Kuakini Medical Center
347 North Kuakini Street, Honolulu, HI 96817 · (808) 536-2236
CMS rating
4/5
Overall hospital rating
Ownership
Non-profit
Voluntary non-profit - Private
CMS Hospital Compare measure groups
Mortality
5
measures reported
1 better than national
Safety
7
measures reported
Readmission
6
measures reported
1 worse than national
Patient experience
8
HCAHPS dimensions
Timely & effective
9
measures reported
Kuakini Medical Center in context
KUAKINI MEDICAL CENTER is an acute-care hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, running as a non-profit hospital. The facility is Medicare-certified under CMS Certification Number 120007, which is the join key across Hospital Compare, MACRA, and most state discharge scorecards.
CMS Hospital Compare assigns this facility an overall rating of 4 of 5 stars — above the national median. On measure groups versus the national rate, the facility is: 1 better of 5 mortality; 7 safety measures reported with none flagged; 1 worse of 6 readmission. CMS's composite rating weights mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and timely & effective care across all reporting measures; it is not stratified by patient race.
Operationally: KUAKINI MEDICAL CENTER operates an emergency department (EMTALA-covered, which means it must screen and stabilize any patient regardless of ability to pay).
Statewide context: Hawaii's Black population is small enough that state-level race-stratified hospital measures are frequently cell-suppressed. The Queen's Health System runs the state's major inpatient capacity alongside Hawaii Pacific Health.
For Black patients
If you are a Black patient being seen at KUAKINI MEDICAL CENTER in Honolulu, Hawaii, a few concrete steps:
- Bring an advocate. National data from CDC's Black maternal mortality review show the single biggest reduction in missed-diagnosis rates comes from a second set of ears in the room — a partner, a doula, a family member. Ask in advance that they be credentialed as a visitor; the hospital cannot turn away a designated support person.
- If you need ongoing primary care, our Hawaii provider directory filters to physicians who accept Medicaid and speak Spanish / Haitian Creole / ASL where relevant. Filter to your insurance first.
- If the hospital doesn't take your coverage, the closest Federally Qualified Health Center is listed under our FQHCs in this area. FQHCs serve every patient on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status.
- For help paying for care, the state Medicaid navigator at /medicaid/hawaii/ explains eligibility, documents, and how to apply (same-day presumptive eligibility for pregnancy).
- If you are treated dismissively or your pain is ignored, every Medicare-certified hospital is required by CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR 482.13) to have a grievance procedure; file in writing and request the CMS regional office contact if the hospital ombuds does not respond within seven days.
Alternatives & nearby care
Sliding-scale clinics
FQHCs near Honolulu
Federally Qualified Health Centers, take Medicaid and uninsured on sliding scale.
Providers
Providers in HI
Filter our directory to HI, by specialty, language, Medicaid acceptance.
State rollup
All hospitals in Hawaii
Safety-net systems, state scorecard, rollups by CMS star rating.
Emergency department context
Kuakini Medical Center has a 24/7 emergency department. Black patients face documented disparities in ED triage and pain management, Black patients with comparable cardiac symptoms wait 20-25 minutes longer for evaluation per the AHRQ National Healthcare Quality Report. If you're going to the ED, name your symptoms specifically and ask for the workup you want documented (EKG, troponin, imaging). Bring a family member or friend to advocate.
Coverage + benefits in Hawaii
Most U.S. hospitals accept Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Hospital financial counselors can enroll uninsured patients in Medicaid the same day under presumptive eligibility rules. Anyone enrolled in Medicaid is automatically income-eligible for WIC under federal adjunctive eligibility (7 CFR 246.7).
Frequently asked questions
What is the CMS rating of Kuakini Medical Center?
Kuakini Medical Center has a CMS overall hospital rating of 4 out of 5 stars. CMS Hospital Compare combines mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timely-effective-care measures into this single rating.
What kind of hospital is Kuakini Medical Center?
Kuakini medical center is a voluntary non-profit - private facility.
Does Kuakini Medical Center have an emergency room or labor and delivery?
Kuakini Medical Center offers a 24/7 emergency department.
Where is Kuakini Medical Center located?
Kuakini Medical Center is at 347 North Kuakini Street, Honolulu, HI, 96817. Phone: (808) 536-2236.
References & primary sources
- CMS Hospital Compare — Hospital General Information (the primary source for overall star rating, measure-group counts, ownership, ER, birthing-friendly flag): data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/xubh-q36u.
- CMS Care Compare facility profile — this hospital's public page: Care Compare.gov search by CCN.
- 42 CFR Part 482 — Medicare Conditions of Participation for Hospitals (source for grievance-procedure rights + EMTALA): ecfr.gov / Title 42 Part 482.
- Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) — the obstetric safety bundles underlying the CMS Birthing-Friendly designation: saferbirth.org.
Data refreshed: