It was bound to happen sooner or later, but we’re glad to see it sooner. Preliminary talks have begun on private acquisition of the three ailing public hospitals on Hawaii island: Hilo Medical Center, Ka‘u Hospital and Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua.

Adventist Health’s talks on Hawaii island follow the enabling of a similar privatization effort for Maui’s public hospitals — although that transition is now the subject of litigation by the unionized employees on Maui.

Assuming that legal challenge resolves in favor of privatization, this trend looks like a hopeful solution to the fiscal woes the operations heap on the state’s taxpayers.

Kauai: Will we be hearing from you next?