The Hawaii Dept. of Health, or DOH, is providing new air transport services to assist residents of Lanai and Molokai who have to travel off-island to receive medical care. Contracts have been awarded to Pulama Ka Heke, a Moloka’i-based nonprofit healthcare hui, and Lanai Kinaole, a home healthcare agency, to help coordinate the services. State legislature awarded $2 million to DOH in 2024 to establish the Essential Rural Medical Air Transport Pilot Program, aiming to develop sustainable models for interisland medical air transport that address the healthcare access challenges rural island communities face on a regular basis. DOH said it will continue to work towards getting more air ambulance providers for the state.
