Statewide News, Resources & Events!

We were honored to host the senior leadership and board of directors from the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) last week. We took our guests to key sites across O‘ahu, introduced them to community members, and provided local context for the public health work we are doing in Hawai‘i nei.

Special thanks to Alicia Higa from Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, pediatrician Dr. May Okihiro who serves on HIPHI’s board of directors, Josh Levinson and his team at Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha, and HIPHI’s board members JoAnn Tsark, Kina Mahi, Keisha Aldopho, Carissa Holley, Debbie Erskine, and Misty Pacheco.

• Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended to everyone aged five and older!
  • Everyone five and older can get the new Pfizer-BioNTech booster at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination.
  • Keiki six and older can get the new Moderna booster at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination.

  Lower your risk of long COVID by getting a booster with the whole ‘ohana!

• The City and County of Honolulu is expanding its free COVID-19 testing for all Hawai‘i residents to include PCR tests at the City’s Mobile Lab at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
  • Hawai‘i residents with a valid ID will be able to receive a free PCR test or a free rapid antigen test at the City’s Mobile Lab. The Mobile Lab will be open every day of the week, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except on Sundays and Thursdays.
  • Testing sites at Honolulu Hale on Fridays and Kapolei Hale on Wednesdays have revised their operational hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Sign up for a free COVID test!
• At the first White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health in 50 years, the Biden Administration announced a goal to expand access to free school meals for nine million more children by 2032. Food and nutrition security is a social determinant of health and school meals currently provide nourishment to about 30 million children. Read more by clicking here.

The Food Basket-Hawaiʻi Island’s Food Bank released its second keiki activity book Kai and Hōkū Explore Foods of Hawaiʻi in the Hoʻoilo Wet Season. The primary goal of the Kai and Hōkū series is to help families and keiki explore delicious and nutritious foods together, while encouraging participation in the Food Basket’s DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks healthy food incentive program.

• For a free download of both Kai and Hōkū books, visit dabux.org/keiki-corner.

CU Hawai‘i is hosting a free Mental Health First Aid Training in East Hawai‘i. This is an opportunity for anyone that wants to learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. For more information, or to sign up, please email rchoi@cuhawaii.com.

Check out community events on our calendar! Add events by clicking here.