Hilo Benioff Medical Center held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday to celebrate the start of construction of its hospital expansion project that will include a new 19-bed Intensive Care Unit and 36 additional hospital beds.
The $80 million project, which will help alleviate Hawaiʻi Island’s hospital bed shortage on Hawai‘i Island, was made possible through a combination of public and private funding.
The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks by hospital leadership, community supporters and government officials including state Senator Lorraine Inouye, state Representative Mark Nakashima and Governor Josh Green who said, “Today marks a great day for health care in our state as we break ground on this historic project to increase hospital bed capacity on Hawai‘i Island. The island’s largest hospital desperately needed these beds to care for the growing community and today, we are delivering on our commitment to improve healthcare in the state. We are honored to partner with the Benioff ‘ohana to double the state’s commitment to support Hilo Benioff Medical Center.”
In the 2023 legislative session, the Hawai‘i State Legislature awarded $50 million for the hospital’s expansion project, which was released by Governor Green this March.
Last month, Marc and Lynne Benioff donated $50 million to the hospital, a portion of which will go toward the expansion project.
Further details about the hospital expansion project include:
- First floor: covered parking
- Second floor: 19-bed Intensive Care Unit
- Third floor: 36 additional hospital beds
- 66,000 square-foot expansion
- Anticipated completion is spring 2026
- $80M project paid for by public and private funding
- First major expansion since the hospital was originally built in 1985 and opened in 1986
Photo credit: Hilo Medical Center