Judd Hillside House
A welcoming space for the whole family
Judd Hillside House has welcomed families to Mānoa since 1987. Our original Ronald McDonald House in Hawai‘i primarily serves families with children receiving outpatient medical treatment, as well as families traveling with siblings of a child receiving care.
With spaces created for adults, children and teens, Judd Hillside gives families room to spend time together, maintain everyday routines and recharge throughout their child’s healthcare journey.
A place for families to be together
Judd Hillside offers shared spaces where families can cook, gather, relax and spend time together away from the hospital. For children and siblings, having room to play, learn and simply be kids can bring familiar routines into an otherwise unfamiliar time.
The Family Recreation Center
Space to play, learn and reconnect
Opened in 2021, the Judd Hillside Family Recreation Center was designed to give families flexible spaces to spend time together in ways that feel familiar and comfortable.
The multi-purpose Center includes:
- Family gathering areas
- Computer stations
- A gaming wall
- A reading loft and library
- An indoor tree house
- Children’s play areas
Parents and caregivers can relax nearby while children play, read or keep up with schoolwork, giving the whole family opportunities to recharge together.
The Tree of Hope
At the heart of the Recreation Center is the 18-foot Tree of Hope, a custom sculpture recognizing members of the community whose generosity helped make the space possible.
The Family Recreation Center grew from the Lee family’s longtime connection to Ronald McDonald House Hawai‘i. After first supporting the House through a childhood community service project, Nicki Lee later brought Kidz For A Cause back to help fund the Center, while her mother, interior designer Cathy Lee, donated her time and expertise to lead its design. Their efforts, together with the generosity of donors and community partners, helped transform the space into the Family Recreation Center families enjoy today.
Top row: Dayton Ching, Nicholas Miklos Ybl V, Yves Atom Kline, Jordan Krost, Bottom row: Nicki Lee, Cathy Lee
Visit Judd Hillside House
1970 Judd Hillside Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Judd Hillside Ronald McDonald House
All stays begin with a referral from a hospital social worker. How to Stay
A House with history
Judd Hillside House began welcoming families in March 1987, becoming Hawai‘i’s first Ronald McDonald House. The Mānoa home itself dates to the 1920s and was purchased by community leaders and partners in 1984 to become a place of support for families traveling to O‘ahu for a child’s care.
Judd Hillside House circa 1987
Learn more about Our History
