North Hawaii Hospice

What North Hawaii Hospice does

North Hawaii Hospice (NHH) is a nonprofit, Medicare-certified hospice organization headquartered in Kamuela (Waimea), Hawaii, founded in 1986 by Nancy Bouvet and Sheila Cadwallader. It delivers in-home hospice care, pain and symptom management, and 24/7 telephone nursing access to terminally ill patients and their families across North Kohala, South Kohala, and the Hamakua District on the Island of Hawaii, serving 20-30 patients daily in homes, nursing facilities, and the local hospital. The service portfolio extends beyond core hospice care to include bereavement counseling and support groups, an End of Life Doula Program with 60-hour certified volunteer training, advanced care planning, community education workshops, a lending library, and an Emergency Bereavement Support Team for visitors experiencing sudden death on island.

NHH's underlying technology stack is purposefully minimal: the organization's core competency is compassionate, in-person end-of-life care delivered by an interdisciplinary clinical team (nurses, physicians, social workers, aides, and approximately 50 volunteers contributing 2,000 hours annually), with no digital product, software, or AI components. Service delivery relies on partnerships for durable medical equipment (Bannix), pharmacy (Hospice Pharmacia, Pharmacare Hawaii), inpatient respite settings (North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hale Ho'ola Hamakua), and advocacy links (NHPCO, Kokua Mau).

The revenue model is a hybrid of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance reimbursement for clinical hospice services, layered with community donations and fundraising events (Tommy Bahama Big Island Classic Golf Tournament, Floating Lantern Ceremony, Ironman for Hope, High Tea). Services are provided at no charge to patients regardless of insurance coverage, with donations covering uninsured care and reimbursement gaps. GTM is referral-driven from physicians, family members, clergy, and healthcare professionals, supplemented by community education and signature events that build brand awareness and donor pipeline in a rural, trust-dependent market.

Name

North Hawaii Hospice

Legal name

North Hawaii Hospice, Inc.

Website

https://northhawaiihospice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North Hawaii Hospice is a nonprofit, Medicare-certified hospice founded in 1986 that provides in-home end-of-life care, bereavement support, and community education to terminally ill patients and families across North Kohala, South Kohala, and Hamakua on Hawaii Island, serving 20-30 patients daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Home Health Care Services (6216), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice (Routine Home Care) (HLADAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Hospice Care in Assisted Living / Residential Care Facilities (HLADAHAE), Hospice Care in Nursing Facilities (SNF/NH Hospice) (HLADAHAD), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Hospice care
• End-of-life care
• Bereavement support
• Palliative care
• Grief counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamuela

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Reimbursement: Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance reimbursements cover the majority of hospice care costs. Hospice does not charge patients or their families for any services provided.
2. Community Fundraising: Donations from the community through various fundraising events and direct contributions fund services for uninsured patients and cover gaps in reimbursement.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North Hawaii Hospice provides compassionate, professional hospice care at home for patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses, including pain and symptom management, medication and durable medical equipment, personal care assistance, caregiver education, and emotional and spiritual support. It complements direct hospice care with bereavement counseling, grief support groups, an End of Life Doula Program, community education workshops, advanced care planning resources, and an Emergency Bereavement Support Team for visitors to the island.

Product overview

North Hawaii Hospice offers a comprehensive suite of hospice and end-of-life care services centered around its core Hospice Care program, which provides compassionate, professional care at home for patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses. The organization complements this with Bereavement Support Services including individual counseling and support groups, an End of Life Doula Program for additional emotional support, a Lending Library with educational materials, Community Education workshops, Advanced Care Planning resources, and an Emergency Bereavement Support Team for visitors. Professional Development Workshops round out the offerings for healthcare providers in the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospice Care A philosophy of care emphasizing comfort and dignity for patients and families facing serious life-limiting illness, providing medical, emotional, and spiritual support delivered at home for terminally ill patients and their families in North Hawaii.
• Bereavement Support Services Grief and bereavement counseling services available to hospice families and community members, including individual counseling, support groups, and community memorial ceremonies for up to one year after a death.
• Community Education Free educational workshops and one-on-one counseling to help community members understand and prepare for end-of-life issues, including advance directives and care options.
• End of Life Doula Program Non-medical volunteer program providing additional emotional and spiritual support for dying patients and their families, with trained doulas offering companionship and guidance during the final transition.
• Sister Joanna Connolly Lending Library A lending library at the Waimea office offering books, audio, and visual materials on grief, bereavement, terminal care, and end-of-life issues for children, teens, and adults.
• Emergency Bereavement Support Team Crisis support service assisting visitors to the Big Island who experience sudden illness or death while on the island, providing grief and bereavement counseling.
• Advanced Care Planning Resources and guidance for preparing advanced directives, POLST documents, and Five WISHES to help individuals document their end-of-life care preferences.
• Professional Development Workshops Educational sessions for healthcare professionals covering hospice philosophy, pain management, communication with terminal patients, and grief support.
• Grief Support Groups Various support groups including Grief Circle of Support, Caregivers Circle of Support, Holiday Support Group, Widows and Widowers Circle, and School-Based Student Support Groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 20-30 patients daily in their homes, nursing facilities, and hospitals

