News Releases from Department of Health

Water remains safe to drink HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) is reporting that low levels of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was recently detected for the first time during routine sampling collected at the Haleakala National Park (HNP) drinking water system (Public Water System HI0000222).  The HNP water system is a small community ...
Read More Trace levels of contaminant detected in Haleakala National Park water system

HONOLULU, HI– The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to the City and County of Honolulu (CCH) for discharging effluent in exceedance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits from the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant into Kailua Bay. Between April 2023 and May 2023, CCH ...
Read More Department of Health cites City and County of Honolulu for Kailua Bay wastewater permit violations

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) conditionally approved the Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) defueling plan, setting the framework to begin defueling about 104 million gallons of fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. “We value the community’s voice and EPA’s partnership to get us to this point. Today’s ...
Read More Department of Health conditionally approves Red Hill defueling plan

Report summarizes potential chemical exposure to residents from 2021 jet fuel exposure HONOLULU, HI – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has released an Exposure Assessment providing further details on the November 2021 contamination of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) drinking water system that was caused by the release of JP-5 jet fuel at ...
Read More Department of Health publishes Red Hill Exposure Assessment

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is warning residents of a voluntary recall by Sunrise Growers Inc., of specific frozen fruit products sold in the state, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail ...
Read More Department of Health warns of frozen fruit products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination

LĪHU‘E, HI – The Department of Health’s (DOH) Kaua‘i District Health Office conducted door-to-door surveys in June at randomly selected households island-wide. Over the course of four days, survey teams completed a total of 180 interviews, collecting valuable data about the health and well-being of the island’s residents. The survey methodology, known as a Community ...
Read More Kaua‘i District Health Office releases final report on island-wide emergency preparedness survey

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is warning residents of a voluntary recall by Frito-Lay of select 15-ounce Tostitos Brand Avocado Salsa Dip sold in the state because it may contain undeclared milk. The front of the jar is correctly labeled as Tostitos Avocado Salsa; however, the ...
Read More Department of Health warns about Tostitos Brand Avocado Salsa Dip voluntary recall due to undeclared milk allergen

HONOLULU, HI – Fall-related injuries and fatalities among Hawai‘i seniors (ages 65 years and older) are reaching troubling numbers. Every year in Hawai‘i an average of 144 seniors die, 2,184 are hospitalized, and 9,677 are treated in emergency departments because of unintentional falls. Falls disproportionately affect our older adults. In addition to the emotional and physical ...
Read More Statewide fall prevention awareness campaign begins June 22, designed to reduce fall injuries among kūpuna

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is warning residents of a voluntary recall by Richin Trading Inc. of the following Sun Wave Brand Mini Fruit Jelly Cup products sold at specialty retailers in the state because of a potential choking hazard based on the product size. The ...
Read More Department of Health warns about Sun Wave Brand Mini Fruit Jelly Cup products due to potential choking hazard

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is warning residents of a voluntary recall by Willamette Valley Fruit Co. of the following Great Value frozen fruit products sold at Walmart, because of the potential presence of hepatitis A. All other types of Great Value frozen fruit products are ...
Read More Department of Health warns about frozen fruit products due to potential hepatitis A contamination

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch is issuing an alert regarding raw oysters exported from Dai One Food Co., Ltd., Republic of Korea (ROK), which may be potentially contaminated with norovirus. DOH notified the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of five illnesses from individuals who consumed raw ...
Read More Department of Health warns about raw oysters potentially contaminated with norovirus

LᾹHAINA, HI – The Department of Health Maui District Health Office warns the public of a man impersonating as an inspector with the Food Safety Branch. The individual approached a food truck in Honokōwai wearing a green badge and no inspection tools at approximately 8:30 a.m. on June 6, 2023. The man identified himself as ...
Read More Department of Health warns the public of food safety inspector impersonator

ʻAIEA, HI – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Underground Storage Tank (UST) Section has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against the Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety (PSD), which operates Hālawa Correctional Facility, located in ʻAiea, for UST violations. DOH inspectors conducted an investigation on June 24, 2022, when an unregistered 1,000-gallon ...
Read More Department of Health issues Notice of Violation and Order to the Hawaiʻi Department of Public Safety For Underground Storage Tank Violations

HONOLULU, HI – The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) will host an open house and conduct a Fuel Tank Advisory Committee (FTAC) meeting next week to address environmental contamination from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Representatives from DOH, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Joint Task Force-Red Hill, Navy Region Hawaiʻi, the Naval ...
Read More Department of Health to host Red Hill open house, Fuel Tank Advisory Committee meeting June 5 and 6, 2023

HONOLULU, HI – More than 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day and become eligible to sign up for Medicare; however, Medicare loses an estimated $70 billion each year due to fraud. These fraudulent activities affect older adults, their families, and caregivers across the state and nation, often costing time, money, and well-being. “Medicare fraud is ...
Read More Medicare Fraud Prevention Week: June 5 – 11, 2023