History of the Volcano Health Collaborative

In January 2005, the Volcano Health Collaborative was established as a non-profit, charitable organization, with Richard Behenna as its first president. Countless volunteers from the community united around a singular vision of creating a community where residents could access medical and healthcare services without having to drive to Hilo.

Between 2005 and 2025, funding issues and loss of key volunteers resulted in a period of inactivity for the Volcano Health Collaborative.

In 2025, the Volcano Community Association conducted a a needs assessment which demonstrated that the unmet need for medical and healthcare services was still a concern for the community. The majority of Volcano residents were over the age of 65 and, at the same time, the population in the greater Volcano area was increasing.  

As a result, in December 2025, the Volcano Health Collaborative was reactivated by Ira Ono, David Goodman and Kathleen Mishina in order to renew the organization’s  mission to ensure the establishment of medical and health care services.