quality healthcare is one of the biggest questions people have when moving to Hawaii. From personal experience, I can say the level of care may surprise you — in a good way.

Thinking back to one of the more traumatic days my family had on Oahu during an emergency is never easy. This was well over a decade ago, and I had moved to the island to get things set up before my family moved to Hawaii and the kids finished school.

Emergency Healthcare in Hawaii: A Personal Experience

My youngest wanted to go to the skate park in Kapolei while they were visiting. I dropped them off at the entrance and went to park the car. No sooner had I parked did I see my wife running towards me screaming. Within minutes, my youngest dropped into the ramp, fell funny, and broke his wrist clean in two.

I was newer to the island and living in Ko Olina temporarily at the time, I scooped him up and plotted the nearest hospital in the GPS. This took me to the now bustling Queen’s Medical Center West location, which had been closed. We were in a panic since the GPS took me to a closed ER and hospital, and we didn’t know what to do next but call 911. Finally, after what seemed like hours, a police officer was found who called an ambulance, and I followed to the nearest emergency room, which at the time was Pali Momi Medical Center in Aiea.

Hospitals and Medical Care on Oahu

The quality of hospital care we experienced on Oahu quickly reassured us during a stressful situation. As soon as we entered the ER, they immediately started working on my son. Of course, after the usual, we can try this, and maybe he was sent to surgery with orthopedics to mend the broken wrist. The entire staff, from the admitting to the nurse and then the doctors, were all amazing. They could see the angst and worry we had as parents and kept us calm, all while treating my son with a fantastic level of care.

Looking back at the traumatic event, we felt like we had excellent care, support and work done on our son. He, of course, healed up and unfortunately provided us with many more scares medically until he became an adult and settled down more.

Healthcare on Neighbor Islands

Over the years of living in West Oahu, Ewa Beach, we have seen all sorts of growth in people, housing, and medical care. The once-closed West Oahu Queens Medical is now open, expanding, and thriving. We have seen a plethora of new dentists’ offices, eye care centers, specialty medicine clinics, and many more over the years.

There is good medical care across Hawaii, though Oahu has the highest concentration of hospitals, specialists, and advanced medical services. If something is a higher level of trauma or more serious, it is not uncommon for the patient to come or be sent to Oahu, which seems to have the highest level available, versus the neighborhood islands.

Is Healthcare in Hawaii Good Compared to the Mainland?

The care we receive, from the basics like dental to emergency medicine, is very good on Oahu. The care seems to be on par with any location on the mainland, and the nurses and staff have always been exceptional when we have had the need for medical care. In general, healthcare quality in Hawaii is comparable to major mainland cities, particularly on Oahu, though access can vary by island.

Want to Know More?

If you want to know more about the best places to live on Oahu or medical services, do not hesitate to call, text, or email me at any time.