Trump Administration Announces $58 Million to Deliver New Ambulances and Upgrade Emergency Communications Systems Across Hawaii

Federal Investment to Expand Access, Strengthen Workforce, and Modernize Infrastructure for Rural Communities Statewide

The Trump Administration has announced a $58 million federal investment in Hawaii through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), targeting workforce development, emergency infrastructure, and technology improvements for rural communities across the state.

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home.”

“This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.

How the $58 Million Will Be Used

The funding is split across two core initiatives:
  • $45 million to the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine to administer workforce development programs through the Hawaii Outreach for Medical Education in Rural Under-resourced Neighborhoods (HOME RUN) initiative.
  • $13 million to the Hawaii Department of Health to acquire new ambulances for every county and upgrade emergency communications systems statewide.

“As a physician who has practiced in rural communities, I know that distance can determine whether someone receives care in time,” said Hawaii Governor Josh Green. “This investment will help us train and retain more healthcare professionals, provide new ambulances in every county, and modernize emergency communications.”

This investment is part of the larger statewide RHTP award for fiscal year 2026, funded through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — which authorized a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform rural healthcare delivery. CMS RHTP Overview
CMS Announces $58M in Rural Health Funding for Hawaii

What This Means for Healthcare Organizations

The RHTP is channeling significant federal dollars into state-level rural health infrastructure — and Hawaii is one of many states receiving targeted funding. For healthcare organizations operating in rural and underserved markets, this signals continued federal investment in workforce pipelines, emergency response capacity, and care access. Providers and health systems in rural settings should monitor RHTP awards in their states and assess alignment with local workforce and infrastructure gaps.
Sources: CMS Press Release, CMS RHTP Awards, Medicaid.gov RHTP