New facility expands medical respite and behavioral health care for individuals experiencing homelessness
AINALOA– HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, Inc. (HOPE) today celebrated the blessing and grand opening of Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub (ICH), a new medical respite and behavioral health care facility in Ainaloa. The blessing ceremony was held at TreeFern Drive, marking a major milestone in expanding care for Hawaiʻi Island’s homeless population.
The Integrated Care Hub represents a significant expansion of HOPE’s medical respite program, which began in 2021 with just four beds at their women’s shelter. Thanks to key partnerships with Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, the State of Hawaiʻi’s Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions (Ohana Zones), the County of Hawaiʻi, and Ohana Health Plan, the program has grown to provide critical care for individuals recovering from illness or injury while experiencing homelessness.
Kahua Kahe Mālie offers medical respite and wraparound services, including wound care, chronic disease management, medication support, and behavioral health care, in a stable and supportive environment. The facility features 24/7 housing staff, mental health professionals, case managers, and an on-call APRN prescriber, ensuring comprehensive care for residents.
“Today, Kahua Kahe Mālie becomes a foundation for hope and transformation,” said Brandee Menino, CEO of HOPE Services Hawaiʻi. “By bringing together medical care, housing support, and community partnerships, we’re helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity. This expansion wouldn’t have been possible without the trust and collaboration of our incredible partners.”
“We’re excited to celebrate the opening of Kahua Kahe Mālie with our partners at HOPE Services,” said Dan Brinkman, East Hawaiʻi Regional CEO of Hilo Benioff Medical Center. “Medical respite plays a key role in helping people—especially those experiencing homelessness—recover safely after a hospital stay. Having a place that offers both care and stability can make a real difference in someone’s healing and long-term health.”
The new Ainaloa location, made up of two houses next door to each other, now co-locates two previously separate programs—Hilo based Wilder House and Kuleana House—allowing for more efficient service delivery and enhanced care coordination. Additional support from AlohaCare, United Healthcare, and HMSA allows beds to be added, strengthening the program’s positive impact on the community.
“The Island of Hawaiʻi does not have a residential psychiatric facility except for the limited space allowed by the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, thus, I am pleased that key medical providers, health plans and our county and state governments have partnered with Hope Services to create a medical respite behavioral health care hub in Puna,” said State Senator Joy San Buenaventura, who represents the district. “It is a small step in the right direction towards providing more intensive behavioral health care in East Hawaiʻi.”
Referrals to the programs are made by the partner organizations, who are also providing funding. The State of Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office of Homelessness & Housing Solutions, and the County of Hawaiʻi– Office of Housing & Community Development’s Homelessness and Housing Fund provided funds to help get the medical respite program started.*
Patients are scheduled to begin moving into Kahua Kahe Mālie the week of August 18.**
You can help by donating your time, talent, or treasure to Hope Services Hawaiʻi at www.hopeserviceshawaii.org, or by contacting Joycelyn Cabal at jcabal@hopeserviceshawaii.org.
About Hope Services Hawaii
Hope Services Hawaii, Inc. is a nonprofit affiliate organization of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii. It works to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring on Hawaii Island. Hope operates seven shelters with 168 beds across the island, including outreach, street medicine, behavioral health, housing, prevention, diversion, case management, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hope Services own the building?
No, Hope leases the buildings.
How many bedrooms and many people can live in each bedroom?
The Ke’oke’o (White) medical house has five bedrooms.
The Polu (Blue) behavioral health house has four bedrooms plus one room that will be used as an office and confidential space to provide therapy sessions.
Each bedroom shelters two people, so a total of 18 people can be sheltered onsite at the complex.
How can people get into the program?
Admission into the HOPE Services Medical Respite program is by referral only. These referrals come from Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Ohana Health, HMSA, AlohaCare, and United Healthcare.
Are there program fees?
There are no fees for the people who use the medical respite services.
What’s the average age range of the people in these programs?
40 years to 80 years.
Does this program serve minors?
Youth under 18 would live at the Salvation Army or another group home. We are unable to serve minors at this location.
How can the community help?
To volunteer, contact Joycelyn Cabal at jcabal@hopeserviceshawaii.org or 808-217-2830.
You can also donate online at www.hopeserviceshawaii.org.
*A previous version of this press release listed the State of Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office of Homelessness & Housing Solutions, and the County of Hawaiʻi– Office of Housing & Community Development’s Homelessness and Housing Fund as having provided operational funds in error. This version has been updated to correct the funding source information.
**Patients were previously scheduled to move in August 1. However, the move-in date has been postponed to August 18, and this press release has been updated to reflect that.