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Policy and Advocacy Training Series: Gearing Up for 2021

At HIPHI, advancing policy is a major part of our organization’s mission and goals. As a result, we host an annual policy and advocacy training to empower new and aspiring advocates with the information and skills needed to make a change in…
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Community Coalition Prepares to Introduce Ordinance

If you could stop a teen from being injured in a car crash, beat up or sexually assaulted, would you?  It’s an easy answer: we all would. We care deeply about our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. Protecting…
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Tobacco Updates for Summer 2020: New Data, Same Challenges

Youth e-cigarette rates are increasing, the link between smoking/e-cigarette use and COVID-19 is becoming clearer, and another state passes legislation prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. These are some of the prominent stories…
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Survey Results Show Strong Maui County Support for Smoke-Free Multiunit Housing Policies

According to a recent survey conducted by the Maui, Molokai, Lāna’i Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi, 95 percent of respondents, (Maui County residents) who live in multi-unit housing (multiple housing units contained within a building…
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Demystifying Voting in the 2020 General Election: Your Candidates’ Stance on Public Health Issues

The 2020 General Election on November 3 is quickly approaching, with many important races on the ballot this year. Elected officials at all levels of government have a pivotal role in shaping policies that influence health. At HIPHI, we understand…
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Youth Council Movement Continues to Grow with Virtual Kickoff Event

COVID-19 has changed the way we lead our daily lives and HIPHI and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii’s Youth Council is no exception. After having to cancel Take Down Tobacco, a national day of action last March (formerly Kick Butts…
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Alternatives to Criminalizing Youth for Tobacco Use

Schools on Kaua‘i have continued to look at educational alternatives to criminalizing our youth for using any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, while some state lawmakers have wanted to increase penalties on our youth. Studies have…
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Food systems workforce development for food security and sustainability

When the Hawai‘i State Legislature recessed indefinitely on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, members of the Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui Legislation & Policy Committee proactively began working to transition the 2020 Policy Agenda…
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Introducing new statewide coalition for responsible alcohol policies

Hawaiʻi's alcohol policy landscape just welcomed an exciting new player. The Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance, HIPHI’s latest emerging coalition, was recently formed and hired a Statewide Coordinator, Chelsea Gonzales, bringing advocacy experience…
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June 2020 legislative update

After a two month recess, the Hawai‘i State Legislature reconvened for eight days in May. Their primary goal was to balance the state’s budget and allocate federal COVID-19 relief funds. In addition to the budget matters, the Senate also…
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Kaua‘i: Doing Our Part To #TakeDownTobacco

Every year the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) encourages youth across the nation to participate in national Kick Butts Day, but with the rise in e-cigarette use, it was time for a rebranding to ensure goals of taking down all tobacco…
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Food Systems Education for All! An Update on 2020 Legislative Efforts

NOTE: The state legislature has gone on hiatus as of March 16, 2020 in response to COVID-19. The recess will go on indefinitely until the state House and Senate leaders decide when the session should reconvene. The content in this article reflects…