On Kauaʻi’s North Shore, access to medical care is limited. There is no hospital in the region. When urgent needs arise, the community depends on a single resource: Makana North Shore Urgent Care.

That reality is what inspired North Shore Give to create the annual Gift of Health challenge.

North Shore Give is a nonprofit community foundation that enhances the quality of life on Kauaʻi’s remote North Shore by supporting meaningful initiatives that solve community challenges.

In 2025, we reached our $75,000 fund raising goal for Gift of Health when the community responded with remarkable generosity. Contributions funded a new ultrasound machine and advanced training for two Makana medical providers. The ultrasound was officially handed over to Makana in October 2025 (photo shown). Patients today receive higher-level care close to home, avoiding the long and often difficult trip to Līhuʻe.

The Gift of Health 2026 challenge is $75,000. We raised $25,000 at the recent North Shore Give Auction & Gala so this GoFundMe is to raise the $50,000 balance.

This year’s goal is to expand medical services at Makana North Shore Urgent Care through much-needed everyday tools. The emphasis is on small, high-impact upgrades that improve how care is delivered. These include patient monitors to keep a constant eye on vital signs; AED to restart a heart during sudden cardiac arrest; blood testing machines to check blood cell counts, organ function, and signs of infection or other health problems; and other tools.

These investments will result in faster diagnosis and treatment and more medical services available closer to home. This is how a stronger, more resilient community is built: through practical steps that improve care, day by day.