Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Health is to protect and improve the health and environment for all people in Hawai‘i .

Philosophy

Health, that optimal state of physical, mental, social and environmental well-being, is a right and responsibility of all of Hawaii’s people.

Goals

  • Promote health and well-being
  • Prevent disease and injury
  • Promote healthy lifestyles and workplaces
  • Promote the strength and integrity of families and communities

To prevent pollution and promote and preserve a clean, healthy and natural environment

  • Promote resource conservation (recycling)
  • Protect and enhance air and water quality

To assure basic physical and mental health care (the five A’s)

  • Affordable
  • Appropriate
  • Assured quality
  • Available
  • Accessible

Guiding Principles

  • Ensure that core public health functions – assessment, policy, and assurance – are implemented or maintained.
  • Ensure that federal mandates, including court-ordered settlements are satisfied.
  • Ensure that resources are directed at those problems that pose the greatest risk to the public’s health and the environment.
  • Ensure that appropriate and cost-effective resources are dispersed geographically and satisfy principles 1 to 3.
  • Ensure that the health department is the service provider of last resort for uninsurable populations and where there is no other satisfactory alternative.