Community News

Healthcare professionals in Hawaii’s hospitals have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of patients of all ages, especially those in intensive care units, to provide vitally needed care and to prevent deaths. However, many other caring professionals are working behind the scenes — without fanfare and attention — to address the rising number of cases. Their contributions are critically important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our state. The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Environmental Health Division has two such dedicated individuals, who have been volunteering to help with testing: Joanna Seto, P.E., Environmental Management Division Chief, and [...]

Deborah Kobayakawa is well-acquainted with the special challenges the pandemic has thrust upon those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her son, Ian, 31, who has autism, was living an active, independent life integrated with the community before the pandemic. That all changed with the restrictions on gathering. Ian suddenly found himself cut off from the activities he enjoyed and the people he loved being around. An Abrupt Change “The biggest challenge is isolation. Before the pandemic, Ian worked four days a week at Safeway for approximately 32 hours per week and he had a [...]

Back to school! Getting ready for in-person learning this new school year has kept the Hawai‘i Department of Health and Department of Education very busy. Karin Ng, School Liaison in the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD), has been key to a successful transition back to in-person learning. Throughout the pandemic, she and the DOH COVID-19 School Response Team have worked closely with the Department of Education’s COVID-19 Core Response Team as well as with administrators from independent and charter schools. Whether school is in or out of session, she serves as the lead point of contact [...]

While we have all been impacted by COVID-19 in countless ways, relatively few Hawai‘i residents have experienced the virus first-hand. Only if we truly understand the physical threat will we be motivated to do everything we can to stop it. And one of the best ways to achieve that understanding is to learn from survivors and their loved ones. This week the Hawai‘i Department of Health launched the second round of “Live With No Regrets” public service announcements (PSAs.) These new videos tell powerful stories of Hawai‘i residents personally impacted by COVID-19. These survivors all have personal COVID-19 journeys to [...]

      We are all facing circumstances we never dreamed of a year ago. When Hawai‘i and much of the world went into lockdown last March 2020, most of us thought it would be short-lived and things would get back to normal in a few weeks—or months at most. More than a year later we’ve become accustomed to the “new normal” but that doesnʻt mean it’s easy. The pandemic has impacted our health, our income, our homes and schools and our relationships. Not surprisingly, the cumulative stress has impacted our collective mental health, with many more residents reporting symptoms such [...]

In Hawaii’s efforts to vaccinate our high-risk residents as quickly and efficiently as possible, it’s comforting to know that no one is being left behind or forgotten. These high-risk target groups include Hawaii’s 3,200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities served through the Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) in the state Department of Health. With collaboration between the DDD, Behavioral Health Administration and other partners, Hawai‘i has successfully vaccinated the majority of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities in just the past two months. “Hawai‘i residents with developmental disabilities often have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. [...]

This year the pandemic, although challenging, has been an opportunity for families to spend more quality time together. From keiki to kupuna, family members young and old are reconnecting in the kitchen over treasured recipes passed from one generation to the next, and new recipes to add to the mix. “The pandemic has renewed interest in home-cooked meals, but we realize that many of Hawai‘i’s families still struggle to prepare healthy meals at home,” says Lola Irvin,  Administrator of the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division. “Thankfully, there are simple steps we can take to [...]