Hospice of Kona’s mission is to provide family-centered support, education and care to those approaching end of life. Traditionally this has taken place in the comfort of a patient’s home. Occasionally, however, home care is not an option or the care needed is temporarily unavailable and an alternative situation is sought out.

The primary goal of hospice care is a very simple one: to ensure that every moment counts, in the last months of life. For terminally ill patients, pain relief is often a central concern, and making sure people in our care stay as comfortable as possible is certainly a good starting point, but good hospice services go much further than that. The goal of hospice is to allow people to spend their final days comfortably in their own homes. But not all patients have caregivers who are able or available to care for them at home. Some have pain or symptoms that can't be managed effectively at home, and some do not wish to die at home. In other cases family members caring for hospice patients may need a time of respite to care for themselves and/or handle other responsibilities.

In support of our mission and to provide an alternative comforting and compassionate home-like setting, Hospice of Kona has opened the Nakamaru Hale.

Situated on a peaceful coffee plantation in Holualoa, Nakamaru Hale is able to accommodate up to 5 residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional or longer-term care within a safe, supportive and nurturing environment during the final months of life. Our health care team will work closely with the patient, their family and doctor to develop a personalized Plan of Care covering physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.

Our patients teach us to be present—right here, right now—with gratitude. Here’s Charles Earl Davis at Nakamaru Hale, which was for him, a little slice of paradise. “I am surrounded by so much beauty. I would feel kind of guilty asking for anything more. It’s like standing there with a loaf of bread under your arm and saying, ‘I’m starving.’ Just eat the bread.”

Hospice of Kona is a Kona-based non-profit organization whose mission is carried out by compassionate and professional team members consisting of our Chief Executive Officer, Medical Director, Registered Nurse Case Managers, Social Workers, Spiritual Care Provider, Administrative and Support Staff, LPN/CNAs, Bereavement Counselor and a highly trained staff of volunteers under the Direction of our Director of Volunteer Services.

Nakamaru Hale encourages family visits for those already in the house, with visitors of all ages and at any time of the day.

Our Hospice Home Offers:

• 24⁄7 on call services for medical care

• Regularly scheduled RN, Social Worker, and Spiritual Care provider visits

• Volunteer Support Services

• Home Health Aide Services

• Coordination of supplies, equipment, community services

• Family member/Caregiver training for patient care

• Fully equipped kitchen and dining area

• Semi-private rooms

• Wheelchair accessibility

• Modified diets as needed

• 24 hour supervision

• Greenhouse and garden area

Guided by our hospice philosophy and goals, Nakamaru Hale offers a sanctuary to ease suffering; an environment where symptoms can be relieved comfortably, consequently improving quality of life and preserving dignity during one of life’s most difficult journeys.