While many of us are hoping for a better year in 2021, the upcoming legislative session is anticipated to be challenging. The state is grappling with a huge budget deficit and lawmakers will be focusing their efforts on balancing the…
For the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi Youth Council, a silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic was being forced to rethink how we deliver our programs. Over the summer, a youth leadership team was established with representatives from all four…
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…
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.…
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 concerning youth and tobacco prevention as…
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 or buildings in a complex),…
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…
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…
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 shown that laws prohibiting the…
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 for food systems…
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 and drive to see changes made. The Policy…
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 held…