Hospice of Kona

What Hospice of Kona does

Hospice of Kona is a Medicare-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider headquartered in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, serving terminally ill patients and their families across West Hawaii. Founded in 1985 following the cancer death of Christ Episcopal Church's Rector and commencing patient care in 1987, the organization delivers family-centered end-of-life services through an interdisciplinary team of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, chaplains, social workers, psychologists, and allied health professionals. Core services include home-based hospice care, palliative care for symptom management, and a 5-bed residential facility (Nakamaru Hale) in Holualoa for patients unable to remain at home. Medicare certification, held since 1992, forms the regulatory foundation for reimbursement.

The organization's revenue model blends per-diem Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance reimbursement for eligible patients (those with a 6-month prognosis electing comfort care) with diversified fundraising streams. Supplementary revenue and contributed income come from the Hospice of Kona Foundation (established 2020), donations and memorials, two thrift stores (Memory Lane opened 2010; Memory Lane Too opened 2021), affiliate programs (AmazonSmile, HawaiianMiles), and signature fundraising events including the Royal Holiday Tea, Love2Fish, and Casino Night Gala. Patient mix is dominated by cancer (~40% of admissions), followed by debility, heart disease, dementia, and lung disease. Pricing is free at the point of care for eligible patients regardless of ability to pay, consistent with the charity-care model.

Beyond clinical services, Hospice of Kona operates the Maluihi Grief Service (individual and group bereavement counseling including youth and school-based programs), Camp Erin Hawaii (free youth bereavement camp ages 6-17 in partnership with Eluna), the annual Circle of Remembrance memorial event, and the Stars of Service volunteer program. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is led by CEO Laura Varney, hired in 2006. Technology footprint is minimal: a static website, Facebook/Instagram presence, and a GiveSmart donation portal; no APIs, apps, or AI/ML systems are disclosed.

Name

Hospice of Kona

Legal name

Hospice of Kona, Inc.

Website

https://hospiceofkona.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hospice of Kona is a Medicare-certified nonprofit in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii delivering home-based and residential hospice and palliative care, bereavement support, and youth grief programs to terminally ill patients and families across West Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice (Routine Home Care) (HLADAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Hospice / Hospice House (Facility-Based) (HLADAHAC), Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medicare Reimbursement: As a Medicare-certified hospice provider, Hospice of Kona receives reimbursement from Medicare for eligible patients who meet the 6-month prognosis requirement and elect comfort care over curative treatment.
2. Medicaid and Commercial Insurance: The organization contracts with most commercial insurance companies that offer the Hospice Benefit. Patients are accepted based on medical need regardless of ability to pay.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Hospice of Kona accepts cash contributions, memorials, appreciated securities, real estate, bequests, and volunteer time. The organization hosts fundraising events including Annual Royal Tea, Love2Fish, and Casino Night Gala.
4. Thrift Store Operations: Memory Lane Thrift Store (opened 2010) and Memory Lane Too (opened 2021) generate proceeds supporting Nakamaru Hale Residential Hospice Home and other hospice services.
5. Affiliate Programs: AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of qualifying purchases. HawaiianMiles program allows 1-to-1 dollar match for hospice-related travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hospice of Kona delivers family-centered hospice and palliative care for patients with a life-limiting illness (six-month prognosis) across West Hawaii, providing medical, emotional, and spiritual support through an interdisciplinary team in patients' homes and at the Nakamaru Hale 5-bed residential hospice home. The organization also provides comprehensive bereavement services through Maluihi Grief Service, including individual counseling, group support, and the Camp Erin Hawaii youth grief camp. As a Medicare-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it accepts patients based on medical need regardless of ability to pay, and supplements operating revenue through donations and two Memory Lane thrift stores.

Product overview

Hospice of Kona is a Medicare-certified nonprofit hospice care organization providing family-centered end-of-life care and support services. The organization operates as a single integrated service model combining core hospice and palliative care services with specialized facilities and programs. The core hospice care services are delivered primarily in patients' homes, supported by Nakamaru Hale (a 5-bed residential hospice home) for patients who cannot receive home care. Complementary programs include Maluihi Grief Service for bereavement support, Memory Lane and Memory Lane Too thrift stores for fundraising, and Camp Erin Hawaii and Circle of Remembrance memorial events. The organization relies on volunteer services and fundraising events including the Royal Holiday Tea and Casino Night Gala to support operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nakamaru Hale: Residential hospice home accommodating up to 5 residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional or longer-term care within a home-like setting.
• Memory Lane
• Memory Lane Too
• Maluihi Grief Service
• Camp Erin Hawaii

