Puna district needs its own hospital
On Aug. 26, 2022, I waddled into the passenger seat of my brother’s car with my husband hurriedly stuffing our bags in the back seat. I was four days overdue with our fourth child, and the contractions were only a few minutes apart.
Now on a good day with no traffic, you can make it to Hilo from Hawaiian Paradise Park in roughly 30 minutes. If you hit those pockets of traffic just making it to Keaau takes twice as long. At around six o’clock on a Friday night, I knew that I needed to hold it together until we made it to the hospital.
While I can’t tell you if there was any Hilo-bound traffic on Panaewa stretch, I closed my eyes on the Keaau bypass from the pain.
I can tell you that we did not make it to the hospital before my baby was born. My son was born in the car on Palai. We were transported to the Hilo Medical Center in an ambulance and were thankfully OK.
But I could have avoided giving birth in the car if I didn’t have to travel so far to the hospital. What the district of Puna needs is a hospital. Not just for the expecting moms, but for our kupuna who have to travel so far to get treatment.
In 2020, the population of Puna district was 51,704. By 2030, Puna’s population is expected to reach 75,000 residents. That means more babies, more kupuna seeking care. So, let’s reach out to our government officials and ask for their kokua to make a hospital in Puna a reality.
Precious Winchester
Keaau
Thoughts about bus service in Pahoa
For those without their own vehicle, Pahoa is no longer the place for you.
There was a big push to get more people to ride public transit several years ago, but the county doesn’t seem that concerned anymore.
Whenever my little truck is in the shop — and the shop has gotten to know my truck very well — I ride the bus. It used to be one could go shopping in town at the health food store, but that stop no longer exists, as someone complained.
When bus riders have a problem, “suck it up, buttercup,” but when a business complains about bus riders, action must be taken to punish the bus ridership.
The only stops in Pahoa are at Puna Kai/Woodland Center at one end, and the elementary school/church.
For every complaint, there should be a suggestion. Can the bus get into the county recreation parking lot? If so, why can’t a county facility be utilized for another county function? Who would complain there?
A courtesy light at Kauhale would be advisable to handle all of the new traffic for a left-hand turn.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa