Rural health development in Hawaii

The Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association Inc. is a non-profit organization located at 96 Puahala Street in Pahala, Hawaii. Established in 1998 as a result of a community coalition, the association aims to preserve access to quality healthcare in rural communities. They successfully kept Kaʻū hospital's emergency room services open and focus on community empowerment, collaborative partnerships, and promoting a healthy community through Health, Education, Research Opportunities, and Economic Sustainability (HEROES). The association serves the southernmost district of Hawaii County, including areas such as South Point, Ocean View, Nīnole, Waiʻōhinu, Naʻālehu, and Pāhala. Join them at the 2024 Nā’ālehu Health & Wellness Fair on February 24th, 2024.

Na Lei Wili Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is located at 4442 Hardy Street, Lihue, Hawaii, United States. The institution was established in 1997 to serve the medically underserved population of Kauai and three community health centers on Oahu. The institution is led by Fran Becker, the Executive Director, who has a background in community services and has been involved in AHEC for 1 year. Na Lei Wili AHEC offers a successful health careers program called "Grow Our Own Healers," which focuses on long-term health career exploration, mentoring, community health education, and community service. The institution also supports the Health Occupation for Teens (HOT) program for students at Waimea High School and provides training for medical students at rural and underserved sites. Na Lei Wili AHEC's primary focus is on health careers recruitment and training. The institution hosted the 2013 Teen Health camp and the 2008 Summer Health Adventure for teens, which aimed to develop the youth's potential through outdoor adventures and team building activities. With a mission to support and empower the community, Na Lei Wili AHEC is dedicated to improving the healthcare workforce and providing opportunities for personal growth and career development.