Hawai'i's hospitals, long-term care facilities and physicians represent virtually all medical and surgical specialties and sub-specialties in modern medicine. And its cultural and environmental amenities offer people from Asian and Pacific Rim countries the most contemporary medical care in the world.

Acute healthcare in Hawai'i dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century, when King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma started The Queen's Hospital, which continues to operate today as The Queen's Medical Center.

The industry has since expanded to include half a dozen major medical centers on O'ahu alone. Here's a brief look at each of these medical centers, what they're known for and how you can reach them:

Queen's Medical Center

The Queen's Medical Center 1301 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 538-9011 www.queens.org

As the largest private hospital in Hawai'i and the Pacific Basin, The Queen's Medical Center offers a full range of primary and specialized care services. Its cancer, orthopedics, cardiac, neuroscience, emergency and maternity departments are leaders in their fields. And Queen's is the designated trauma center for the state of Hawai'i.

When O'ahu residents think of The Queen's Medical Center, they think of it as being the oldest, largest and, for many, the best hospital in Hawai'i. Queen's operates with 526 acute care beds and 30 sub-acute beds. Its 3,000 employees and more than 1,200 physicians on staff also make it one of the state's largest employers.

Hawai'i Pacific Health

Straub Clinic & Hospital 888 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 522-4000 www.Straubhealth.com Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children 1319 Punahou Street Honolulu, HI 96826 (808) 983-6000 www.kapiolani.org Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi 98-1079 Moanalua Road Aiea, HI 96701 (808) 486-6000 www.kapiolani.org 91-2141 Fort Weaver Road Ewa Beach, Hawai'i 96706 Phone: 808-678-7000 www.stfrancishawaii.org

Hawai'i Pacific Health is one of Hawai'i's largest healthcare systems, comprised of four hospitals, 23 clinics, over 30 community outreach programs, nearly 5,000 employees and affiliations with nearly 1,000 private physicians.

Formed with the 2001 merger of Straub Clinic & Hospital, Kapiolani Health and Wilcox Health System, the combined non-profit organization offers a full array of tertiary, specialty and acute care services through its four major medical centers that also serve as teaching and research centers.

Straub Clinic & Hospital is known in the community as having served Hawai'i with medical excellence since the 1920s. Featuring comprehensive health care in 32 specialties, Straub offers the broadest range of medical specialists under one roof — a "one-stop shop" that adds convenience for its patients through its network of community clinics.

Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children is known for their medical excellence in both Women's Health and Pediatric Care. Many Island women feel Kapiolani is the safest place in the state to have a baby.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center 3288 Moanalua Rd. Honolulu HI 96819 Ph. 432-0000 www.kaiserpermanente.or

Kaiser Permanente has provided health care for the people of Hawai'i since 1958. Its three entities — Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Hawai'i Permanente Medical Group, Inc. (HPMG) i collaborate to provide a broad range of medical care, benefits and services.

Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i is best known for being the state's largest health maintenance organization. Its 390 physicians and 3,800 employees serve 231,000 members statewide. Kaiser operates 17 outpatient clinics on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i, and a 217-bed acute care hospital on O'ahu. It also operates a 55-bed skilled nursing facility adjacent to the hospital.

Castle Medical Center

Castle Medical Center 640 Ulukahiki Street Kailua, HI 96734 808-263-5500 www.castlemed.org91- 2141 Fort Weaver Road Ewa Beach, Hawai'i 96706 Phone: 808-678-7000 www.stfrancishawaii.org

Known for being the only acute care medical facility on Windward O'ahu, with excellent emergency medical services, Castle Medical Center has long been recognized for its emphasis on preventive medicine and compassionate care.

The 157-bed medical center provides full range of medical/surgical care, including 24-hour Emergency Department, extensive outpatient and home-based services and many specialty services. It is staffed by 248 physicians, 827 employees, 200 volunteers and 16 allied health professionals 5,732 admissions, 442 deliveries, 18,675 ER visits, 92,735 outpatient visits and 17,600 home care visits in 2000.

Kuakini Medical Center

Kuakini Health System 347 North Kuakini Street Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817 (808) 536-2236 www.kuakini.org 91-2141 Fort Weaver Road Ewa Beach, Hawai'i 96706 Phone: 808-678-7000 www.stfrancishawaii.org

Kuakini Medical Center, a subsidiary of the Kuakini Health System, was established in 1900, partly in response to the Great Chinatown Fire. Its original purpose was to provide free medical care to Japanese immigrant sugar cane workers. In fact, the center's landmark copper dome was erected as a tribute to the financial support Kuakini received from the Imperial Family of Japan; it resembles a chrysanthemum, the royal flower of Japan.

Today, Kuakini is known for several areas of excellence, including comprehensive oncology (cancer) services, cardiac care, gastroenterology, orthopedics and pulmonary/sleep lab services. Many people also think of the elderly when they hear "Kuakini" because the center has been a leader in developing programs to prevent premature institutionalization of the elderly.

With 1,038 full-time employees, Kuakini Medical Center is the sixth largest private acute care hospital in Hawai'i. Kuakini Health System is the 22nd largest employer in Hawai'i and the state's 39th oldest company.

St. Francis Medical Center

St. Francis Medical Center 2230 Liliha Street Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817 Phone: 808-547-6011 www.stfrancishawaii.org St. Francis Medical Center — West 91-2141 Fort Weaver Road Ewa Beach, Hawai'i 96706 Phone: 808-678-7000 www.stfrancishawaii.org

The Sisters of St. Francis have been caring for the people of Hawai'i since 1883 when Mother Marianne Cope and six Franciscan sisters traveled to Hawai'i from Syracuse, New York. They'd made the journey at the request of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani to care for the island's sick and poor, particularly those afflicted with Hansen's Disease.

In 1924, when the O'ahu community needed another hospital, one which would be willing to offer treatment to the poor, it turned to the Sisters of St. Francis. On May 9, 1927, St. Francis Hospital admitted its first patient.