Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC), founded in 1972, is a community health center located in Waiʻanae on the west side of Oʻahu in the state of Hawaii. When it was first established, WCCHC had one doctor and five staff members. WCCHC has then expanded to over 540 employees at the main center in Waiʻanae and four satellite clinics in surrounding areas, including Kapolei and Waipahu.
In 2024, WCCHC served over 36,000 patients. In addition to its conventional primary medical and dental care, WCCHC offers exercise/fitness programs utilizing a gym and walking paths, a farmers' market in Waiʻanae and Kapolei, a restaurant, and Native Hawaiian healing services. The native Hawaiian healing center was the first of its kind in the nation. WCCHC also has a 24-hour emergency department, adult day care, health career training, mental health, substance abuse treatment, nutrition counseling, and transportation.
Clinics and services
Main campus Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Dental Clinic – In 1994, the Weinberg Foundation donated $800,000 towards the construction of the laboratory and dental building. The new facility expanded the Health Center's capability to provide additional dental care to the community and additional workspace for laboratory services. Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Building – Completed in July 2008. Houses pediatrics and women's health practices. Malama Ola – The Malama Ola (integrative medicine) Clinic offers primary care, pain management, lifestyle enhancement, acupuncture, chronic disease management, sports medicine, employee wellness and research activities. A fitness gym is also a part of the Clinic. Makai Clinic – Offers primary care pediatric services. Mauka Clinic Ohana Clinic Specialty Clinic Emergency Medicine – Offers 24-hour emergency, lab, and x-ray services. Native Hawaiian Healing – Native Hawaiian Healing Practitioners provide traditional healing services from this building. A Kupuna Council (Native Hawaiian elders who are also Native Hawaiian traditional healers) provides input on cultural and traditional services to be offered through the Health Center. WIC (Women, Infant and Children) Program – W.I.C. (Women, Infants & Children) is a supplemental nutrition program which provides nourishing supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and health and social service referrals. Participants of WIC are either pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum women, and infants and children under age five who meet income guidelines and have a medical or nutritional risk. Behavioral Health Services – Behavioral health services for adults and children are provided by psychiatrists and psychologists and include psychiatric diagnostic or evaluative interview procedures, insight-oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive psychotherapy, and medication management. Additional behavioral health services are integrated with the primary care clinics. Adult Day Care – Adult Day Care service is available for adults, 18 years and older, in need of protection, supervision and/or socialization. Services are provided in a home-like setting and include exercise, arts and crafts, music, games and meals.
Other locations Waiola Clinic – Offers primary care services. Located in Waiʻanae Shopping Center. James and Abigail Campbell Clinic – Offers primary care services. Located in Nānākuli, HI. Kapolei Health Care Center – Offers primary care services. Located in Kapolei, HI. Waipahu Family Health Center – Offers primary care services. Located in Waipahu, HI. Waiʻanae Health Academy (WHA) – The Waianae Health Academy was formed in 1992 as a partnership between Leeward Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College and the WCCHC. It began in response to a request from the WCCHC Board of Directors that the center provide training opportunities for Waiʻanae Coast residents. Since that time, the WHA has been providing health career certificate programs such as Nurse Aide, Medical Assisting, Practical Nursing, Community Health Worker, Phlebotomy, Dental Assisting, Medical Reception, Medical Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Plant Landscaping, Agricultural Technology, and Pre-Health/Bridge courses. The Waianae Health Academy also offers comprehensive Haumana Kokua (student support services) to assist people enter and succeed in the programs they choose. This support includes assistance in completing the application process, applying for scholarships and financial aid, and having access to an assigned Education Specialist who is available to help the student find resources which address other barriers to education. Substance Abuse Program Pearl City Hale Adult Day Care Hale Kakoʻo Adult Day Care – Hale Kakoʻo is an adult care facility in ʻĀlewa Heights, a neighborhood in Honolulu, for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It is the only adult day care in Hawaiʻi offering night care, filling a need for such patients and providing respite for their caregivers. Accounting and Purchasing Human Resources Health Patient Accounting Services (HPAS) – Offers practice management services, including claims and statement processing.
History of the WCCHC
Before the health center, 1946–1970 1946: Healthcare on the Waiʻanae Coast was provided by the Waiʻanae Sugar Mill dispensary. The population averaged 6,000 people. When Waiʻanae's sugar mill closed, leaving Waianae Coast residents without medical facilities. Residents were forced to travel to Honolulu to see a doctor; the journey took 1 1/2 hours each way. Only the very ill sought care.
