Survey finds majority of Hawaii residents plan to get COVID-19 vaccine

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 10, 2021

A Department of Health poll showed 91% of respondents plan to get vaccinated — 55% as soon as their turn comes up and 36% at a later time. Read more

Vaccinate 65 and older, Lt. Gov. Josh Green urges

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 10, 2021

Green is recommending Gov. David Ige make the policy change to speed up immunizations for the lower-priority group as the federal government considers approving a single-dose vaccine by Johnson & Johnson, which could ease vaccine shortages across the nation. Read more

Lack of supply slows coronavirus vaccinations in Hawaii

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 9, 2021

DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr said the department is managing vaccine supplies to ensure those who have received their first shot will be able to get a second dose on time. Read more

Infections and hospitalizations are dropping in Hawaii as more people get inoculated

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 5, 2021

Hawaii has distributed more than 180,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and that appears to be slowing infections, according to the head of the hospital association. Read more

With COVID precautions in place, influenza cases in Hawaii are near zero

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 4, 2021

Hawaii has so far dodged what health experts feared could be a “twindemic,” with COVID-19 combined with the flu, which has virtually disappeared since last summer. Read more

State Health Department says highly transmissible COVID-19 variant could be in Hawaii

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 2, 2021

The Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division has identified nine samples of the Denmark L452R variant and four specimens that “exhibit a molecular clue associated with the UK B1.1.7 (variant).” Read more

Dr. Sarah Park leaves DOH; has been on paid leave since Sept. 4

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 2, 2021

Dr. Sarah Park’s last day was Dec. 31, according to DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo, who did not give a reason for the separation. Park couldn’t be reached for comment. Read more

Former state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park leaves Hawaii Department of Health

• By Kristen Consillio
• Feb. 1, 2021

Dr. Sarah Park’s last day was Dec. 31, according to DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo, who did not give a reason for the separation. Read more

Respiratory therapists at Kapiolani Medical Center navigate their first union contract

• Jan. 22, 2021

Shannon Damo has been at the bedside of patients in distress at the most critical moments when they are unable to breathe. Read more

News conference sign language interpreter dies of COVID

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 21, 2021

Patty Sakal was a familiar face at Hawaii’s coronavirus news conferences for most of last year, interpreting the latest virus news from state officials for deaf residents across the islands. Read more

Hawaii vaccine shortage stymies mass rollout

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 20, 2021

Thousands of COVID-19 vaccination appointments are being canceled or not made at all because of limited supplies in the islands. Read more

Kupuna get inoculated at Pier 2 as Hawaii mass vaccinations begin

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 19, 2021

A sense of hope came over 77-year-old Veronica Martin when she finally received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine she’s been waiting for as the pandemic raged on for nearly a year. Read more

Hawaii health department, pharmacies partner to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru sites

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 16, 2021

Hawaii health officials are working with local pharmacies to offer drive-thru and in-home COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and caregivers of small residential care homes as Hawaii prepares to significantly ramp up immunizations statewide. Read more

Hawaii COVID-19 vaccine supply a concern for health officials

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 15, 2021

Health officials are worried that Hawaii might not have enough COVID-19 vaccines to sustain large-scale immunization clinics, two of which are opening within the next two weeks. Read more

Hawaii’s first mass vaccination to kick off on Monday

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 14, 2021

Hawaii Pacific Health said it has assembled 20,000 doses to start vaccinating seniors 75 and older, first responders and front-line essential workers by appointment only. Read more

Hawaii lawmakers heap blame as COVID-19 vaccine rollout lags

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 13, 2021

State officials are pointing fingers at one another over concerns of a lagging rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Hawaii and a lack of coordination in ramping up large-scale immunization clinics to keep the disease under control. Read more

Mass vaccination centers planned on Oahu to administer COVID-19 doses

• By Kristen Consillio
• Jan. 12, 2021

Starting Monday, thousands of Hawaii residents will have access to COVID-19 vaccines as the state opens mass vaccination centers on Oahu. Read more

Hawaii health officials on alert for new COVID-19 strains

• By Kristen Consillio
• Dec. 31, 2020

Hawaii health officials are on high alert for more transmissible strains of COVID-19 and are warning the public to be extra vigilant as they usher in the new year. Read more

Nearly 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered in Hawaii

• By Kristen Consillio
• Dec. 30, 2020

About 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Hawaii, which has received 61,450 doses as of today. Read more

Gov. David Ige approves Kauai’s request to rejoin state’s Safe Travels program for inter-island travelers

• By Kristen Consillio
• Dec. 30, 2020

Gov. David Ige has approved a request by Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami to rejoin the state’s Safe Travels program, allowing inter-island travelers that test negative for COVID-19 to bypass the island’s mandatory 10-day quarantine as of Jan. 5. Read more

Hawaii sees 38% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations; State receives 16.3K more vaccines

• By Kristen Consillio
• Dec. 28, 2020

Hawaii has seen a 38% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past month as case counts climbed over the holiday season. Read more