WHEREAS, in 2001, concerned citizens, community groups, hospital administrators, healthcare providers, and officials from the State of Hawaii and County of Maui identified a pressing need for an aeromedical helicopter for the county of Maui; and

WHEREAS, Maui residents and visitors were without a fully integrated air and ground ambulance system to comprehensively link the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Kahoolawe that would enable expeditious transport to Maui Memorial Hospital or the tertiary hospitals on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Alan Arakawa led an effort to galvanize key stakeholders to further identify the need for a fully integrated air and ground transport system, particularly the need for an aeromedical helicopter to link the three main islands within Maui County; and

WHEREAS, Senator Rosalyn Baker, in her capacity as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, led an effort in the Legislature to provide funding for Maui County’s aeoromedical helicopter; and

WHEREAS, establishing an integrated ground and air ambulance for the County of Maui required the coordination and cooperation of existing private and public sector emergency medical services providers, including Hawaii Air Ambulance and American Medical Response; and

WHEREAS, during the 2002 Regular Session, S.B. No. 745 provided funding for Maui County’s aeromedical helicopter, which was matched by funding from the County of Maui, and together, the State and Maui County pooled their resources to provide the much-needed resources to operate an aeromedical helicopter within Maui County; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Branch, and County of Maui worked closely with Hawaii Air Ambulance and American Medical Response in designing a county-wide emergency medical system that would integrate and capitalize on each company’s strengths to ensure that the aeromedical helicopter was efficiently and effectively used; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, Maui’s aeromedical helicopter made its inaugural flight through the combined efforts of many individuals, organizations, and leaders to address medical emergencies for Maui citizens; and

WHEREAS, this project is symbolic of the power of achievement and collaboration when citizens, private entities, and government agencies work together; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that this body congratulates the Mayor of the County of Maui, Department of Health, Hawaii Air Ambulance, American Medical Response, and all other citizens and community organizations which helped create a new and integrated air and ground ambulance system for Maui County; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Maui, members of the Maui County Council, Director of Health, Hawaii Air Ambulance, American Medical Response, and other community organizations who supported the creation of the aeromedical helicopter for Maui.

Report Title:

Air Ground Emergency Medical Services System for Maui