LĪHUʻE, Hawaiʻi — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) is reporting the expansion of a community outbreak of chickenpox (varicella) on the island of Kauaʻi to 10 cases, linked to four schools, raising concerns that the highly contagious disease will continue to spread. The DOH Disease Investigation Branch (DIB) urges families and schools to take proactive steps ...
Read More DOH EXPANDS RESPONSE AS MORE CHICKENPOX CASES REPORTED ON KAUAʻI
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HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) is alerting residents to a recall of Costco Mini Beignets Filled with Caramel, because the product contains undeclared hazelnuts and filberts, which are known allergens. The label does not indicate the presence of the allergens. The recalled product was distributed to Costco locations throughout Hawai‘i. The ...
Read More DOH ALERTS PUBLIC ABOUT COSTCO MINI BEIGNETS FILLED WITH CARAMEL, DUE TO UNDECLARED ALLERGEN
HONOLULU — A new independent economic analysis commissioned by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) assesses the performance of Hawaiʻi’s medical cannabis program and evaluates the potential size and impacts of a future adult-use cannabis market. The report, prepared by Cannabis Public Policy Consulting, shows that Hawaiʻi’s ...
Read More NEW ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FINDS HAWAIʻI’S MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM STRONG AND WELL-UTILIZED
KAUAʻI, Hawaiʻi — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox (varicella) at Kīlauea Elementary School on the island of Kauaʻi. Five cases have been reported in the outbreak to date, including four students at the school and one household member. All five cases were not vaccinated against chickenpox. The DOH ...
Read More DOH ADVISES PUBLIC TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO CHICKENPOX OUTBREAK AT KAUAʻI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Clean Water Branch (CWB) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. for discharges of soil and vegetation to two gulches, as well as conducting earth-disturbing activities without a required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi. ...
Read More DOH CITES HAWAIIAN DREDGING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., FOR WATER POLLUTION VIOLATIONS ON KAUAʻI
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) is alerting residents to a recall issued by Gerber Products Company for limited batches of its Gerber® Arrowroot Biscuits. The recall was issued due to the potential presence of soft plastic and/or paper pieces which may cause injury or pose a choking hazard. The material originated from an arrowroot flour supplier that initiated the recall. The recalled product was distributed nationwide, including retailers like Walmart, Target and Longs Drugs in Hawai‘i. ...
Read More DOH ALERTS PUBLIC ABOUT GERBER® ARROWROOT BISCUITS RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MATERIALS
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against Chita Madariaga, a Community Care Foster Family Home (CCFFH) operator located in Wailuku; and against Medy Madrid Simmons, a CCFFH operator located in Waiʻanae, due to serious and substantiative violations of ...
Read More OHCA ISSUES NOVOS TO TWO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOME OPERATORS
HONOLULU —The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) endorses the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, as do professional medical and health organizations representing more than one million healthcare providers, reflecting a broad consensus on the safety and benefits of the recommended immunizations. The AAP issued the annual update to its Recommended Child and ...
Read More WCHA ENDORSES AAP IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE
KAHULUI, Hawaiʻi — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Maui Food Safety Branch issued Maui Beach Ballroom a green placard on Jan. 15, 2026, authorizing its reopening after a follow-up inspection showed the cockroach infestation to be eliminated. All areas of harborage and attractant within the kitchen were also observed to be cleaned and repaired. ...
Read More DOH REOPENS MAUI BEACH BALLROOM
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has identified a travel-related case of Zika virus and a separate travel-related case of dengue virus. Although both are on Oʻahu, these are unrelated cases. The affected individuals were exposed to the respective virus while traveling in regions where Zika or dengue virus is known to circulate. ...
Read More DOH IDENTIFIES SEPARATE TRAVEL-RELATED CASES OF ZIKA AND DENGUE VIRUS ON OʻAHU
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Human Services (DHS) are strengthening coordination between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), to help more families access nutritious food and vital health supports. SNAP provides monthly food benefits to ...
Read More HAWAIʻI SNAP AND WIC PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT HEALTHY FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE
KAHULUI, Hawaiʻi — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Maui Food Safety Branch issued a red “closed” placard and immediately shut down Maui Beach Ballroom due to a cockroach infestation, during a routine inspection conducted on Jan. 6, 2026. The establishment is operated by D.H. Investment Inc. and is located at 170 W. Kaʻahumanu Ave., ...
Read More DOH CLOSES MAUI BEACH BALLROOM DUE TO COCKROACH INFESTATION
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against John Roehm, CEO of Ulta Lab Tests, LLC, a company headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., for violating state law by illegally providing direct-to-consumer laboratory testing to Hawaiʻi consumers since May 2022. Ulta ...
Read More OHCA ISSUES NOVOS TO FOUR COMPANIES FOR PROVIDING ILLEGAL DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER LAB TESTING
HONOLULU — The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) continues to recommend vaccination in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. On Jan. 5, 2026, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule ...
Read More WCHA ALIGNS WITH AAP ON VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS
HILO, Hawaiʻi — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) urges residents and visitors to take precautions as elevated volcanic gas emissions from the recently paused Kīlauea eruption continue to produce vog (volcanic smog – hazy air pollution caused by the volcanic emissions) that can result in poor air quality across the islands. According to the ...
Read More DOH URGES CAUTION WITH ELEVATED VOLCANIC GAS EMISSIONS
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) is alerting residents to a recall issued by Danone U.S. for its So Delicious Dairy Free® Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert pints. The recall was issued because of the potential presence of foreign materials, such as small stones and other hard ...
Read More DOH ALERTS PUBLIC TO SO DELICIOUS DAIRY FREE® SALTED CARAMEL CLUSTER NON-DAIRY FROZEN DESSERT PINTS DUE TO POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MATERIALS
HONOLULU — While life expectancy across the United States declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health found that Hawaiʻi experienced a smaller decline compared to national trends. Drs. Yan Yan ...
Read More HAWAIʻI LIFE EXPECTANCY DECLINED LESS THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE DURING COVID-19
HONOLULU — With a surge in cases of influenza (flu) in the state, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from respiratory viruses during the winter season. The risk of contracting contagious respiratory diseases rises during the holidays as people attend family gatherings, visit crowded ...
Read More WITH INFLUENZA CASES ON THE RISE, DOH URGES HAWAIʻI RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) is alerting residents to a recall issued by MediNatura New Mexico, Inc. for its ReBoost Nasal Spray. The recall was issued because of potential yeast/mold and microbial contamination, with one species identified as Achromobacter, at levels above specifications. The recalled product was ...
Read More DOH ALERTS PUBLIC ABOUT MEDINATURA NEW MEXICO’S REBOOST NASAL SPRAY DUE TO POTENTIAL YEAST/MOLD AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch (FSB) issued Himalayan Kitchen LLC a green placard and authorized its reopening after a follow-up inspection found that all critical food safety violations were corrected. Himalayan Kitchen LLC, located on 1137 11th Ave., Suite 205, received a red placard on Dec. 9, 2025, and ...
Read More DOH AUTHORIZES REOPENING OF HIMALAYAN KITCHEN IN KAIMUKĪ