If you are a parent raising a child in Hawaii, you may have heard of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Located in the Manoa area of Honolulu at 1319 Punahou Street, this hospital is the only women's and children's specialty medical facility in the entire state of Hawaii, holding a significance beyond that of a typical hospital for the people of Hawaii.

https://www.hawaiipacifichealth.org/kapiolani

The hospital's history dates back to 1890, when it was established as an obstetrics hospital named by Queen Kapiolani, the last queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The queen founded this hospital to reduce the high infant mortality rate in Hawaii at the time, and for over 130 years, the hospital has been responsible for childbirth and pediatric care in Hawaii. It is not an exaggeration to say that a significant number of newborns born in Hawaii have passed through this hospital.

Children of various races and backgrounds, including Native Hawaiian children, take their first breaths at this hospital.

Kapiolani Medical Center currently operates as one of the hospitals under Hawaii Pacific Health. It is part of a network that includes Straub Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center, and Wilcox Medical Center.

The hospital is equipped with not only a Birth Center but also a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a pediatric emergency room, a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and specialized clinics for pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

Various pediatric specialists, including pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, and pediatric neurologists, are available to address complex childhood illnesses at this hospital.

In particular, this hospital excels in the care of premature or high-risk newborns. The NICU is known for providing a high level of specialized neonatal care in Hawaii, treating newborns with severe congenital defects or those requiring complex surgeries.

In cases where high-risk deliveries are expected from other islands in Hawaii, it is not uncommon for patients to be transferred to Oahu to deliver at Kapiolani. This highlights the hospital's central role in pediatric and neonatal care across Hawaii.

The women's healthcare services are also comprehensive. There are specialized clinics for Maternal-Fetal Medicine for high-risk pregnancies, reproductive medicine programs addressing miscarriage and infertility, and clinics focused on women's cancers.

It is considered one of the most experienced hospitals in Hawaii for handling complex obstetric cases such as pregnancy complications, placenta previa, and twin pregnancies. Many in the Korean community turn to Kapiolani when issues arise during pregnancy or when complicated deliveries are anticipated.

Nearby, there are Kapiolani Park and the Waikiki Aquarium, making the environment pleasant, and it is not far from Ala Moana Shopping Center or downtown Honolulu. Parking is available for a fee, and public transportation is accessible.

The hospital also offers multilingual interpretation services, making it usable for those who are not comfortable with English. When it comes to childbirth or pediatric healthcare needs in Hawaii, Kapiolani Medical Center is a top choice to consider.