Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Honolulu, HI

Q: Where can I find hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Honolulu?

Honolulu has the largest concentration of hyperbaric resources in Hawaii. Queen's Medical Center and Straub Medical Center are the primary hospitals serving Oahu. The military presence in Honolulu — including Tripler Army Medical Center — provides hyperbaric medicine for eligible military personnel. Civilian patients should search the UHMS directory at uhms.org by zip code. Wellness clinics offering mild hyperbaric sessions also exist in Honolulu, particularly in tourist-adjacent neighborhoods.

Q: Does Medicare cover HBOT in Honolulu?

Yes. Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. Coverage rules are federal and apply in Honolulu the same as everywhere else. Hawaii has relatively few hospital-based hyperbaric programs compared to mainland metro areas, so confirm your specific facility qualifies before scheduling.

Q: What should neighbor island residents know about accessing HBOT in Hawaii?

Clinical HBOT for FDA-approved conditions is largely concentrated on Oahu. Residents of Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, and Molokai may need to travel to Honolulu for hyperbaric treatment. A treatment course typically runs 20–40 sessions over several weeks — that's a significant logistical commitment for neighbor island residents. Discuss travel and temporary housing needs with your referring physician and the facility's care coordinator before beginning treatment.

Honolulu is where virtually all of Hawaii’s clinical hyperbaric medicine is concentrated. Queen’s Medical Center, the state’s largest private hospital, and Straub Medical Center are the primary civilian hospitals on Oahu with the capacity to support hyperbaric programs. The military presence — Tripler Army Medical Center and facilities connected to the Navy and Marine Corps installations on Oahu — adds significant hyperbaric medicine infrastructure, though that primarily serves active duty personnel. For civilian patients across all Hawaiian islands, Honolulu is typically the destination for clinical HBOT.

Finding HBOT Providers in Honolulu

Queen’s Medical Center in downtown Honolulu is the largest private hospital in the state and a primary referral destination for complex medical cases from across Hawaii. Straub Medical Center, now part of the Hawaii Pacific Health system, serves Honolulu with a full range of specialty care. Both are part of health systems that provide wound care services on Oahu.

Military hyperbaric facilities on Oahu — including resources connected to Tripler Army Medical Center — serve active duty personnel, reservists, and eligible dependents. Civilian patients generally cannot access military hyperbaric facilities and should pursue civilian hospital programs.

Honolulu’s diving culture is significant. Hawaii sees thousands of recreational dives every day across multiple islands, and decompression illness is an FDA-approved HBOT indication. If you or someone with you shows signs of decompression sickness after a dive — joint pain, neurological symptoms, difficulty breathing, skin mottling — call Divers Alert Network (DAN) at 1-919-684-9111 immediately. DAN operates a 24-hour emergency hotline and can help locate the nearest hyperbaric facility. Do not search for a clinic during a dive emergency. Call DAN first.

Wellness clinics offering mild hyperbaric sessions exist in Honolulu, particularly in neighborhoods frequented by tourists and health-conscious residents. These clinics typically operate at 1.3-1.5 ATA — not the clinical pressure range. They don’t require a physician referral and don’t bill insurance. If you’re considering a wellness clinic, ask whether a physician reviews your health history before your first session.

The UHMS (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society) maintains a provider directory at uhms.org. Filter by zip code to find accredited facilities near you.

For a full list of questions to ask any provider before booking, see our guide to choosing a clinic.

Neighbor Island Residents

Hawaii’s clinical HBOT resources are concentrated on Oahu. Residents of Maui, the Big Island (Hawaii Island), Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai face a real logistical challenge for conditions requiring HBOT. A typical treatment course runs 20-40 sessions scheduled over several weeks. For a neighbor island resident, that means extended time on Oahu.

If you’re a neighbor island resident who has been referred for HBOT, talk with your physician and the receiving facility’s care coordinator before committing to treatment. Some facilities have social work resources that can assist with housing and logistics. Hawaii’s geography makes this a genuine access issue — it’s worth planning carefully rather than discovering mid-treatment that the logistics aren’t workable.

Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Honolulu

Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient departments. These are federal rules — they apply in Honolulu the same as everywhere in the country.

Hawaii Medicaid (Med-QUEST) may cover HBOT for approved indications. Hawaii operates a managed care-based Medicaid system. Coverage and in-network facilities vary by plan. Call the facility’s billing team before your first appointment to confirm your plan is accepted.

TRICARE covers HBOT for eligible military beneficiaries at approved facilities. Hawaii has a large military-connected population. If you have TRICARE, confirm civilian facility network status before scheduling — not all civilian programs are TRICARE-contracted.

Commercial insurers in Hawaii generally follow Medicare’s criteria. Prior authorization is required before starting treatment. Given the limited number of facilities in the state, make sure prior authorization names the specific facility you plan to use.

Off-label uses — including TBI, anti-aging, long COVID, and athletic recovery — aren’t covered by any insurer in Honolulu or elsewhere.

Read the full coverage details in our insurance guide or see our cost guide.

What to Expect at Your First Session

Sessions last 60-90 minutes at pressure. You’ll breathe 100% oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber pressurizes to 2.0-3.0 ATA. The main sensation most patients notice is ear pressure during pressurization, similar to descending in an airplane. Staff will walk you through equalization techniques before your first session.

For neighbor island residents staying on Oahu for a treatment course, ask the facility’s care coordinator about scheduling options that can batch sessions efficiently — some programs can schedule multiple sessions per week to shorten the overall length of a treatment course.

Read the full first session guide before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Honolulu? Queen’s Medical Center and Straub Medical Center are the primary civilian hospitals on Oahu. Military facilities serve eligible military beneficiaries separately. Search the UHMS directory at uhms.org by zip code. See our guide to choosing a clinic.

Does Medicare cover HBOT in Honolulu? Yes. Federal Medicare rules cover HBOT for 14 approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. See our insurance guide for details.

What should neighbor island residents know about accessing HBOT in Hawaii? Clinical HBOT is concentrated on Oahu. A treatment course running 20-40 sessions over several weeks requires extended time in Honolulu for neighbor island residents. Discuss logistics with your referring physician and the facility’s care coordinator before starting.

See more providers in Hawaii: /providers/hawaii/

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.