Products and services

• Hospice Care Services Family-centered end-of-life care providing personalized, compassionate health care and support to individuals and families facing advanced stages of life-limiting illness. Medicare-certified service accepting patients based on medical need rather than ability to pay.
• Palliative Care Relieves and prevents suffering through a multidisciplinary approach addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and social concerns for patients in any stage of disease, including those undergoing treatment for curable illnesses and those nearing end of life.
• Nakamaru Hale Residential Hospice Home 5-bed residential hospice home situated on a peaceful coffee plantation in Holualoa, accommodating up to five residents in semi-private rooms for respite, transitional, or longer-term care within a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.
• Maluihi Grief Service Bereavement services providing individual counseling, group support, and memorial events for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Includes Loss of Child Group, Loss of Spouse/Partner Group, Grief and the Arts Programs, Grief Explorations, and school-based grief support.
• Memory Lane Thrift Store Thrift boutique opened in 2010 featuring carefully chosen, gently used clothing, household items, antiques, collectibles, and jewelry. Proceeds support Nakamaru Hale Residential Hospice Home.
• Memory Lane Too Thrift Store Furniture, appliance, and artwork thrift store opened in 2021 that relies on donations of gently-used art, furniture, decor, appliances, and electronics. Proceeds support Hospice of Kona Foundation programs.
• Camp Erin Hawaii Free weekend bereavement camp for youth ages 6-17 who are grieving the death of a significant person, combining grief education and emotional support with traditional camp activities, led by bereavement professionals and trained volunteers.
• Volunteer Services (Stars of Service) Community volunteer program providing family members rest, reading, conversation, meal preparation, massage, reiki, hair styling, music, transportation, translation, notary services, and bereavement support. Training classes offered quarterly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Patients with early palliative care lived 2.78 months longer than those with delayed treatment (New England Journal of Medicine, 2010 study on metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElunacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Eluna supports Camp Erin Hawaii, a free bereavement camp for youth ages 6-17 grieving the death of a significant person. Eluna's mission is to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Camp Erin is the largest national bereavement program for youth.
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon donates 0.5% of qualifying purchases to Hospice of Kona when customers shop through Smile.Amazon.com and select Hospice of Kona as their preferred organization.
• Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHawaiianMiles program allows members to earn miles while Hospice of Kona receives a 1-to-1 dollar match for hospice-related travel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Navian Hawaii (formerly Hospice Hawaii): Hawaii-based nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider serving Oahu and statewide. Directly comparable as another community-rooted Medicare-certified nonprofit hospice operating exclusively in Hawaii with bereavement and family support programs.
• St. Francis Hospice (Hawaii): Community-based hospice program operated by St. Francis Healthcare System in Hawaii, serving Oahu and other islands. Comparable as another faith/healthcare-affiliated nonprofit hospice in Hawaii delivering end-of-life care and bereavement services.
• Hawaii Care Choices: Community-based nonprofit hospice serving Hawaii Island (the same island as Hospice of Kona), though from the east side. Directly comparable as a Big Island hospice competitor with overlapping catchment areas and similar service menu including bereavement support.

Broad incumbents

• Amedisys Hospice: Large publicly traded home health and hospice provider operating hospice programs across the US including Hawaii. Comparable Medicare-certified hospice offering routine home care, respite, and bereavement services for terminally ill patients.
• VITAS Healthcare: Largest US hospice provider, a subsidiary of Chemed Corporation, operating across dozens of states. Comparable as a Medicare-certified hospice delivering routine home care, continuous care, inpatient hospice, and bereavement services across the same patient segment.
• Bristol Hospice: National hospice chain operating across multiple US states with locations in Hawaii. Comparable as a Medicare-certified hospice provider offering routine home care, general inpatient, and residential services across similar patient populations, though with much broader geographic scale and corporate backing.
• Gentiva Hospice: National hospice provider operating across the US as part of the regional care continuum. Comparable as a Medicare-certified hospice delivering family-centered end-of-life care, palliative consults, and bereavement support to similar patient populations.

Others

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO): National trade association for hospice and palliative care providers. Not a direct competitor, but Hospice of Kona is a listed member and partner; relevant as an industry body that defines standards and influences Medicare hospice policy.
• Eluna (Camp Erin sponsor): Nonprofit organization supporting bereaved youth and families that sponsors Camp Erin Hawaii, which Hospice of Kona hosts. Adjacent ecosystem player enabling youth grief programming for hospice providers.

Regional players

• Compassionate Care Hospice: Community-based hospice serving Pacific regions including Hawaii through the Hawaii Palliative Care Network. Comparable as a community-rooted hospice with similar size, mission-driven nonprofit structure, and core focus on hospice and bereavement services in island geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hospiceofkona
• Instagraminstagram.com/hospiceofkona
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hospice-of-kona-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Hospice of Kona