Our impact in Hawaii

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Public policy

Learn more by visiting our Institute for Health Policy.

Get updates on our public policy perspectives

Kaiser Permanente has served Hawaii since 1958. We currently provide care to 271,667 members throughout the state. We’re the state’s second-largest health plan.

We offer a wide variety of coverage options for small group, large group, and individual and family health insurance markets.

We serve our members using a unique business model that combines health coverage and care delivery into one coordinated experience.

Key issues

Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death and disease in Hawaii. Every year, Hawaii residents pay over $500 million for smoking-related health care costs.

Reducing tobacco use is critical to improving the health of our communities. This is why we advocate for policies that prevent people from starting to use tobacco products and help people already addicted quit.

Banning the sale of flavored tobacco is particularly important. Flavors make tobacco products seem less harsh and appeal to young people. We continue to support removing all flavored tobacco products from the market, including products used with electronic cigarettes.

In 2023 and 2024, the city and county of Honolulu and Hawaii County passed flavored tobacco bans.

We commend their efforts. However, these bans can’t be enforced because the state of Hawaii controls tobacco regulation. The state took over this authority in 2018 and has yet to pass its own ban.

By banning flavored tobacco, we can give all young people a chance to grow up free from nicotine addiction.

By 2034, the U.S. expects a shortfall of up to 124,000 physicians.

The U.S. also faces a shortage of nurses and other health care workers. The country needs over 200,000 new nurses annually through 2031 to meet demand. And, it needs 3.2 million other health care workers — including medical assistants, home health aides, and nursing assistants — by 2026.

Hawaii has a shortage of 4,000 health care workers.

Key reasons for the shortages are the high cost — and the daunting time commitment — of health care education.

To address staffing shortages, we believe:

Policymakers at the state and federal levels should expand funding for training programs, tuition assistance, and loan forgiveness programs
Congress has a critical role to play in helping to grow and diversify the workforce — specifically around increasing federal funding for clinical training programs and physician residency slots

We are working to grow our workforce.

In Hawaii, programs like our Mental Health Workforce Accelerator address the critical shortage of licensed mental health professionals.

This program helps aspiring mental health professionals get supervised work experience. It also offers financial incentives, training, peer support, and coaching to help participants overcome licensure barriers. We offer this program in partnership with the University of Hawaii’s Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

We also help students explore health care careers through the Summer Youth Employment Program. This paid internship gives high school and college students hands-on experience and builds a strong local workforce for the future.

The Diagnostic Imaging Summer Experience Program is an 8-week paid program that gives students hands-on experience with imaging tools like X-ray machines, CT scanners, ultrasound units, and MRI systems. Students also earn college credit and gain essential skills for future health care jobs. We offer this program in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Maui College and the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center.

We’re concerned about the burden high drug prices impose on our members and society.

We provide our members with safe, high-quality medications at a strong value for their dollar. We do this by:

Prescribing based on evidence
Negotiating drug prices
Using generics and biosimilars
Tracking safety and outcomes

As a health plan, provider, and pharmacy in one, we have a diverse perspective on the prescription drug marketplace. Our experience informs an array of policy positions designed to make prescription drugs more effective, safer, and more affordable.

Our impact

Our goal is to champion good health in Hawaii — for our members and everyone who lives and works there.

Through partnerships with community groups, schools, and government organizations, we work to improve access to health care, influence public policies, and develop programs that promote healthy living.

Learn about how we’re investing in communities across Hawaii.

Our care

Kaiser Permanente’s model combines care and coverage. Our approach allows us to provide coordinated care that supports total health.

Our model ensures our members receive high-quality care, leading to better outcomes. This is why we have the highest-ranked Medicare and Medicaid health plans in the state according to the National Committee on Quality Assurance

Top Doctors

293 world-class Kaiser Permanente doctors were named Top Doctors and Rising Stars by Castle Connolly in 2025.

Best hospitals

Our Moanalua Medical Center received the 2025 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s best hospitals for cancer care, obstetrics, and stroke care.

Best in maternity

Our Moanalua Medical Center earned a spot on Newsweek’s 2025 Best Maternity Hospitals list for excellence in maternity care.

Highly rated Medicare plans

Our Medicare health plan consistently receives high ratings for quality. For 2025, the plan received 4.5 out of 5 stars for quality from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Strengthening Hawaii together

Join us in shaping a healthier future for Hawaii.

At Kaiser Permanente, our dedicated care, comprehensive services, and community partnerships are designed to empower our members and strengthen communities.

Together, we can achieve lasting health and wellness across the state.