City blesses new ambulance station in Kaimuki

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Honolulu Emergency Medical Services held a blessing Tuesday for a new ambulance station in Kaimuki.

Read more Kauai residents fly off island for DMV services after fire damages county building

Officials said the station, located in the Civil Beat Plaza Building on Waialae Avenue, provides critical, 24-hour emergency medical coverage for the Kaimukī, Palolo Valley and Kahala neighborhoods.

“Young families, older kamaaina families, growing businesses right here in the central corridor of the town. It’s a busy area. There’s some nursing facilities in the neighborhood,” said Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Director Jim Ireland. “Having an EMS unit stationed in this increasingly popular area around the clock gives our operations another important resource to respond quickly when people need emergency medical care.”

Since the station opened Oct. 4, officials said the Kaimuki unit has responded to over 200 calls and transported more than 100 patients to emergency rooms.

“This is a neighborhood that we knew even before we were here had a demand and had a need,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said.

Read more OHA forum spotlights Maui trustee rematch between Lindsey, Kapu

The station includes two crew resting rooms, a dining area and kitchen, bathrooms, and showers.

“We have a total of four paramedics working over the 24 hours and we have four EMTs as well,” said paramedic Reece Fujikawa. “Just having that area that we can relax and decompress in is big.”

The Kaimuki station is the city’s 24th EMS station.

The city is expected to announce a 25th station next week as part of its ongoing effort to expand emergency medical response across Oahu.

Read more State must pay $14 million in McKinley High sex abuse case