#DOH

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health 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 urges families and schools to take proactive steps to limit the spread of chickenpox on Kauaʻi.

With a surge in cases of influenza — otherwise known as the flu — across the state, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from respiratory viruses during the winter season.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has been notified of a second detection of measles virus in wastewater from West Maui County. The latest positive sample was collected Nov. 30, 2025 and was tested through the National Wastewater Surveillance System.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch is alerting residents to a recall issued by Demers Food Group for select lots of Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini product, due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. 

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.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health will host a free, four-part webinar series throughout June to educate the public on groundwater science and its role in Hawaiʻi

The Hawai‘i Department of Health reports no additional confirmed measles cases following the two reported in early April with potential public exposure and has concluded there was no further community spread.

Update: (May 23, 2025) The Hawai‘i Department of Health Maui Food Safety Branch allowed a Maui location of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue to reopen, issuing a green “pass” placard during a follow-up inspection on May 23, 2025. The establishment, operated by Maui L & L Food Inc., is located at 270 Dairy Road, Unit #170, Kahului, within the Maui Marketplace Food Court.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health has issued Notices of Award for the Essential Rural Medical Air Transport (ERMAT) Pilot Program to Pūlama Ka Heke, a Moloka‘i-based nonprofit healthcare hui, and to a partnership between Pūlama Ka Heke and Lānaʻi Kinā‘ole, a home healthcare agency, for the island of Lānaʻi.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health continues to respond to a confirmed measles case in an Oʻahu child and a presumptive case in an adult member of the child’s household. Both individuals were exposed during international travel. The child has fully recovered. No new suspected measles cases have been reported as of April 14.

There have been six confirmed dengue cases in the state in 2025—one on Maui and five on Oʻahu.

Each year, the Hawai‘i Department of Health conducts surveys to learn about health behaviors and attitudes of Hawai‘i residents. Beginning later this month, the department will launch the Hawai‘i Health and Media Survey to learn more about how people access and respond to health-related information.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Maui Food Safety Branch allowed Ramen Bones to reopen, issuing a green “pass” placard during a follow-up inspection on March 27, 2025. The establishment is operated by Ramen Bones Inc., and is located at 44 Ho‘okele St., in Kahului, Maui.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has confirmed a new travel-related case of dengue virus on Oʻahu, bringing the total number of dengue cases in the state for 2025 to three.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health announced the first influenza-associated death in a Hawaiʻi resident under the age of 18 during this influenza, or flu season.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division has been awarded an $11.99 million system of care improvement grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Harm Reduction Services Branch has announced Bryan Chin as the recipient of the 2024 Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award. The award will be presented during the annual World AIDS Day ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reminding everyone that toxic lead can be present in many common facets of life, work and hobbies.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health Food and Drug Branch today alerted residents to a recall by Niitakaya USA, Inc., of its Shiso Katsuo Ninniku and Miso Katsuo Ninniku pickled garlic products with all “Best By” dates because the label does not inform consumers that the recalled product may contain bonito, which is an allergen.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health reports that laboratory results have confirmed Norovirus is the cause of illness reported by numerous campers at the Kalalau Section of the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kaua‘i. The trail remains closed for a seven-day period.