Kuakini Medical Center:Emergency Room history

A larger facility was built in 1917 at the present site with donations from Emperor Taishō of Japan.

By September 1918, funds from the Society and public contributions (which included a special donation from Emperor Taisho and the Empress of Japan) helped build a modern facility at the hospital's third and present site on Kuakini Street.

The Japanese Hospital's nursing school was started in 1931 and provided a three-year training program for an average of 20 nurses per class.

In 1934 Emperor Hirohito of Japan donated funds for more expansion.

A major expansion program that was completed in 1939 increased the hospital's size to 100 beds and provided more services with the addition of X-ray, surgical, pediatric and maternity facilities.

In 1942, the hospital changed its name to Kuakini Hospital and Home.

The hospitals Ewa wing and Waikiki wing had their construction financed by a major fundraising drive in 1951; Increasing the bed count of Kuakini to 140 beds.

Kuakini received its first accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (now called the Joint Commission) in 1954.

In 1956, the governing Board of Kuakini authorized the use of an architectural consultant to assist in the development of a master plan for future physical expansion at Kuakini.

To provide housing for the hospital interns, Kuakini built two apartment buildings in 1963.

Kuakini Got Start as Charity Hospital, June 1968

The hospital was renamed Kuakini Medical Center in 1975 to reflect its expanded programs to the community and in celebration of its 75th anniversary.

1976-today Kuakini is a 250-bed acute care hospital accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed to operate in the State of Hawaii.

Kuakini Medical Plaza, an eight-story physicians' office building next to the Medical Center, was completed in 1979 to provide a medical facility that enables doctors to be near their hospitalized patients.

The Growth of a Hospital at Kuakini, May 1980

We've grown from about 360 employees to over 1,500 employees and we're continuing to grow." – Henry M., quote from Panorama (employee newsletter), 1988