Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Kuakini Medical Center
Honolulu, HI 96817
County: Honolulu Directions Apple Maps Call (808) 536-2236
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Official links: Website for Kuakini Medical Center (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 0.2mi Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Honolulu, HI Call Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Directions to Rehab Hospital of the Pacific (Google Maps) Details for Rehab Hospital of the Pacific
- 0.9mi The Queens Medical Center Honolulu, HI · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 14 min Call The Queens Medical Center Directions to The Queens Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for The Queens Medical Center
- 1.4mi Straub Clinic and Hospital Honolulu, HI · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 6 min Call Straub Clinic and Hospital Directions to Straub Clinic and Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Straub Clinic and Hospital
Quick answers about Kuakini Medical Center
How long is the ER wait at Kuakini Medical Center?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 2 hr 37 min in the Kuakini Medical Center emergency room (the average across Hawaii hospitals is 2 hr). 2% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (808) 536-2236. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Kuakini Medical Center?
The main phone number for Kuakini Medical Center is (808) 536-2236, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (808) 536-2236What is the address of Kuakini Medical Center?
Kuakini Medical Center is at 347 N Kuakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Kuakini Medical Center have an emergency room?
Yes. Kuakini Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Kuakini Medical Center's Medicare star rating?
Kuakini Medical Center has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Star ratings come from CMS quality and safety measures, not patient reviews.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of October 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Kuakini Medical Center spend a median of 2 hours 37 minutes there. That is 37 minutes longer than the average across Hawaii hospitals (2 hours).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Kuakini Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Hawaii · How Hawaii hospitals rank on star ratings · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 434 completed surveys · patients discharged Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Patients gave Kuakini Medical Center a 2-star patient experience rating out of 5. 59% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 59% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. About the data.
Compare Kuakini Medical Center
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Kuakini Medical Center was no different from the national benchmark on all 4 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Hospital-acquired infections
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 11.5% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 13.0% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 9.4% | 11.9% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.2% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
Other complications
All 11 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 3.7 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 1.65 | 0.55 | Worse than national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.22 | 0.24 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.17 | 0.18 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.68 | 2.25 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.53 | 1.56 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 8.04 | 8.15 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.48 | 3.31 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 4.25 | 4.89 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.65 | 1.7 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.21 | 1.04 | Worse than national |
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted), for Jan 2025 – Dec 2025. Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
What insurance does Kuakini Medical Center accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 120007). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in Hawaii that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network | Network | Network tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMSA | 6 of 6 plans | PREFERRED-PROVIDER-PLAN | Preferred-Provider-Plan |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Hawaii
Plans that include this hospital: HMSA Bronze PPO I, HMSA Bronze PPO II HSA, HMSA Gold PPO I, HMSA Gold PPO II, HMSA Platinum PPO, HMSA Silver PPO Compare plans
Adults in Hawaii qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Hawaii Medicaid plans it takes.
What insurance does Kuakini Medical Center accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Kuakini Medical Center is in network for 1 Marketplace insurer in Hawaii: HMSA (6 of 6 plans). This covers Marketplace (ACA) plans only, not Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or employer plans. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Kuakini Medical Center take Medicare?
Kuakini Medical Center is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 120007), according to CMS hospital data. Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this page does not cover; check with your plan before you get care.
Does Kuakini Medical Center accept HMSA?
Kuakini Medical Center is in network for 6 of 6 plans that HMSA sells on the Hawaii Marketplace in 2027, according to HMSA's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2024 – Jun 2025
On the 2 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Kuakini Medical Center was no different from the national rate or its expected level.
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| All conditions (hospital-wide)Medicare patients back in any hospital within 30 days of leaving. | 14.6% | 16.2% | Not compared |
| Heart attack | 15.3% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21.4% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16.1% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20% | 20% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.3% | 5.8% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Medicare's readmission program
Excess readmission ratio: this hospital's predicted readmissions divided by the number expected for a typical hospital with the same patients. Above 1.00 means more readmissions than expected. 2 of 4 conditions are above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart failure | 1.015 | 118 | More than expected |
| Heart attack | 1.011 | – | More than expected |
| Pneumonia | 0.919 | 191 | Fewer than expected |
| Hip or knee replacement | 0.755 | – | Fewer than expected |
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Kuakini Medical Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Sepsis: got all recommended early treatmentPatients with severe sepsis or septic shock who received every step of the recommended early care bundle. Higher is better. 233 patients. | 62% | 66% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 64 patients. | 67% | 75% |
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 376 patients. | 157 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 18 patients. | 152 min | 257 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 14,971 patients. | 2% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,399 patients. | 63% | 77% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 607 patients. | 14% | 16% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 146 patients. | 73% | 93% |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. About the data.
