We believe we are able to achieve far greater together than in separate silos. Through our coalition, we are able to exchange mutually beneficial resources and direct change at multiple levels through advocacy, improved access, education, workforce development and oral health surveillance. With local coalitions on Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i and Maui, we strive to lift up all voices in our call for a healthier Hawai‘i.
Our Values:
- We take action to reduce oral health disparities statewide and advocate for person- centered health care through policy and system changes.
- We include all voices, promoting authenticity and trust, to ensure broad representation and foster a sense of belonging, involvement, and ownership.
- We advocate for community and government action to uphold the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable people in our state, to receive appropriate and respectful oral health care.
- We create and maintain a safe environment for openly sharing ideas, agendas, and concerns, and employ best practices and evidence-based decision-making.
HOHC Working Committees
The HOHC is comprised of four working committees:
Policy Response Team
Advocates for systems and policy change to address the unique oral health needs of all Hawaiʻi residents, with emphasis on vulnerable populations facing income and access barriers to care.
Workforce Development Committee
Evaluates and addresses the oral health workforce capacity and functions to improve access to care for Hawaiʻi residents, with the focus on vulnerable populations.
Prevention & Access Committees
Works to improve preventative care, access to oral health services, and address oral health disparities among Hawaii’s vulnerable populations, including keiki and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Neighbor Island Coalitions
In addition we have neighbor island task forces; we acknowledge the unique challenges neighbor islands face in improving oral health care. The HOHC- Hawaiʻi Island, HOHC-Kauaʻi, and HOHC-Maui are the voices for their communities. Being part of the HOHC allows members to identify and address the specific needs of their community while also being aligned and integrated to statewide efforts.
Hawai‘i Department of Health contracted with our team to facilitate a series of town hall meetings in 2017 to gather input from stakeholders on each island. Learn more about oral health on your island by reading the reports Hilo | Kaua‘i | Kona | Lanai | Maui | Molokai | O‘ahu
Join Us
“We continue to see vulnerable populations in this country disproportionately affected by dental disease. I believe that as a nation we can and we must do better…I encourage you all to work with me to lift up oral health. Help make the case to your communities of the importance of oral health to individual and community wellbeing and quality of life.”
– VADM Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, Former U.S. Surgeon General
Governor Green signs SB 2476 in support of improving access to keiki dental sealants (2024).
Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition and Hawai‘i Dental Service present Governor Green’s proclamation recognizing Children’s Oral Health Month at the February 2026 Tooth Fairy Fun Day.
Contact Us
Contact our Statewide Coalition Manager for more information on the Coalition and how you can get involved.
