#Department of Health
‘She’s up with the saints’: Meli Watanuki, one of Kalaupapa’s last living patients, dies at 91
Loved ones remember her “thousand-watt smile” and “spark plug” personality. Her death puts public access to Kalaupapa in question, as she owned and sponsored the only permitted tour to the area.
Department of Health EMS Branch Named National EMS Agency of the Year
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health announced that its Emergency Medical Services Branch has been named the 2026 National State EMS Office / Agency of the Year by the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials.
As state, Maui Health decide future of damaged Kula Hospital, another long-term care facility nears capacity
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green said the options for the damaged Upcountry hospital could include a mobile unit designed for disasters or a temporary modular clinic like the one Kaiser built in Lahaina after the 2023 wildfires.
La‘akea Village kicks off ‘ambitious’ 4-year goal to build homes for adults with developmental disabilities
La’akea Village has wanted to build housing since it was created in 2000 but hasn’t had the capacity to carry out a project until now, the head of the organization said.
DOH issues guidance on health safety for post-flood cleanup
The Hawai‘i Department of Health is urging residents impacted by recent flooding across the state to take precautions during cleanup and recovery efforts to protect their health and safety.
Hawaiian Islands under brown water advisory following severe weekend weather
It’s recommended to stay out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.
State health officials fine Maui businesses $15,000 each for alleged illegal lab testing
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health issued a notice of violation and order against a Scottsdale, Arizona, company and three Hawaiʻi-based entities for allegedly providing illegal direct-to-consumer laboratory testing.
Caution urged with elevated volcanic gas emissions
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health 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.
ReBoost Nasal Spray recalled for potential microbial contamination
The Hawai‘i Department of Health Food and Drug Branch 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 distributed nationwide, including retailers like […]
Maui Council explores ways to reduce alarming rate of ocean drownings
Maui County faces a disproportionately high rate of ocean drowning fatalities, driven largely by the high number of visitors lured by the ocean’s beauty but unprepared for its hidden dangers.
Hawaiʻi’s 5-cent beverage deposit program plagued by fraud and ‘honor system’ failure, State Auditor says
For two decades, Hawaiʻi’s Deposit Beverage Container program has been run as an “honor system,” reliant on unverified self-reported data and plagued by alleged fraud, State Auditor Les Kondo told a state Senate committee during an informational meeting Thursday.
Pāʻia Elementary School to remain closed through Tuesday; distance learning to continue
Pāʻia Elementary School will remain closed through Tuesday, Oct. 14. In consultation with the state Department of Health, HIDOE is conducting wipe testing on campus and ash testing off-site to detect possible heavy metals.
Health alert: Mumps case confirmed on Hawaiʻi Island
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has confirmed a case of mumps on Hawaiʻi Island. The case is community-acquired and not travel-related, suggesting that mumps may currently be circulating on the island.
Old military fueling station, other abandoned Maui sites targeted for potential testing, cleanup and future public spaces
Amid ongoing efforts to address brownfields on Maui, two organizations are spearheading a transformative initiative to test for contaminants and ultimately convert long-abandoned sites into vibrant community spaces.
Council panel moves ahead with Kahului housing project, sparks debate over water availability
A unanimous vote by the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee to advance an affordable housing project in Kahului drew criticism Wednesday from West Maui Council Member Tamara Paltin. She found it “disgusting” that Maui County and developers found a way – through a water availability exemption – to make water available for […]
First Hawaiian Bank parcels in Lānaʻi City on Maui Council’s July 8 regular meeting agenda
Maui County Council members are set to consider accepting two parcels of land in Lānaʻi City that had been the site of First Hawaiian Bank’s Lānaʻi branch for a century before it closed at the end of June last year. Ready for consideration on the Council’s July 8 agenda, resolution 25-122 would authorize the acceptance […]
Maui Council breezes through remaining agenda items after marathon meeting
After a long “regular” meeting Friday-Saturday, the Maui County Council reconvened Monday morning and made short work of the rest of its agenda items in less than two hours.
Showcasing 300 job openings: State to host rapid-hiring recruitment on Maui, July 10
The State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development will deliver job opportunities through direct recruitment on Maui. The Maui State Office Building in Wailuku will host a special recruitment event on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Machete killer acquitted on appeal, committed to state hospital
More than seven years after a fatal machete attack at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, Kumulipo Sylva has been acquitted of manslaughter. The acquittal by 2nd Circuit Judge Kirstin Hamman follows a Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decision in December 2023 that overturned his original manslaughter conviction. Earlier this month, Hamman ordered Sylva transferred from the Hālawa Correctional […]
Department of Health ramps up dengue testing in Hawaiʻi
A sharp rise in dengue around the world and in Hawaiʻi has prompted the Hawaiʻi Department of Health to update dengue testing criteria to strengthen the department’s detection and rapid response capabilities. So far this year, there have been seven confirmed dengue cases in Hawaiʻi, all travel-related, putting the state on track to surpass the […]
