Health center program - headquartered at 302 california avenue, STE 106, in wahiawa, HI, the wahiawa center for community health DBA wahiawa health (WH) is a 501(C)3 federally qualified health…

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded The Wahiawa Center for Community Health $1.3 million on August 1, 2026, under the Health Center Program (CFDA 93.224) to establish a new clinic in Waialua, Hawaii as part of a New Access Point award.

The recipient, headquartered in Wahiawa, Hawaii and registered as a 501(c)(3) FQHC look-alike, will use funding to expand primary health care access to the Waialua area on Oahu's North Shore and surrounding communities including Mokuleia, Dillingham Airfield, and Ka'ena Point. The target service area comprises approximately 7,010 residents across zip code 96791, with an estimated 1,922 low-income residents at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. An estimated 1,359 low-income residents in the area currently lack access to a federally qualified health center. The closure of Wahiawa General Hospital in 2024 has eliminated the nearest source of urgent, emergency, and specialty care services to the region.

The award supports establishment of patient-centered, culturally and linguistically appropriate primary care services. The recipient served 325 residents from zip code 96791 in 2023 and established itself as the FQHC of choice for the area despite its distance nine miles south of Waialua.

Period of performance runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. Place of performance is Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786.

Health center program - headquartered at 302 california avenue, STE 106, in wahiawa, HI, the wahiawa center for community health DBA wahiawa health (WH) is a 501(C)3 federally qualified health center (FQHC) look-alike applying for the FY 2025 new access point (NAP) award to establish a new clinic in the town of waialua. Waialua is a small town of approximately 4,000 residents on the north shore of oahu, facing significant socioeconomic challenges since the 1996 closure of their largest economic driver, the waialua sugar company. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 residents that live outside of waialua, in and around mokuleia, dillingham airfield, and KA'ena point - smaller communities that extend to the western tip of oahu. These areas are less developed and characterized by isolated beaches and rugged terrain. Per the geocare navigator, the ztca of waialua (96791) harbors a total population of 7,010 residents, 27.4% of whom live at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, establishing a target population of 1,922 low-income residents. 96791 also captures mokuleia, a small town of approximately 1,800 residents, the dillingham airfield, a public and military use airport located just west of mokuleia, and several farmsteads lying between waialua and the waianae mountains. In 2023, WH served 4,937 unique patients throughout its service area, 325 of whom account for residents of 96791, deeming WH the FQHC of choice for area residents, given its proximity (9 miles south of waialua). An estimated 1,359 low-income residents in 96791 are not currently served by a community health center and would benefit from patient centered, culturally and linguistically appropriate care. In 2024, the community's challenges worsened with the closure of wahiawa general hospital (WGH), which was their closest facility for urgent, emergency, and specialty care services. The hospital, which has been sold, is unlikely to reopen for at least 5 years due to its deteriorating condition. The area residents now face a perilous 20-25-mile journey through narrow, winding, roads congested by tourism. The service area demonstrates some alarming health indicators. Emergency department visits for preventable conditions have skyrocketed to 210 per 1,000 residents, far surpassing the state average. There is a stark GAP in life expectancy, as service area residents can expect to live 4.5 years less than the state average, a chilling testament to the cumulative impact of healthcare inaccessibility and socioeconomic stress. Nearly a third of the area's workforce earns less than $20,000 annually while home prices have skyrocketed to an average exceeding one million dollars. Preventive healthcare often comes secondary to paying rent, buying groceries, and clothing one's family. The town of waialua is largely dependent upon wahiawa as its economic hub and point of access for preventive and emergency health service. The establishment of a new clinic in waialua represents a critical juncture in addressing this dire healthcare crisis. IT's not merely an addition to existing infrastructure, but a vital step in reversing the alarming trends impacting the health and wellness of service area residents and their families. WH is requesting $650,000 in NAP funding to establish a new clinic at 67-272 goodale avenue in waialua. Waialua is a growing agricultural town already in crisis. The population is expected to increase due to community development of affordable housing and development of agricultural lands that will increase employment in agriculture. This NAP clinic will establish primary care, specialty, substance use disorder, pharmacy, social services, and enabling services inclusive of translation, care coordination, and patient navigation for the current residents, farm workers and a diverse growing population. Outfitting this space for service delivery will provide an immediate point of access, available to residents 40 hours per week, regardless of inability to pay.