Nutrition & Healthy Growth for Keiki in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

Healthy nutrition and steady growth are among the strongest foundations for a child’s lifelong health, energy, learning, and wellbeing. Our focus is on healthy habits and how your child is growing over time, not on weight as a number or appearance. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we support your keiki’s nutrition and growth with practical, culturally grounded guidance.

How we track healthy growth

At well-child visits we plot your child’s height, weight, and (for babies) head size on growth charts to follow their individual growth pattern over time. What matters is steady, healthy growth along your child’s own curve, not hitting a single ideal number. We look at the whole picture, including energy, development, and family history, following Bright Futures and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance.

Building healthy habits

Good nutrition in childhood is about patterns, not perfection: regular family meals, plenty of water, fruits and vegetables, limiting sugary drinks, and enjoying local, traditional foods. We meet families where they are, respecting culture, budget, and what is realistic in daily life on the island. We offer general, supportive guidance and avoid rigid diets or calorie counting for children, which can do more harm than good.

A supportive, whole-child approach

Conversations about food and growth are sensitive, and we handle them with care and without shame. We pay attention to the emotional side of eating and to family stress, and because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, we can offer more support when it helps. Many of these conversations work well by telehealth.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole child, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your keiki and to raise them pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your family’s story, welcome your ʻohana into every visit, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects your family is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see your keiki

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo. Your child’s first primary-care visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see children in person for well-child exams, vaccines, and hands-on care, and we use telehealth for follow-ups and questions. Pediatric behavioral health with our mental-health providers can begin by video; care from our primary-care team starts with an in-office visit.

Common questions about nutrition and healthy growth

How do you know if my child is growing well?

We plot height, weight, and (for babies) head size on growth charts to follow your child’s individual pattern over time. Steady growth along their own curve matters more than a single number, and we look at energy, development, and family history too.

Should my child be on a diet?

For children, we focus on healthy habits and family patterns rather than restrictive diets or calorie counting, which can be harmful. We offer supportive, practical guidance tailored to your family and culture.

Can nutrition guidance be provided by telehealth?

Yes. Much of this support and follow-up works well by video, with in-person visits for growth measurements and exams.

What insurance do you accept for pediatric care?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new pediatric patients in Hilo.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Bright Futures guidelines and pocket guide (4th ed.). Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/bright-futures/bright-futures-materials-and-tools/bright-futures-guidelines-and-pocket-guide/

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, reviewed by Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your child’s situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you are worried about your child’s health, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

Donna Leonard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner