Vicky Hanes, left, COO of Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center
Photo courtesy HICHC
By: Vicky Hanes
We are living in uncertain and challenging times. Communities already facing steep barriers to health and well-being are now experiencing even greater threats. Across the country—and right here in Hawai‘i—we’re witnessing growing hostility toward people who are poor, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and working-class families. These groups already face some of the highest risks for adverse health outcomes and now their challenges are compounding.
At Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center (HICHC), we remain steadfast in our commitment to be a place of care, dignity, and access for all. We are not standing still. We are boldly moving forward—innovating, expanding access, embracing change, and improving lives.
As one of the largest community health centers in the state, HICHC’s reach is a reminder of just how vast the Big Island truly is. A road trip connecting all 17 of our health centers would take nearly five hours. This isn’t just a fun fact—it underscores the remoteness and isolation many of our rural community’s face.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), our mission is clear: to serve those most in need. FQHCs exist to ensure that everyone—regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, or location—has access to high-quality, comprehensive health care.
Photo courtesy HICHC
Our nearly 500 medical and support staff live this mission every day. Across the island, we open our doors to patients from all walks of life, providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care. On Hawai‘i Island, where geographic isolation, poverty, and limited resources make access to care a constant challenge, HICHC plays a vital role in closing gaps and building healthier communities—one person at a time. We proudly serve nearly 40,000 patients annually, about 20% of the island’s population.
Innovating for Accessible Care
While some health systems are scaling back, HICHC is investing in bold solutions that meet people where they are. From keiki to kūpuna, we’ve launched innovative service lines beyond our 17 brick-and-mortar locations.
- Ocean View Access Point: We recently opened a new medical access site in one of the island’s most remote communities on the slopes of Mauna Loa—Ocean View Estates—by refurbishing a two-exam-room mobile health unit and placing it at St. Jude’s Church.
- School-Based Health Expansion: This fall, our School-Based Health (SBH) program will expand to nearly every public school in Hawai‘i County, in partnership with the Department of Education. Through these centers, keiki can access pediatric care, mental health support, dental services, and routine screenings—without ever leaving campus.
- Street Medicine: Our Street Medicine team continues to bring care directly to individuals experiencing homelessness, through mobile medical teams on foot, on the street, and in local encampments.
- Future Services: Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, we plan to expand mental health crisis services, adult dental care, and addiction medicine services throughout the communities we serve.
Photos courtesy HICHC
Doubling Down on Our Mission
The needs on Hawai‘i Island are growing—but so is our resolve. HICHC is not backing down; rather, we are doubling down on our mission to improve the health and well-being of our island’s most vulnerable residents.
Our community cannot afford to wait for perfect conditions. We are taking bold steps now—because with commitment, compassion, and courage, we believe we can build a healthier future together.
Photos courtesy HICHC
This story appears in the July & August 2025 issue of Taking on Tomorrow.
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