Hawaii’s Physician Shortage Exposes Broken Healthcare Priorities and Jeopardizes Island Communities

Hawaiʻi’s ongoing physician shortage has not only worsened in 2025 but reveals deeper systemic failures that put the health and safety of island communities at critical risk. According to the latest report from the University of Hawaiʻi’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, less than a third of licensed physicians actively provide patient care — with just around 3,000 full-time doctors available statewide. This number falls short by at least 644 physicians, growing even more dire when factoring in Hawaii’s unique geography where each island requires its own specialists. Why Are Hawaii’s Islands Running Out of Doctors? The reasons are...