Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children |
|
|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific Health | |
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States |
| Organization | |
| Care system | Community |
| Hospital type | Non-profit |
| Network | Hawaii Pacific Health |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Yes |
| Beds | 207 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1890 |
Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children is a special hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is part of the Hawaii Pacific Health network. This hospital is Hawaii's only children's hospital. It has a team of doctors and nurses who are experts in caring for kids of all ages, from babies to young adults up to 21 years old.
Kapiʻolani Medical Center is also the only place in Hawaii with a 24-hour emergency room just for kids. It has special units for very sick children and for teenagers. The hospital provides many different types of care for children. This includes everything from regular check-ups to complex surgeries.
The hospital was started by Queen Kapiʻolani in 1890. She named it the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home. She worked hard to raise money for it, holding bazaars and luaus. Over the years, the hospital grew and changed its name several times.
Contents
A Hospital for Kids and Families
Kapiʻolani Medical Center is known for its excellent care for women and children. It is a non-profit hospital, which means it uses its earnings to improve care. The hospital focuses on two main areas: Maternity (care for pregnant women and new mothers) and Pediatrics (care for children).
Many important people have been born at this hospital. For example, former US president Barack Obama was born here on August 4, 1961. This shows how long the hospital has been helping families in Hawaii.
How Kapiʻolani Hospital Started
Queen Kapiʻolani's Vision
The idea for Kapiʻolani Hospital began in 1884. Princess Victoria Kekaulike wanted her home to become a place to help Hawaiian mothers. After she passed away, her sister, Queen Kapiʻolani, made this dream come true.
In 1890, Queen Kapiʻolani raised $8,000 to open the Kapiʻolani Home of the Hoʻoulu and Hoʻola Lahui Society. This name means "society to propagate and perpetuate the race." The home was meant to be a safe place for Hawaiian women to have their babies. It opened on June 14, 1890, with King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani present.
Over time, the hospital grew and changed. In 1918, it became the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home and welcomed women from all backgrounds. It moved to a larger building and added more beds. In 1931, its name changed again to the Kapiʻolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital. This new name showed that it also helped women with other health issues.
Kauikeolani Children's Hospital Joins In
Another important hospital, Kauikeolani Children's Hospital, opened in 1909. It was named after Emma Kauikeōlani Napoleon Mahelona. This hospital focused on caring for children, especially Hawaiian children. It was built with a large donation from Albert Spencer Wilcox.
For many years, both Kapiʻolani Hospital and Kauikeolani Children's Hospital served the community separately. Kauikeolani Children's Hospital even had a rehabilitation center to help kids recover from injuries or illnesses.
Becoming Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children
In 1976, Kapiʻolani Hospital and Kauikeolani Children's Hospital began to merge. This was a big step to combine their services. By 1978, Kauikeolani Children's Hospital moved into a new, large building with Kapiʻolani Hospital. This new place was called the Kapiʻolani/Children's Medical Center. It had separate entrances for children's doctors and women's doctors.
The two hospitals officially completed their merger in 1986. This created the single, strong hospital we know today: Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children. This merger allowed them to offer even better and more complete care for families.
In 2001, Kapiʻolani Medical Center joined with other hospitals in Hawaii, like Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Straub Clinic & Hospital. They all became part of a new parent company called Hawaii Pacific Health. This network helps hospitals work together to provide the best healthcare across Hawaii.
