Queen's Medical Center West Oahu completes roof structure

Hawai'i hospitals face rising pressure from increasing patient volumes. On October 30, Queen's Health Systems marked the structural completion of a major project at its West Oahu campus in Ewa.

The topping-off ceremony confirmed the placement of the final beam for a new three-story building. This 80,000-square-foot addition will more than double the size of the current emergency department. The new space will add 32 care bays, raising the total count to 55.

The facility also includes two new floors of patient accommodations. These additions provide 48 private inpatient rooms, bringing the hospital's total bed count to 152. Officials noted that the project includes advanced imaging equipment and specialized treatment zones.

Queen's-West currently operates the second-busiest emergency department in the state. It trails only the main Queen's Medical Center in Punchbowl for patient traffic. Hospital data shows that emergency visits have climbed by an average of 5% each year over the last five years.

Robin Kalohelani, chief operating officer for Queen's-West and Queen's-Wahiawā, cited community growth as the driver for the project. "As our community grows, so does the need for timely, accessible emergency care," Kalohelani said.

Construction crews are scheduled to finish the project in late 2028. The new facility aims to address the steady rise in local demand for hospital services.