Medicare spending and payment programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Value-based purchasing scores by area
| Area | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Clinical outcomesDeath rates and complications | 35 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 19 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 70 |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 20 |
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cuts Medicare payments by 1% for the quarter of hospitals with the worst scores. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program withholds a small share of every hospital's Medicare payments and pays it back according to the total performance score. A spending ratio of 1.00 equals the national median; spending reflects prices, the services patients received and care after discharge, not quality. Some hospitals, such as critical access, children's and cancer hospitals, are not part of these programs. About the data.
Care after a stay at Kuakini Medical Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.2mi Kuakini Geriatric Care Honolulu, HI · 187 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5 SFF candidate
- 0.2mi Liliha Healthcare Center Honolulu, HI · 92 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5
- 0.5mi 15 Craigside Honolulu, HI · 45 beds Medicare overall 5 of 5 stars
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 2.2mi USRC KalihiHonolulu, HI
- 2.9mi USRC Beretania DialysisHonolulu, HI
- 3.3mi Liberty Dialysis Hawaii - Siemsen Dialysis FacilityHonolulu, HI
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.9mi Bayada Home Health CareHonolulu, HI · 80% would recommend
- 0.9mi Neogen CareHonolulu, HI
- 2.2mi Home Health HonoluluHonolulu, HI · 72% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 0.9mi Bristol Hospice - HawaiiHonolulu, HI · 82% would recommend
- 0.9mi Islands HospiceHonolulu, HI · 79% would recommend
- 2.2mi Kaiser Permanente Care at Home, Oahu HospiceHonolulu, HI · 91% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Kuakini Medical Center
212 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 27 specialties.
Find doctors in Honolulu
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Honolulu, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Kuakini Medical Center lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.kuakini.org/cms-hpt.txt), checked Nov 7, 2026. For an estimate of what you'll pay, ask the hospital or your insurer; Medicare's averages are on our procedure cost pages.
What Medicare paid at Kuakini Medical Center
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · original Medicare patients · 2024
Average hospital charges and actual payments for the procedures Medicare patients most often had here, compared with the average for Hawaii.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 196 | $64,159 | $21,010 | −11% |
| Respiratory infections and inflammations with major complicationsDRG 177 | 52 | $56,092 | $17,296 | −13% |
| Major hip and knee joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity without major complicationsDRG 470 | 51 | $35,647 | $19,776 | −5% |
| Acute myocardial infarction, discharged alive with major complicationsDRG 280 | 38 | $52,738 | $17,698 | −4% |
| Infectious and parasitic diseases with operating room procedures with major complicationsDRG 853 | 31 | $160,883 | $59,972 | −3% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 23 | $52,381 | $12,890 | −20% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 21 | $63,034 | $14,770 | −9% |
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours without major complicationsDRG 872 | 17 | $43,258 | $10,700 | −25% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 145 | $27,896 | $3,148 |
| Level 4 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5114 | 83 | $13,924 | $8,227 |
| Level 2 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5072 | 57 | $4,615 | $1,799 |
| Level 3 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5113 | 56 | $6,925 | $3,617 |
| Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related ProceduresAPC 5091 | 40 | $12,863 | $4,384 |
Charges are the hospital's list prices; payments are what Medicare, the patient and any other insurer actually paid (for outpatient services, Medicare's allowed amount). Private insurance prices differ. "vs state" compares this hospital's average payment with the state average for the same stay. All procedure costs.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Jun 2025
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Hawaii hospital finances.
Who owns Kuakini Medical Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Kuakini Medical Center, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1899.
285 doctors and other clinicians list Kuakini Medical Center as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Jun 2023 · Kuakini Medical Center (EIN 99-0074139)
As filed with the IRS by Kuakini Medical Center. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Kuakini Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Honolulu are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 14.
Mental health: Parts of Honolulu are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 14.
Dental: Parts of Honolulu are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 18.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Hawaii earn a median $136,320 a year. Healthcare salaries in Hawaii.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Hawaii shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Hawaii
Registered nurses across Hawaii (all employers) earned a median of $136,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in HawaiiNurse Practitioner salary in HawaiiRespiratory Therapist salary in HawaiiHealthcare salaries in Hawaii
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Cite this data
Writing about Kuakini Medical Center? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.