Waimanalo Health Center launches $13M expansion campaign

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press

WAIMANALO, Hawaii (AP) - The Waimanalo Health Center is trying to raise $13 million for its first major expansion since it was founded in 1989.

Health center officials say the small cluster of portable buildings make the facility inefficiently configured and inadequately sized based on U.S. standards for patient care.

The center saw a 32 percent increase in the number of patients during the last 10 years.

The community is home to the second-highest concentration of Native Hawaiians on Oahu. Nearly 11 percent of Waimanalo families live at or below the federal poverty level.

A nearby plot next to the fire station has been acquired. The capital campaign began Wednesday with a blessing ceremony at the site.

Construction is slated to begin next year.

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