News Releases from Department of Health

HONOLULU, HI – June 1, 2023 marks the start of the 2023 Central Pacific hurricane season, and the Department of Health (DOH) Public Health Nursing Branch (PHNB) is gearing up to prepare Hawai‘i’s communities alongside CVS Longs Drugs. Public health nurses will be visiting numerous CVS Longs Drugs locations from June 1 through 30, 2023, ...
Read More Public health nurses to promote disaster preparedness in collaboration with local partners

LĪHUʻE, HI – The Department of Health (DOH) Kaua‘i District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess the emergency preparedness level and current wellbeing of Kauaʻi households. “The responses will build upon prior CASPER surveys to assess household emergency preparedness and evacuation plans, as well as ...
Read More Kaua‘i District Health Office to conduct CASPER survey to assess emergency preparedness and ongoing pandemic impacts

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) joins Governor Josh Green, M.D. in proclaiming May 21-27, 2023, as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. Through their dedication and service, Hawai‘i’s EMS practitioners and professionals play a vital role in our communities. The theme for this year’s National EMS Week is, “Where Emergency Care Begins.” ...
Read More Department of Health Recognizes Emergency Medical Service Providers During EMS Week

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) today received an updated defueling plan for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (Supplement 2). The plan, submitted by Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH), moves up defueling to begin in October 2023. “We are encouraged by the updated Red Hill defueling timeline,” said Deputy Director ...
Read More DOH to Review Updated Red Hill Defueling Plan

HONOLULU, HI –The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. As the PHE ends, high levels of vaccination, widespread population immunity, and available treatments have significantly reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 disease, ...
Read More Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ends on May 11, 2023

HONOLULU – Chemicals known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected for the first time in water samples collected at Ka‘amilo Wells Pumping Station, which is part of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s (BWS) Honolulu-Windward-Pearl Harbor water system (Public Water System HI0000331) and serves the central area of the island of O‘ahu. ...
Read More PFAS Detected in Kaʻamilo Wells Pumping Station

HONOLULU – In response to the U.S. Navy’s release of its investigation into the November 29, 2022 aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) issued the following statement: “The release of the DOD’s investigation and video of the November AFFF spill ...
Read More DOH Statement on Release of Department of Defense’s AFFF Spill Investigation

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is advising the public to avoid waters near the City and County of Honolulu Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant’s ocean outfall due to elevated levels of enterococcus bacteria. The Water Quality Advisory includes Kailua Bay. The City’s ongoing exceedances of the state’s permitted enterococcus bacteria limits ...
Read More Ocean users urged to avoid waters near Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is warning residents of a voluntary national recall by General Mills of five-, and ten-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour and two- and five-pound bags of Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose Flour with a “better-if-used by” date of ...
Read More Gold Medal brand bleached and unbleached all-purpose flour sold in Hawai‘i recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination