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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…
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Oral Health Update

The Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition (HOHC) has been hard at work for the first quarter expanding efforts to improve oral health in our state. With over 30 members from Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Big Island, prevention, advocacy and access have…
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Why Kaua‘i Parks should Be Smoke-Free

Most of Hawaii’s parks and beaches are now smoke-free. In 2008, Hawaiʻi County passed a tobacco-free policy that applies to all county beaches and parks (Hawai‘i County Code 14-21b). As of 2014, Honolulu City and County parks and beaches…
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2020 Mid-Session Update

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. We passed first crossover,…
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Maui Coalition seeks direction to address commercial cannabis

Many Americans either have, or will soon have, legal access to cannabis: for medical use or adult or recreational use. Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth (MCDFY) was interested to learn from other states and to examine the potential public health…
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HIPHI’s 2020 Policy Priorities

As 2019 comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to the 2020 legislative session. HIPHI’s legislative priorities will tackle some key health issues, including regulation of e-cigarettes to reverse the youth vaping epidemic, promotion of oral…
2020 Hawai'i Policy and Advocacy Training
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Taking the Policy and Advocacy Trainings on the Road!

Policy is a key part of the public health toolkit, and every one of us can influence legislation to make healthier choices the easier choices. HIPHI and partners seek to empower new advocates to participate in the legislative process and create…
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New look, same goal: End the sale of flavored tobacco in Hawaiʻi!

With the headlines filled with deaths and illnesses related to the e-cigarette (or vaping) product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak, it’s important to remember that the youth vaping epidemic is still spreading unchecked in Hawaiʻi,…