Orthopedic Care for Waimea & the Kohala Coast
Orthopedic Care for Patients in Waimea & the Kohala Coast, Hawai‘i
North Hawai‘i Island includes the ranch country of Waimea (Kamuela), the resorts and golf courses of Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast, and the small towns of North Kohala. Paniolo work, resort jobs, golf, trail running, and ocean sports lead to very different injuries. What they share is distance: specialty care can be an hour or more away.
Pacific Bone & Joint has two Big Island clinics. The Kona clinic at Mohala Health is open by appointment only and is usually the closer choice from Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast. The Hilo clinic is open Monday through Friday. Joint replacement and ACL surgery are done at Hilo Community Surgery Center, so many North Hawai‘i patients never need to fly to Honolulu for orthopedic surgery.
- Waimea (Kamuela)
- Waikoloa
- Mauna Lani
- Kawaihae
- North Kohala
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 Waimea & the Kohala Coast patients to us
Ranch and outdoor work injuries
Shoulder, hand, and knee injuries, and fractures from falls, livestock, and equipment.
Hip and knee arthritis
From injections and strengthening to MAKO™ robotic-assisted joint replacement in Hilo.
Golf and tennis injuries
Elbow tendon pain, rotator cuff problems, and meniscus tears.
Ankle sprains and fractures
From lava-rock trails, pastures, and uneven ground.
Carpal tunnel and trigger finger
Office-based, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, with no hospital stay.
Cartilage injuries
Focal cartilage damage in active knees, which cartilage restoration may help in selected patients.
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 Waimea & the Kohala Coast, 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 Waimea & the Kohala Coast patients are seen
From Waikoloa and the resorts, Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway leads straight to Kailua-Kona. From Waimea, it is about an hour to either clinic, to Kona by way of Waikoloa or to Hilo along the Hāmākua Coast.
Kona visits are by appointment only, so call (808) 439-6201 to schedule. The Hilo clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and is next to the surgery center where joint replacement and ACL surgery take place.
Recommended clinic
Pacific Bone & Joint — Kona
Mohala Health
75-184 Hualalai Road, Suite 205
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
By appointment only
Clinic details · Directions · Orthopedic care in Kailua-Kona
Also convenient
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 Waimea & the Kohala Coast patients
Should I go to the Kona clinic or the Hilo clinic?+
From Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast, Kona is usually closer. Kona visits are by appointment only. From Waimea, both are about an hour away, so choose by schedule. If you are likely to need surgery, the Hilo clinic sits on the same street as the surgery center.
Where is surgery done for North Hawai‘i patients?+
Most joint-replacement and ACL surgery for Big Island patients is done at Hilo Community Surgery Center. When a hospital setting is the better fit, surgery may be scheduled at The Queen’s Medical Center or Adventist Health Castle on O‘ahu.
Is physical therapy available near Waimea?+
PB&J Physical Therapy is based on O‘ahu. On the Big Island, we coordinate rehabilitation with trusted local physical therapy partners and send them your treatment plan.
Can I be evaluated and receive PRP on the same day?+
Sometimes. If you are traveling from North Hawai‘i, 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 which clinic can do it. Treatment is never guaranteed before the evaluation, because the first step is deciding whether PRP is actually the right treatment.
Do you treat golf injuries?+
Yes. Golfer’s and tennis elbow, rotator cuff problems, wrist pain, and knee injuries are common. Most improve with rehabilitation and swing or training changes. Imaging and injections are used when progress stalls.
Do you accept workers’ compensation for ranch and resort injuries?+
Yes. Workers’ compensation is accepted at all four clinics. Have your date of injury, employer information, and claim details ready when you call.
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.