Healthcare Access
The Challenge
Access to healthcare remains one of the most important quality-of-life issues facing Hawaiʻi residents. While Hawaiʻi consistently ranks among the healthiest states in the nation, too many families still struggle to find timely appointments, access specialized care, afford treatment, or receive services close to home.
Neighbor island communities often face additional barriers, including provider shortages, limited specialty care, travel costs, and long wait times. At the same time, healthcare providers face workforce shortages that strain the entire system and make access more difficult for patients.
Mental health challenges, substance abuse, aging populations, and rising healthcare costs continue to place additional pressure on families, providers, and communities.
Every resident deserves access to quality healthcare regardless of income, geography, or circumstance.
Daniel’s Position
Daniel believes healthcare should focus on access, outcomes, prevention, and community well-being.
The goal is not simply to spend more money on healthcare. The goal is to ensure that residents can receive quality care when they need it, where they need it, and at a cost they can afford.
Hawaiʻi should strengthen its healthcare workforce, improve access across all islands, expand mental health services, and focus on prevention and early intervention that improve long-term health outcomes.
A healthier Hawaiʻi benefits families, employers, communities, and future generations.
Action Plan
Expand Healthcare Access Across All Islands
Support healthcare delivery systems that improve access for residents in underserved and rural communities.
Encourage innovative approaches that bring healthcare services closer to patients and reduce unnecessary barriers to care.
Strengthen Hawaiʻi’s Healthcare Workforce
Work with healthcare providers, educational institutions, and licensing agencies to address workforce shortages and improve recruitment and retention.
Support pathways that encourage local students to pursue healthcare careers and remain in Hawaiʻi.
Improve Mental Health Services
Expand access to mental health care, crisis services, counseling, and community-based support systems.
Promote early intervention and treatment options that help individuals receive care before problems become crises.
Increase Focus on Prevention and Wellness
Support programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, preventative care, chronic disease management, and community health education.
Investing in prevention improves quality of life and can reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Improve Transparency and Accountability
Provide the public with clear information about healthcare access, provider shortages, service availability, and healthcare system performance.
Residents deserve to know whether healthcare access is improving and where additional attention is needed.
Measuring Success
Daniel supports annual reporting on:
Primary care provider availability
Healthcare workforce vacancy rates
Mental health provider availability
Average appointment wait times
Neighbor island healthcare access
Preventative care participation
Emergency room utilization rates
Healthcare affordability indicators
Patient access and satisfaction measures
Healthcare should be measured by whether people can access care when they need it and whether health outcomes are improving over time.
Success means shorter wait times, stronger healthcare workforce capacity, better mental health access, improved preventative care participation, and greater confidence that residents can receive quality care without leaving their communities.