Nurses issue warning of potential walkout at Waimea Medical Center
Nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital Threaten Strike Over Staffing Ratio Dispute
Nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital (QNHCH) in Waimea, Hawaii, have voted to strike for three days if contract negotiations fail to address their concerns about safe patient ratios and wages. The nurses, represented by the Hawaii Nurses' Association (HNA), have been in negotiations with hospital leadership since mid-December 2024.
The main issue at hand is the hospital's refusal to implement the nurse-to-patient ratios specified in the contract signed between the HNA and Queen's Medical Center (which includes North Hawaii Community Hospital). This has led the HNA to file 20 grievances against the hospital for this failure.
Nurse Steven Offenbaker, who works in the emergency room, hopes a deal can be reached before the strike becomes necessary. Registered nurse Jennifer Caravalho, who works in one of the hospital's specialty care units, supports the nurses' concerns about safe patient ratios.
The nurses have created a spreadsheet outlining fair nurse-to-patient ratios for different departments. They have also suggested multiple earlier dates for negotiations to avoid a strike.
QNHCH President Stephany Vaioleti reiterates the hospital's commitment to bargain in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable agreement as soon as possible. She believes the presence of top administrators during negotiations could help both sides reach an agreement without a strike.
The potential strike requires a 10-day prior notice to the employer. However, the nurses may choose to start the strike before the next negotiation session on Aug. 14, but a longer strike would require a new vote and has not been considered yet.
The nurses are also concerned about their wages and benefits being lower than those of nurses at the two Queen's hospitals on Oahu. The majority of 100 nurses from QNHCH have voted to strike if contract negotiations fail.
A productive discussion between the hospital and the nurses' union is expected to take place on Aug. 14. Earlier efforts by the nurses included a two-hour demonstration on May 17 and a petition with over 700 signatures presented on June 25.
Offenbaker implores Vaioleti and Jason Chang, CEO of Queen's, to participate in negotiations to address the nurses' concerns and prevent a strike. The HNA demands the implementation of agreed-upon safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios at QNHCH.
The hospital's top priority remains the uninterrupted delivery of high-quality, safe patient care. Both sides are working towards a resolution to ensure the best possible care for their patients and the continued employment of the dedicated nursing staff at QNHCH.
[1] Hawaii Tribune-Herald, "Nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Hospital threaten strike over staffing ratios", July 30, 2025. [2] West Hawaii Today, "Hawaii Nurses' Association files grievances against Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital over staffing ratios", June 1, 2025.
- The nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital, led by the Hawaii Nurses' Association, are particularly focused on the implementation of agreed-upon safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, a health-and-wellness concern that they believe is crucial for maintaining high-quality patient care in the community.
- In an attempt to emphasize the significance of this issue, the nurses have presented a petition with over 700 signatures and suggested multiple dates for negotiations, hoping that the hospital's leadership would take these grievances seriously as part of their responsibility to the broader science-based health-and-wellness sector.
