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The Department of Health is entrusted to protect the health of
Hawai`i residents through the protection of the state's environment and
through regulation of goods, services, and facilities used by the
general public. The following links provide information about DOH
programs and other relevant environmental information.
The Department of health is responsible for the implementation of a
statewide air pollution control program as well as working to ensure
that air conditioning and ventilation rules are enforced and that the
public is protected from exposure to lead and asbestos.
The Compliance Assistance Office helps small business overcome the
hurdles they face in their effort to succeed in business while
following environmental regulations.
The Office of Environmental Quality Control helps stimulate, expand and coordinate efforts to maintain the
optimum quality of the State's environment by implementing the
Environmental Impact Statement law.
The Environmental Planning Office develops strategic plans, supports
land use reviews and helps to get new programs underway. This office
has been instrumental in developing the polluted runoff control program
and is involved in coordinating watershed management projects.
The Food and Drug Branch ensures that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical
devices and related consumer products are safe, effective (in the case
of drugs and medical devices), and properly labeled; and that poisonous
household substances are packaged in child resistant containers when
required by rule. The branch also provides education and consultation
for food handlers.
The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office provides risk
assessments, responds to the release of hazardous substances and
oversees the cleanup of contaminated sites. The office responds to at
least 150 incidents a year. Office activities include evaluating health
effects of air and water pollutants when no standards exist.
The Department of Health is responsible for statewide programs of
community noise and radiation control through the provision of services
which include inspectional, educational, consultative and enforcement
activities.
Details on recycling programs including hours of operation, drop-off
and pick-up requirements, materials accepted and contact
information.
The Sanitation Branch is responsible for the implementation and
enforcement of the statutes, rules, and policies relating to
environmental sanitation. The branch regulates food and service
establishments, public swimming pools, housing, milk, recreational
trailer camps, tattoo artists, licensing for sanitarians, mortuaries,
cemeteries and embalmers.
This office has three main areas of responsibility: The management of
solid waste, management hazardous and the regulation of underground
storage tank.
The Vector Control Branch prevents or suppresses outbreaks of
vector-borne diseases and vector nuisance by maintaining vector
populations below disease-transmitting or nuisance-causing levels.
The Department of Health is responsible for three primary areas of
water quality. The Clean Water Branch administers and enforces
statewide water pollution laws and rules. The Safe Drinking Water
Branch administers federal and state safe drinking water regulations
and the Wastewater Branch implements the construction of county
wastewater facilities.
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