Residents of Molokai and Lanai will now have access to essential medical services unavailable on their respective islands thanks to a Notice of Award for the Essential Rural Medical Air Transport Pilot Program issued by the Hawaii State Department of Health to Pulama Ka Heke, a Molokai-based nonprofit healthcare hui, and to a partnership between Pulama Ka Heke and Lanai Kinaole, a home healthcare agency on Lanai.

Referred to as the ERMAT Pilot Program, it does not include air ambulance assistance in which individuals receive medical care during transport.

Residents requiring essential healthcare services often experience delays, cancellations and groundings, according to DOH, that leave them stranded on other islands or missing critical medical appointments.

In response to the situation, the Legislature appropriated $2 million to DOH in 2024 to establish the ERMAT Pilot Program. To help shape the program, DOH held over 45 listening sessions and two town halls with healthcare administrators, providers and community members to determine priorities, identify patient needs and seek ways to increase provider visits to both islands.

The ERMAT Pilot Program aims to develop sustainable models for interisland medical air transport that address the challenges rural island communities face.

In addition, DOH is working to engage potential air ambulance providers to increase aeromedical transportation statewide.