Lāna’i City, HI

To reach Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i’s smallest, publicly accessible inhabited island, there are two options: a $200 roundtrip flight from Honolulu or Maui, or a $60 roundtrip ferry ride from Maui. For low-income residents, who make up 44% of the island’s population, the only option for affordable on-island health care is the Lāna‘i Community Health Center (LCHC).

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and federally qualified health center, LCHC currently operates out of a converted three-bedroom home and works to fill gaps in health care services. But with its new facility, LCHC will be able to increase and expand its services and programs over time, filling gaps in obstetrics, mammography, psychiatry, inpatient substance abuse, and oral health.

The island’s sole dental practice offered care only Monday through Thursday but has just been sold. LCHC will become the primary dental practice on Lāna‘i and the only pediatric dentistry provider. Expectant mothers cannot deliver on the island because there is no obstetric care; they must relocate to Honolulu or Maui at 36 weeks gestation to avoid endangering their own or their baby’s life.

CEI Capital Management used the New Markets Tax Credit program to attract private capital to build the new clinic. The result is a 6,800-square-foot facility that will be built to LEED standards and create 12* new permanent jobs and 36 construction jobs.

This expanded facility will nearly double LCHC patient capacity with nine exam rooms, a procedure room, dental X-ray, two dental operatories, laboratory, conference and administrative offices, and a community activity room.

*estimated

Project Facts:

CCML FINANCING: $8,000,000
FINANCING PROGRAM: Federal New Markets Tax Credits
TAX CREDIT INVESTOR(S): U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation