Newsroom

Vaccination critical to protect against both illnesses HONOLULU – Dr. Sarah Kemble, Hawaiʻi Department of Health state epidemiologist, released the following statement on mortality rates involving COVID-19 and influenza: “In Hawaiʻi and around the world, COVID-19 was far deadlier than the flu during the 2020-2021 flu season. There was one confirmed influenza death in Hawaiʻi ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is encouraging the public to provide their feedback on a proposed remediation plan to address the lead found in soil near Kolekole Stream Bridge and within Kolekole Beach Park in Honomu on Hawai‘i Island. Kolekole Beach Park has not been open to the public for the past four ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing at the Lanakila Health Center on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointments are not required.  Wait times can vary, but please anticipate waiting 30 minutes or longer. Results ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) in conjunction with the Hawai‘i National Guard will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing in Nanakuli every Wednesday in October from 3 – 6 p.m. Free testing will be available at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center – Nanakuli Clinic at 87-2070 Farrington Highway behind McDonald’s. Wednesday, October ...
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HILO, HAWAI‘I – As a result of an eruption that began on Sept. 29 from the Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano on Hawai‘i Island, vog conditions and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) air levels are increasing and fluctuating in various areas of the state. All eruptive activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park however, ...
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First priority remains providing access to unvaccinated individuals 65+, 50-64 with underlying conditions prioritized for booster HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is issuing prioritization guidelines for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in order to implement the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations on COVID-19 booster doses. First and second doses should ...
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HONOLULU – Alexis Charpentier, HIV transmission reduction coordinator in the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Harm Reduction Services Branch, has been recognized as one of the nation’s rising leaders in public health. She was recently named as one of the de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 public health leaders for 2021. The de Beaumont Foundation is ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is one of 30 states to receive a $2.2 million federal Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) grant, providing the state $445,000 a year for the next five years, $2.2 million total, to address pediatric mental health care for children and youth ages 3 to 21 years. ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health discovered a severe roach infestation at Joey’s Kitchen in the Whaler’s Village food court in Lahaina, Maui, last Friday, Sept. 17. They immediately issued a red placard to close down the food establishment to protect public health. During the routine inspection of the restaurant, located at 2435 Kaanapali ...
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Oʻahu residents in eligible ZIP codes can order free COVID-19 test kits while supplies last at COVIDTestHonolulu.org HONOLULU – Oʻahu was selected for a federal pilot program that will provide free at-home COVID-19 test kits to eligible residents. The Say Yes! COVID Test At-Home Testing Challenge will provide 125,000 Oʻahu residents who live in eligible ...
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HONOLULU – A new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report authored by Hawaiʻi researchers demonstrates the value of separating public health data in order to identify and address racial disparities. Data collected by the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) revealed racial disparities in COVID-19 infections and death. Race and ethnicity can serve as ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has added four new COVID-19 testing locations on Oʻahu. Testing is available at: ElixRX Pharmacy Kailua on Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Kaiser Permanente Nanaikeola Clinic Parking on Sundays and Mondays from 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Mililani Recreational Center 6 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch has issued a Cease and Desist Order and a red “closed” placard to Doner Shack at 79 South Pauahi Street in Honolulu for failing to renew its state permit and failing to pay a $3,000 judgement, from a contested hearing case, against the establishment’s ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch (EMSIPSB) and the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Task Force are taking action to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. Events will be held statewide throughout September to call attention to this issue.   In Hawai‘i, one person dies from suicide every two ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Health issued a red “Closed” placard to Nikki’s Pizza, 2435 Kaanapali Parkway, Unit #H-19, Lahaina for a severe pest infestation. A routine inspection of the restaurant located in the Whaler’s Village food court was conducted on August 31, 2021. The DOH inspectors observed several roach traps that had been ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (HDOH) is joining federal, state, and local agencies cross the United States to observe September National Preparedness Month, an annual month-long observance to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The theme this year is “Prepare to Protect. ...
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HONOLULU – Two new Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) reports illustrate how the highly transmissible delta variant is sweeping across the state. “These reports reinforce what we know about the alarming increase in cases across Hawai‘i. Delta is different—it is twice as transmissible as other variants,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP. “COVID-19 vaccines ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health reports the state has surpassed 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past 14-days and a record high one-day case count today. 10,817 cases were documented in the last 14 days, including 1,678 today. The 10,817 infections reported in the past 14 days are considered a proxy number for active cases. “This tidal wave ...
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HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) is expanding West Oʻahu testing and vaccination efforts in response to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 in this community. “We recognize that for many, historic inequities, misinformation and insufficient access to care have contributed to a lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccines,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah ...
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HONOLULU – Hawaiʻi Department of Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP released the following statement on the Pono Coalition for Informed Consent: “This week, COVID-19 took the lives of 19 Hawaiʻi residents. Over 9,000 of our family, friends, and neighbors are sick with COVID. The tragedy of this spike in cases is that by and ...
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