March 2, 2023

Improving the health of the community

Kaiser Permanente awards $80,000 in grants for health policy and community outreach in Hawaii.

Papakolea Community Center.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Laura M. Lott
laura.m.lott@kp.org
808-343-2406 (mobile)

HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii has awarded community benefit grants totaling $80,000 to the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Kula No Na Poʻe Hawaiʻi, 2 organizations striving to improve the health of Hawaii residents through health policy and outreach initiatives.

Hawaii Public Health Institute received $50,000 to further its mission of improving the health of all Hawaii residents, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations that suffer greater health disparities. Funding will go toward developing and advocating for changes to health policies that will increase access to health care, improve oral health, and reduce tobacco use.

KULA received $30,000 for its Community Health Worker Healthy Hui Initiative, which serves Native Hawaiian residents from Papakolea, Kapolei, and Waianae Valley Homesteads. The grant will allow community health workers to conduct workshops and outreach to homestead communities address prevalent health issues like diabetes, arthritis, and obesity. 

“An important part of Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii’s mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Greg Christian, Hawaii market president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. “This starts by supporting community organizations, like Hawaii Public Health Institute and KULA, that share this important goal.”

These grants are the latest in a series of contributions from Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii to help residents throughout the state receive vital support services that impact their overall health. In 2022, Kaiser Permanente dedicated over $2.2 million through community grants and scholarships to improve health and wellness in Hawaii.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.