Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (SMMH) is updating their master plan to incorporate:
Community needs and desires for the area, and
Greater integration of the adjacent State parcels – from the boardwalk to Kapa‘a Elementary and High School (refer to the map below).
Click map for a full size version.
In 2019, Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) embarked on a master planning process to envision the future potential for SMMH and 34-acre campus to serve the Kaua‘i Community into the future. The purpose of the project was to assess the current state of the hospital and determine improvements needed to address current and future health service needs and to determine options for better use of the State property to provide needed affordable housing, community services, and other uses, including those with revenue-generating potential. The resulting SMMH Conceptual Master Plan was completed by G70 in 2020.
Although the SMMH Conceptual Master Plan was recently completed, HHSC is updating the master plan to consider greater integration of adjacent State lands and community needs and is seeking broader community input on achieving the vision for a wellness village concept that is integrated in transit-oriented development (TOD).
HHSC has hired the planning, design, and landscape architecture firm, PBR HAWAII & ASSOCIATES, INC. (PBR), to assist in developing the updated master plan that incorporates the community’s needs and desires for the area as well as the unique characteristics of the campus and surrounding area. Over the course of the project, the team will be seeking community input and feedback. Scroll down to find the latest opportunities to get involved and share your ideas!
To learn more about the hospital and the project area, visit theABOUTpage.
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DRAFT CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN
Based on input the project team received from the community on the initial conceptual alternatives, the project team has refined the design into a Draft Conceptual Master Plan. A community meeting was held on January 11, 2023, to present the plan and gather feedback. If you missed the community meeting, CLICK HERE for links to the slides and audio recording.
If you were unable to attend the community meeting, we would still love to hear your thoughts and comments on the plan! Click on the button below to learn more about the Draft Conceptual Master Plan and provide feedback:
For those who want to view a hard copy version of the Draft Conceptual Plan, it will be available for comment at the entry lobby of Mahelona Hospital as well as at Kapa‘a Public Library during normal business hours.
We will be accepting comments through the end of January!
Click on the image above to view Draft Conceptual Master Plan.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN
Hospital
The hospital expansion areas and additions are more compact and affect the existing building less.
The OT Clinic is relocated to an expansion on the north side of the hospital.
The 25-bed expansion needed for Long-Term Care (LTC) will be located in the existing Occupational Therapy (OT) Clinic building which will be renovated for that use.
The Emergency Room expansion is more compact and does not affect the current renovations within the existing hospital structure.
The café is located at the front of the hospital near the existing kitchen.
Public Facilities
The entire bluff on the makai southern portion of the campus will remain open with walking paths connecting to the existing boardwalk, the KPAL facility, and a new amphitheater for community events.
The new Public Library, Easter Seals, Ho‘ōla Lāhui Hawai‘i Community Health Center, and State Department of Health administrative offices are located along Kawaihau Road, activating the frontage of the SMMH campus.
The new Police Substation is proposed at a key location at the top of Nunu Road, providing security for the community near the schools but maintains quick and easy access to Kawaihau Road.
The new Behavioral Health Inpatient and Residential Facilities are located close to the Hospital and Police Substation.
The Village Green Open Space at the corner of Kawaihau Road and Nunu Road will provide open space and overflow parking for the community.
The Preschool is located near Kapa‘a Elementary School
Housing
There is a mix of housing types shown on the plan for an estimated total of 342 units. However, the exact design and configuration will be refined later during detailed design stages of implementation.
Specific labels for affordable/workforce/staff housing, transitional housing, DHHL housing, and assisted living facilities are no longer included to provide flexibility as funding for various projects becomes available in the future.
With the Easter Seals program moved to a new facility closer to the heart of the community, the existing State Department of Health’s Hale Hau‘oli building could be renovated into housing. Further investigation of the 1.5 acres makai of the facility should be done to understand the potential for future expansion or redevelopment.
Commercial Buildings
The commercial buildings along Kawaihau Road may be reduced to one-story buildings rather than two-story buildings depending on the demand for outpatient offices and supportive uses.
Circulation
The new internal loop road follows the existing topography better and includes mini roundabouts at the new intersections with Kawaihau and Nunu Roads.
Traffic calming measures such as speed tables and raised crosswalks are placed at key locations near transit stops and at the southern approach to the community.
Sidewalks and pedestrian paths connect throughout the campus and include community amenities such as benches, exercise stations, shade trees, and pavilions.
Iwaena Road is closed between the campus and Gore Park to expand and connect the community uses and the sidewalk will remain to provide a direct connection to the boardwalk and Hundley Heights community.
A new right-turn lane is provided from Mimilo Road to Kawaihau Road with traffic calming measures provided at the southern approach to the intersection.
A new potential roadway connection between the Mahelona campus and Kūhiō Highway should be explored. The potential connection would continue the makai extension of Nunu Road near the DOH Hale Hau‘oli and terminate at a proposed roundabout at the highway. Initial conversations with the State Department of Transportation Highways Division on Kaua‘i supported this new connection if the alignment could be feasibly constructed. Additional engineering studies will be needed to explore this new connection.
Future Potential Redevelopment Area
A five-acre Future Potential Redevelopment Area is identified on the draft conceptual plan for long-term consideration. It includes the existing Mahelona staff housing and the HPHA Hale Nana Kai O Kea senior housing community and is not envisioned to happen as part of this master plan but identified for future consideration as the existing facilities reach the end of their useful life.
Other Comments or Questions?
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Click map for a full size version.
