Locations / Hawaii / Hilo
Online psychiatry for Hilo, Hawaii
Hilo and the east side of Hawaii Island have almost no psychiatric coverage at all, with specialist visits often meaning a flight. shrinkMD serves the Big Island by secure video, with board certified evaluations within days.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
Care in Hilo
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
On the Big Island, psychiatric access has long meant one of three things: a months long wait, a drive across the island, or a plane ticket to Oahu. For Hilo's working families, Puna's rural communities, and the university's students, all three usually mean not going at all.
shrinkMD ends the geography problem: board certified evaluations within days, by video from Hilo town, Keaau, Pahoa, or a UH Hilo dorm, on connections that island internet can actually sustain, with phone backup protocols when the weather argues.
Care respects island life: family context honored in planning, schedules that flex around farm, hospital, and tourism work, flat published fees, and complete privacy because nothing bills to any insurer.
What we treat
Conditions we treat
Evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing care for the full range of adult outpatient conditions.
Sleep & Insomnia
Chronic insomnia and disrupted sleep, treated without controlled substances.
Learn more →
From the bayfront to Puna and the coast, expert care is a few days away.
Getting started
Getting started in Hilo
Complete the secure intake
A few minutes online so we can match you with the right clinician.
Meet your clinician by video
A full 45 to 60 minute evaluation from anywhere private in the area, as clinician availability allows.
Get your plan the same day
A working diagnosis, clear next steps, and prescriptions to your local pharmacy when appropriate.
Follow up that actually happens
Short measured visits with the same clinician, scheduled around real life in Hilo.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Hilo area
Crisis and community resources for Hawaii Island:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24 hours
- Hawaii CARES coordinates statewide crisis support around the clock
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in Hawaii
shrinkMD operates as a transparent cash pay practice: we do not bill insurance, which is what keeps evaluations a full hour, follow ups consistent, and your records entirely out of insurer databases. Fees are flat and published before you book, HSA and FSA funds work, and superbills are available for possible out of network reimbursement.
Our clinicians are licensed in Hawaii and see patients by secure video anywhere in the state, as clinician availability allows. If we are ever not the right level of care, we say so plainly and help you find what is.
Where we serve
Hilo and nearby areas we serve
The east side and beyond, covered identically:
- Hilo town and the bayfront neighborhoods
- Keaau, Pahoa, and Puna
- Honokaa and the Hamakua coast
- Volcano and the upcountry, with the west side under the same Hawaii coverage
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in Hilo?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across Hawaii, including Hilo, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Hilo?
No. shrinkMD does not prescribe controlled substances anywhere, including stimulants and benzodiazepines. We are upfront about this and effective with the evidence based alternatives.
How fast can I be seen in Hilo?
Usually as clinician availability allows, compared to the months long waits common locally. Early treatment is easier treatment.
Will I see the same clinician each time?
Yes. Continuity is a core standard: one clinician who knows your history, your scores, and your goals, visit after visit.
What number do I call in Hilo for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. shrinkMD is an outpatient practice, not an emergency service, and we want you safe first.
Does insurance cover telepsychiatry in Hilo?
We do not bill insurance. You pay a transparent flat fee per visit, HSA and FSA funds work, and we provide superbills you may submit for possible out of network reimbursement.
Where do appointments take place?
Wherever you have privacy and a connection: home, an office, or a parked car. There is no clinic to drive to and no waiting room.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. Book directly, and with your permission we coordinate with your primary care clinician afterward.
Our internet in Puna is unreliable. Can visits still work?
Usually yes, video runs on modest connections, and when it drops we finish by phone so the appointment counts. Island connectivity is a planning input, not a barrier.
Can UH Hilo students use shrinkMD through breaks?
Yes, adults 18 and older, anywhere in Hawaii year round and across our other states if home is the mainland. Nothing touches university systems.
Start online psychiatry in Hilo
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Hilo residents, by secure video from home.
Join Our Waiting List