STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2235-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 21

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 21, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION'S EAST HAWAIʻI REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ESTABLISHING A RURAL HEALTH CLINIC OR COMPARABLE RURAL HEALTH ACCESS POINT TO SERVE THE VOLCANO COMMUNITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation's East Hawaiʻi Regional Health Care System to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a rural health clinic or comparable rural health access point to serve the Volcano community.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Board of Directors; East Hawaiʻi Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Volcano Health Collaborative; Lanikai Brewing Company; Cooper Center Council; Rotary Club of Volcano; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Volcano community is one of the largest rural population centers on the island of Hawaiʻi that is without direct access to primary care services, emergency stabilization capacity, or a locally based medical provider. Your Committee further finds that the Volcano Village and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park receive million of visitors annually, further heightening the need for accessible medical services to respond to visitor injuries and other urgent medical needs arising from outdoor exposure to the volcano environment. Your Committee believes that the establishment of a Rural Health Clinic in the Volcano community would help to strengthen the overall health care infrastructure of East Hawaiʻi and improve health outcomes for visitors and residents.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 21, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair