Progress On State Hospital Modernization Is Outlined For Kaneohe Neighborhood Board

The Hawaii State Hospital was an important topic during our June meeting.

We learned that Gov. David Ige has approved the final environmental impact statement for the hospital’s new patient and campus master plan development. And we learned that the hospital has started the bidding process for the new facility, which will provide housing and treatment for 144 high-risk patients. (For more information, contact Project Engineer Brian Isa at brian.s.isa@hawaii.gov.)

The facility and the master plan are part of a long-term effort to upgrade buildings that are more than 80 years old and over capacity.

Hospital Administrator William May (right) and
consultant Kira Downing of the DTL strategic planning
firm outline plans for the Hawaii State Hospital.

In addition to the high-risk facility, the hospital is working with Avalon Health Care Group to build a skilled nursing facility on 5 acres of hospital property adjacent to Windward Community College. That facility will have 150 beds to serve a mix of elderly, medically complex and non-violent psychiatric patients.  

During the meeting, there were questions about security measures to protect the hospital’s neighbors. Hospital representatives outlined multiple security features planned for the building that serves high-risk patients, including better monitoring stations inside and enhanced fencing outside.

Representatives also said they will send alerts in the event of security issues such as escapes. Residents can receive text and email alerts about hospital issues from the city’s new HNL Info service. HNL Info replaces the Nixle service, which the city had used for several years. To sign up for HNL Info, click here.

During the meeting, Neighborhood Board members also asked for information about the extent to which drugs will be used in providing behavioral care and questioned operating a private business on state land.

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State Hospital Shares Treatment Facility Concepts With Kaneohe Neighborhood Board

We had an informative presentation from the Hawaii State Hospital at our February meeting.

New Treatment Facility: Hospital representatives shared a preliminary site plan for a building that will provide housing and treatment for 144 high-risk patients. The plan shows a main facility with branches that can be monitored from centrally located nurses’ stations. A controlled entryway will handle patient arrivals and departures. Small outdoor recreation yards will separate most of the branches. A secure exterior wall and high security fencing will enclose the facility.

Hospital officials hope to publish a final environmental impact statement for the facility in a couple of months and to submit the plan to the Honolulu City Council mid-year. (The draft environmental impact statement is available by clicking this link.) The goal is to start building in 2018 and finish in 2020.

The facility is expected to cost $160 million. It will replace the Goddard Building, a 69-year-old treatment facility that was torn down in 2016 after going unused for more than two decades.

Security Concerns: Responding to a question from the Board, Hospital Administrator William May said that if community members see someone whom they believe has escaped from the hospital, they should call 911. He said that law enforcement agencies would put an alert on CrimeStoppers and the Nixle emergency notification service.

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State Hospital Developments Are Reviewed At Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Meeting

We heard an informative report about developments at the Hawaii State Hospital during our December meeting. Details are below. Click on the highlighted links for more information.

Public Input Sought: Neighborhood Board Chairman Mo Radke reminded us that a draft environmental impact statement about the hospital’s development plans is available for review and comment. The deadline for submitting comments is January 9, 2017. The document outlines plans for a new patient care facility that is to be built in the next two to three years. It also details longer term plans for at least three new patient care facilities and a warehouse-operations facility. The development is needed to address crowding and deteriorating facilities and the hospital’s Kaneohe campus.

William May.

Goddard Building Removal: State Hospital Administrator William May told us that removal of 11,000 tons of debris from the demolished Goddard Building was completed on December 15. The demolition makes way for construction of the new patient care facility mentioned above. That project is expected to start in 2018. Built in 1947, the Goddard Building had deteriorated to the point that it had not been used in more than two decades. The Legislature has appropriated $160 million to build its replacement.

Security: Mr. May told us that the hospital has added security features since the escape and recapture of a patient shortly before Halloween. He said security screens have been added to the building where the escape took place and one other. He also said security features have been adjusted to prevent escapes.