The parent company of Queen’s Medical Center is exploring the possible acquisition of another hospital. This time on Hawaii island.

Queen’s Health Systems has agreed to “explore the possibility of a formal affiliation” with North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea, the company announced Tuesday. The due diligence process into physical and regulatory requirements will last three to four months, said Queen’s spokesman Cedric Yamanaka.

Queen’s has had a clinical affiliation with the Waimea hospital since 2005.