CMS did not publish an overall star rating for this hospital; hospitals that report too few quality measures are not rated.
Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Kau Hospital
- 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
Nearby hospitals
- 37mi Kona Community Hospital Kealakekua, HI · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 59 min Call Kona Community Hospital Directions to Kona Community Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Kona Community Hospital
- 43mi Hilo Medical Center Hilo, HI · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 28 min Call Hilo Medical Center Directions to Hilo Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Hilo Medical Center
- 58mi North Hawaii Community Hospital Kamuela, HI · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 15 min Call North Hawaii Community Hospital Directions to North Hawaii Community Hospital (Google Maps) Details for North Hawaii Community Hospital
Quick answers about Kau Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Kau Hospital?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 1 hr 19 min in the Kau Hospital emergency room (the average across Hawaii hospitals is 2 hr). 0% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, call (808) 932-4200. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Kau Hospital?
The main phone number for Kau Hospital is (808) 932-4200, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (808) 932-4200What is the address of Kau Hospital?
Kau Hospital is at 1 Kamani Street, Pahala, HI 96777.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Kau Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Kau Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Kau Hospital spend a median of 1 hour 19 minutes there. That is 41 minutes shorter 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 Kau Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Hawaii · Other Critical Access hospitals in Hawaii · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What insurance does Kau Hospital accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 121301). 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 Kau Hospital accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Kau Hospital 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 Kau Hospital take Medicare?
Kau Hospital is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 121301), 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 Kau Hospital accept HMSA?
Kau Hospital 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.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Kau Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 344 patients. | 79 min | 162 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 3,388 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 72 patients. | 53% | 78% |
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.
Doctors at Kau Hospital
63 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 10 specialties.
Find doctors in Pahala
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Pahala, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
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 Kau Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Kau Hospital, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1997.
118 doctors and other clinicians list Kau Hospital 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.
The area around Kau Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Hawaii is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Parts of Hawaii are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 16.
Dental: Parts of Hawaii are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 16.
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
Cite this data
Writing about Kau Hospital? 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.