Hawaiʻi Island has been a leader in protecting its community’s health. We support Hawaiʻi Island’s health and wellness from keiki to kūpuna by limiting secondhand smoke exposure, advocating for multimodal transportation, preventing and reducing substance misuse in our communities, increasing healthy food access, and addressing oral health disparities.
Local networks and collaborations we invite you to join include:
Our coordinators work in community-driven coalitions across the island to promote health and well-being through Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi Island Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL), East Hawaiʻi Drug-Free Coalition, and the Hawaiʻi Oral Health Coalition.
Key Accomplishments in Hawaiʻi County
- Prohibited tobacco use in beaches and parks (2008), and in cars in the presence of occupants under 18 (August 2010). Fourth county in the country to enact ordinance raising the age of sale for all tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, to 21 years (July 2014).
- Implementation of a 0.5% transportation surcharge increase to fund transportation projects in Hawaiʻi County (2019), and passing a Vision Zero Strategic Plan Resolution at Hawaiʻi County Council (February 2019).
- Co-leading the planning and implementation of the last four Hawaiʻi Island Community Food Summits.
- 2014 – First county to raise the age of sale of tobacco to 21 years old.