1964: State statistics identified Waiʻanae as having a poor health and disease profile and a high infant mortality rate. The State began delivering part-time maternal and infant care from a small building in Nānākuli. There were two part-time MDs practicing in Waiʻanae. Kaiser Clinic opened in Māʻili (for Kaiser members).
1966: Concerned residents formed a Health Task Force (HTF) to plan for better health services and more doctors on the Coast to meet the needs of the growing population, then estimated at 18,000 people.
1968: The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development designated Waiʻanae and Nānākuli for the Model Cities Program.
1969: The State Legislature guaranteed a salary of $25,000 per year to any doctor who would practice in Waiʻanae (Act 299). The HTF was successful in bringing a doctor to the Coast who practiced in the Māʻili Ola Clinic. The doctor left within the year. The HTF, with assistance from the University of Hawaiʻi School of Medicine, developed a program concept that identified the needs of the community: a comprehensive health center, home health care, and a hospital. This document was the basis for acquiring Model Cities Program aid. The HTF incorporated into the Waiʻanae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board, Inc. The Board was intended to be the policy-making body for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.
1970: A public election was held for the first Board of Directors of the Waiʻanae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board, Inc. Membership in the corporation was and continues to be open to all residents 18 years and older who have an interest in health. The Model Cities Program provided $84,000 in seed money for the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center project, and the board hired a core planning staff in late 1970. The planning objective was to secure land and obtain funds to build and operate the health center. The health center site was acquired through the Hawaiian Home Lands and Department of Land and Natural Resources. Funding to build the first phase of the health center was obtained through the Model Cities Program. Project Directors were Robert Lawton and Ray Lilly. There were two more doctors practicing in Waiʻanae—still not enough for the growing population of some 24,000 people.
A difficult beginning, 1972–1974 1972: Ground was broken to build the first phase of the health center. In October, Dr. Paul Barry, the center's first employed doctor, and a staff of five, began delivery of services from a temporary location across from Waiʻanae's McDonald's restaurant. Waiʻanae qualified as a medically underserved area under federal guidelines and operational funds were granted through the United States Public Health Service (PHS). The health center's first Administrator was David Pali.
1973: In August, Phase I was completed and services were delivered from the health center's present location. the center had two physicians, who worked 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. Shortly after opening, there was a period of turmoil when the PHS stopped funding the center until it complied with certain conditions. The Board included representation from the University of Hawaiʻi School of Medicine and School of Public Health, and the Department of Health. the center had 33 employees. Administrators included Clem Hauanio (Acting), Gilbert Bishop (Interim), and Ed Kelleher.
1974: USPHS funds were reinstated in February 1974, upon compliance by the center's Board of Directors. the center's new Administrator was Brian Riordan.
The health center is firmly established, 1975–1984 1975: In January, Dr. Frederick Dodge was hired to be the center's first Medical Director. Weekend emergency room services began, supported by a State Department of Health subsidy.
1976: The outpatient clinic was built and family practice services to the community continued to increase. Administrators were Edgar Molleta/Diane Muri (Acting) and John Volanti. The center's Radiology (x-ray) department opened.
1977–1984: The health center enjoyed continued growth. The WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program was initiated. Three portable buildings were added. More services and programs were added to serve a growing patient population. the center named Dr. Richard Banner as its new Medical Director. Two babies were delivered in the emergency room during Hurricane Iwa in 1982 (while the center operated on emergency power). The back driveway was completed by military personnel as a firebreak, after a fire threatened the safety of the center. Staffing was increased to 160 employees. Michael Tweedell was named as Administrator.
A period of growth, 1985–1993 1985–1986: The First Annual Run For Your Life 2-mile walk/4-mile run was held. Proceeds were used to purchase emergency equipment. With assistance from Aloha United Way, the center's emergency department opened 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
1987: The first class of nurses’ aides graduated. the center celebrated its 15th anniversary. the center began Pacific Regional Training activities to Palau, Guam, Pohnpei, the Marshall Islands, and Saipan. The Adult Day Care Program was started.
1989: the center's Waiʻanae Diet pilot project was launched.
1990: Chevron USA began their scholarship program with the center, awarding 19 scholarships. the center received a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in response to the high incidence and mortality rates of breast and cervical cancer among Hawaiian women. Patient transportation services began through funding assistance from the Office on Aging. the center began Outreach Services for the homeless and AIDS/HIV patients. Hawaii Patient Accounting Services, Inc. (HPAS), a for-profit subsidiary, began providing billing and collection services for the center.