Orthopedic Care for Puna
Orthopedic Care for Patients in Puna, Hawai‘i
Puna is one of the largest and fastest-growing districts in the state. It includes Kea‘au, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kurtistown, Pāhoa, Mountain View, and Volcano. Many residents farm, build, or drive long distances on Highways 130 and 11 every day. Orthopedic problems here often go untreated for a long time, because specialty care has meant a long trip and sometimes a flight to O‘ahu.
Our Hilo clinic is the closest Pacific Bone & Joint office for Puna, about 15 to 20 minutes from Kea‘au and 30 to 45 minutes from Pāhoa or Volcano. Robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement and ACL surgery are done on the same street, at Hilo Community Surgery Center, so many Puna patients can have surgery without flying to Honolulu.
- Kea‘au
- Hawaiian Paradise Park
- Kurtistown
- Pāhoa
- Mountain View
- Volcano
Complete Orthopedic Care
Orthopedic care in one coordinated system
From diagnosis and physical therapy to injections, advanced procedures, surgery, and recovery. Not every orthopedic problem needs surgery, and Pacific Bone & Joint is set up to move you through the right level of care instead of pushing everyone toward one treatment.
- 1EvaluationA focused history and exam to find the source of the problem, not just the location of the pain.
- 2ImagingImaging is part of the visit at our Hilo and Kona clinics, and MRI is arranged when it will change the plan.
- 3Physical therapyRehabilitation is coordinated with trusted Big Island physical therapy partners, who receive your plan.
- 4InjectionsCorticosteroid and other injections, with ultrasound guidance when accuracy matters, and PRP or BMAC for selected patients.
- 5Office proceduresUltrasound-guided carpal tunnel release and trigger finger release, with local anesthesia and no hospital stay for most patients.
- 6SurgeryArthroscopy, ACL and meniscus surgery, cartilage restoration, fracture care, and hip and knee replacement, including revision.
- 7RecoveryPost-operative protocols, bracing, and follow-up coordinated by the same team that planned your care.
Who will I see?
Pacific Bone & Joint is a team-based orthopedic practice. Depending on the reason for your visit, your care may involve an orthopedic surgeon, a physician assistant, a physical therapist, imaging staff, or another member of the orthopedic team. Surgical decisions and operations are handled by the surgeon. Other parts of your evaluation, rehabilitation, follow-up, injections, and recovery may involve other clinicians.
Common Conditions We Treat
What brings Puna patients to us
Hip and knee arthritis
From injections and strengthening to MAKO™ robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement in Hilo.
Carpal tunnel and trigger finger
Often from farm and construction work. Ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release is done in the office in Hilo.
Shoulder pain
Rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder, usually treated without surgery.
Fractures from falls
Wrist, ankle, and hand fractures from uneven ground, ladders, and roofs.
Knee injuries
ACL and meniscus tears, with ACL surgery available at Hilo Community Surgery Center.
Bone health
Osteoporosis evaluation and treatment after a fracture from a simple fall.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Orthopedics and physical therapy, coordinated
PB&J Physical Therapy, our in-house team, works at our two O‘ahu clinics. For patients on the Big Island, we coordinate rehabilitation with trusted local physical therapy partners. We send your treatment plan or post-operative protocol so your therapist and your orthopedic team are working toward the same goals.
Many orthopedic problems improve without surgery, and physical therapy is often where that happens. After surgery, structured rehabilitation is a large part of how well you recover.
About PB&J Physical Therapy →- Arthritis management and strengthening
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- ACL, meniscus, and cartilage rehab
- Hip and knee replacement rehab
- Fracture recovery
- Balance, gait, and fall prevention
- Criteria-based return to sport and work
Why patients travel to Pacific Bone & Joint
The reason is the whole system, not one treatment
For many patients, the reason to make the trip is not one specific injection or procedure. It is having the problem evaluated by a practice that can offer physical therapy, bracing, injections, ultrasound-guided care, cartilage restoration, sports surgery, joint replacement, revision surgery, and rehabilitation when each is appropriate. The plan fits the problem, and no step depends on finding a new organization.
If you are coming from Puna, sending imaging ahead and booking an early appointment usually means the first visit ends with a clear diagnosis and plan.
Getting to Pacific Bone & Joint
Where Puna patients are seen
The Hilo clinic is at 75 Pu‘uhonu Place. Hilo Community Surgery Center, where joint replacement and ACL surgery are done, is at 82 Pu‘uhonu Place on the same street. From lower Puna, Highway 130 to Highway 11 is the usual route; from Mountain View and Volcano, Highway 11 runs straight into Hilo.
The Hilo clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There is no walk-in orthopedic urgent care on the Big Island, so call (808) 439-6201 for new injuries and go to an emergency department for emergencies.
Recommended clinic
Pacific Bone & Joint — Hilo
75 Pu‘uhonu Place, Suite 204
Hilo, HI 96720
Mon-Fri · 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Send your imaging before you come
If you already have X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan from another hospital or imaging center, you can upload them securely before your visit so the team can review them ahead of time. Upload your imaging →
Explore Care
Learn more before your visit
Patient Reviews
What patients say
4.9 average across 504 ratings on 8 review sites
“I’ve had a great experience with Dr. Morton. He is thorough, listens to his patients and emphasizes a conservative approach for initial therapy. Very happy with him and his office on the Big Island and Oahu.”
— Bob G.· Google review
“I consider myself lucky to have Dr. Morton rebuild my knee — 31 days to walking with a cane. I am hiking, swimming, biking, and enjoying mobility I had lost. With an active 10-year-old grandson, I’m a grateful grandpa. Mahalo.”
— Michael L.· Google review
Review excerpts reflect individual patient experiences and may be lightly condensed. Results vary.
Common Questions
Questions from Puna patients
Can I have joint replacement on the Big Island?+
Yes. MAKO™ robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement is performed at Hilo Community Surgery Center, an outpatient surgery center on the same street as our Hilo clinic. Whether outpatient surgery is right for you depends on your health and the procedure.
Is physical therapy available near Puna?+
PB&J Physical Therapy is based on O‘ahu. On the Big Island, we coordinate rehabilitation with trusted local physical therapy partners and share your treatment plan and any post-operative protocol with them.
Do you offer carpal tunnel release in Hilo?+
Yes. Ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release is done in the office in Hilo, through a very small incision with local anesthesia, so most patients avoid a hospital operating room.
Is there walk-in orthopedic urgent care in Hilo?+
No. Wiki Wiki Orthopedics walk-in care is available only at our O‘ahu clinics. For a new injury, call (808) 439-6201 or contact your primary care provider. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Can I be evaluated and receive PRP on the same day?+
Sometimes. An early appointment and sending your imaging ahead of time may make same-day evaluation and PRP treatment possible when it is clinically appropriate. Ask when you schedule whether it can be done at your Hilo visit. Treatment is never guaranteed before the evaluation, because the first step is deciding whether PRP is actually the right treatment.
What should I bring to my first visit?+
A photo ID, your insurance card, a referral if your plan requires one, a list of medications, and any X-rays or MRIs on disc with the reports. Bringing outside imaging can save a trip.
Other areas we serve
Start with the right level of care
Request an appointment through Klara, our secure messaging tool, or call us. If you have outside imaging, upload it here so we can review it before your visit.