MEDIA RELEASE

The East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation announces Cathy Meyer-Uyehara as the new administrator to lead Hale Hoola Hamakua, a 50-bed critical access hospital and long-term care facility in Honokaa.

“Her arrival is timely with the facility’s 28-bed expansion underway,”  said Howard Ainsley, East Hawaii Regional CEO of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. “We look forward to the impact she will have on long-term and acute care in the Hamakua community.”

“I am very excited to be here,” Meyer-Uyehara said. “It is a wonderful feeling to be joining a community who supports the facility and to see the expansion already underway.”

Meyer-Uyehara brings 30 years of healthcare executive experience in Hawaii and the mainland to lead Hale Hoola Hamakua.

Most recently, she served as home care services director at Castle Medical Center on Oahu, caring for 200-plus patients. Prior to that, she was the administrator for Hale Makua Health Services’ 124-bed Wailuku Facility on Maui.

In addition to her work experience, Meyer-Uyehara is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and possesses a Nursing Home Administrator license in Hawaii.

She served as President of the Board of Directors for the American College of Healthcare Executives Hawaii-Pacific Chapter. She has also served in various capacities at the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Hale Hoola Hamakua, originally known as Honokaa Hospital, has served the healthcare needs of the communities of Hamakua, North Hawaii and South Kohala since 1951.

In November 1995, a new facility was opened above the old hospital, to provide long-term-care services. The facility was renamed Hale Hoola Hamakua (Haven of Wellness in Hamakua) in 1997 to reflect its new focus.

In 2009, construction began to add 28 beds to the 50-bed facility.

— Find out more:

www.hhsc.org/easthi/hhh/default.htm