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Hawaii Community HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides a care setting for hospice patients when families need a break or when symptoms cannot be managed at home. Hospice support services can also be delivered to hospital patients for a limited number of days while they remain hospitalized.
• Hale Ho'ola HamakuacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Honoka'a, this long-term care facility provides room and board for hospice patients under Medicaid and certain HMSA plans. Useful for patients without family care at home.
• Bannix Home Medical EquipmentcoreTechnology or IntegrationFamily-owned provider of home oxygen and medical equipment located in Waimea. Contracts with North Hawaii Hospice to provide all necessary medical and equipment needs for patients. NHH makes all arrangements at no extra charge to patients.
• Hospice PharmaciacoreTechnology or IntegrationNational provider of hospice care expertise providing 24/7 consultations with hospice pharmacists for nursing staff. Works with many local pharmacies to provide all medications related to the hospice diagnosis.
• Kokua MaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA statewide partnership of individuals and organizations working with the general public and leaders of healthcare and government to improve end-of-life care in Hawaii. NHH collaborates to address end-of-life care issues at the state level.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHH is a member in good standing with NHPCO, a national organization providing education and advocacy for hospice organizations and patients. Collaborates for training and information sharing on the national level.
• VASH Hawai'i Island (Visitors Aloha Society of Hawaii)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith VASH, North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hospice of Kona, and Kona Hospital, NHH assists visitors to the Big Island who experience a sudden illness or death while visiting.
• Hospice of KonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Emergency Bereavement Support Team for visitors and jointly participates in Ironman for Hope fundraiser, with 100% of proceeds staying on island.
• Ironman for Hope (Colin Clark initiative)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising initiative where proceeds are split evenly between Hospice of Kona and North Hawaii Hospice to support hospice care programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO): NHPCO is the national trade association for hospice and palliative care providers, of which NHH is a member in good standing. It is an industry association rather than a service provider, but functions as an enabling peer for training, advocacy, and reimbursement policy that materially affects NHH's operating environment.
• Kokua Mau: Kokua Mau is a Hawaii statewide partnership of individuals and organizations working to improve end-of-life care. It is not a direct hospice competitor but an ecosystem partner and advocacy coalition that NHH collaborates with on state-level palliative care policy, making it a relevant "others" peer in the same mission space.

Broad incumbents

• VITAS Healthcare: VITAS Healthcare is the largest hospice provider in the United States, a subsidiary of Chemed Corporation, operating across dozens of states. As a broad incumbent, VITAS competes with NHH for Medicare-eligible hospice patients on Hawaii Island and provides a benchmark for scaled hospice operations, though it does not specialize in the small-community nonprofit model NHH occupies.
• Amedisys Hospice: Amedisys is one of the largest home health and hospice operators in the U.S., with hospice divisions serving multiple states. Comparable in hospice service delivery and Medicare-reimbursement economics, Amedisys represents the scaled-incumbent model against which NHH's small-community hospice competes for clinical staff and referral share.
• Gentiva Hospice: Gentiva (formerly Kindred at Home's hospice segment, acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice) is one of the largest hospice and palliative care providers in the U.S. Operates a comparable hospice service line under the same Medicare Hospice Benefit framework, and represents broad-incumbent competition for clinical labor and patient referrals.

Direct peers

• Bristol Hospice: Bristol Hospice is a multi-state hospice chain operating across the Western U.S., including Hawaii. Same hospice service category, similar Medicare-reimbursement-driven model, and competes for the same professional talent and referral networks that NHH relies on. A relevant direct competitor in the broader Hawaii hospice market.
• Hospice of Kona: Hospice of Kona is the closest direct peer: another Hawaii Island-based nonprofit hospice that co-operates the Emergency Bereavement Support Team with North Hawaii Hospice and splits Ironman for Hope proceeds. Same service model, same reimbursement environment, same island market — directly comparable in scale and mission.
• Compassus: Compassus is a national hospice, palliative care, and home health provider operating across more than 30 states. Same core hospice offering, similar interdisciplinary team model, and overlapping reimbursement structure; represents a scaled direct competitor model in the hospice category NHH serves.
• Hudson Valley Hospice: Hudson Valley Hospice is a New York-based nonprofit hospice where NHH Nurse Case Manager Monica Newcomb previously worked. It is a community-based nonprofit hospice operating under the same Medicare Hospice Benefit with a comparable interdisciplinary team model, making it a relevant direct peer for benchmarking nonprofit hospice operations.

Regional players

• St. Francis Healthcare Hawaii: St. Francis Healthcare Hawaii is a Hawaii-based nonprofit health system offering home health, palliative care, and hospice-adjacent services on Oahu. As a regional player in the same island-state market, it represents a comparable nonprofit Hawaii health services organization, though it does not directly compete on Hawaii Island.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/northhawaiihospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/northhawaiihospice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-hawaii-hospice-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Hawaii Hospice