Wala'au Therapy
Speech Therapy • Hilo, HI • 1 (clinic in Hilo) locations
Information from public sources; not independently verified. Confirm hours, insurance and appointment availability with the clinic.
Last gathered July 11, 2026. How our information is sourced · Report incorrect information
About
Wala'au Therapy is a speech and language therapy clinic in Hilo, Hawaii, offering speech-language evaluation and treatment for conditions including speech production, language disorders, voice, fluency, social skills, and cognition. The clinic also provides swallowing and feeding therapy, as well as physical therapy for gross motor skills, strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. Services are available for clients of all ages and can be delivered in-clinic or virtually.
Services Offered
Technology & Equipment
Team
Insurance & Payment
Some insurances (e.g. HMSA, Medicaid) require a prior authorization request after the evaluation is complete. Our team assists in verifying coverage and benefits; submissions to insurance for eligibility and approval typically take about 10-14 days.
Not specified in text
Financing: Not specified in text
Savings plan: Not specified in text
Languages Spoken
FAQs
How do I start evaluation?
The first step is to contact your Primary Care Physician and have them send a referral to the clinic for speech/language, cognitive-linguistic, and/or swallowing evaluation. After referral, intake paperwork and initial evaluation are scheduled.
How are evaluations conducted?
Evaluation uses standardized and non-standardized assessments such as play-based interactions, parent/caregiver reports and observation.
When is a report provided?
A written evaluation report is completed within about a week and faxed to the PCP; a report can also be provided to the parent/caregiver or patient if requested.
Insurance involvement?
If using health insurance, the team will verify coverage; prior authorization may be needed for some insurances after evaluation.
01. Get a Referral or Contact us Directly
The first step is to contact your Primary Care Physician and have them send a referral directly to our clinic for speech/language, cognitive-linguistic, and/or swallowing evaluation. Once our clinic receives the referral, we will give you a call to schedule.
04. Verify Insurance Benefits
If you plan on using health insurance, our team will assist in verifying insurance coverage and benefits. Some insurances (e.g. HMSA, Medicaid) require a prior authorization request after the evaluation is complete. Our team submits the completed report and PCP referral directly to your insurance company to determine eligibility and obtain approval (this process typically takes about 10-14 days).
05. Begin Therapy
If therapy services are deemed appropriate or approved through insurance, we will give you a call and match you with one of our therapists to begin interventions and regular therapy sessions.
Commitments
Photos
Photos published by Wala'au Therapy showing the speech therapy practice in Hilo, HI.
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Birdeye: 5 out of 5 stars (2 reviews)
- Beaming Health: 1 out of 5 stars (1 review)
Patients praise
- Local business recommendations
- General high star rating on some platforms
Common complaints
- Unprofessional communication style (rude, condescending, passive-aggressive)
- Poor rapport with clients
- Use of inappropriate tone (baby talk) with clients
- Concerns regarding impact on client self-esteem and progress
"I can only speak about my experience with one speech therapist at Wala'au that I've had the displeasure of working with. Stephanie Mullin. I find her to be rude, condescending and passive aggressive. She uses baby talk with my client and not surprisingly, lacks rapport with them. ... I would never allow my family members to work with her because I fear she'd damage their self esteem, thus hindering progress."
- Beaming HealthSynthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 - sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 13, 2024 - Jun 16, 2026
- 🏥 Multiple Healthcare Jobs Now Hiring in Hilo, Hawaii - NewsBreak - Jul 7, 2026
- Hale ʻĀnuenue celebrates 30 years of rehab, long-term care for seniors in Hilo : Big Island Now - Apr 22, 2026
- Hawaii Behavioral Health Workforce Report for March 2026 (Mar 16–22) | 42 Registered Providers - Apr 2, 2026
- Shona Compoc - Mar 7, 2026
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
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