Hawaii Department of Health

What Hawaii Department of Health does

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (HDOH) is the executive-branch state agency of the State of Hawaiʻi chartered to protect and improve the health and environment of all residents and visitors. Its organizational structure comprises three administrations — Health Resources, Environmental Health, and Behavioral Health — each headed by a Deputy Director reporting to Director Kenneth S. Fink, MD (appointed January 9, 2023 by Governor Josh Green). Operations span district health offices on Oʻahu (headquarters at Kinau Hale), Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo, Kona, Waimea), Maui (Wailuku plus Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi), and Kauaʻi (Lihue), alongside inpatient facilities including Hawaiʻi State Hospital and a network of community mental health centers. With 5,001–10,000 employees and roots tracing to 1839, HDOH is one of the oldest continuously operating public health agencies in the United States.

HDOH delivers a portfolio of regulatory, clinical, surveillance, and emergency-response services. Core programs include the Hawaiʻi State Immunization System (HISIS), the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, Dispensary and Hemp regulatory programs, the WIC nutrition program, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Family Guidance Centers, the Hawaiʻi CARES 988 crisis line, Vital Records issuance, and the Food and Drug Branch's enforcement of the Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Title 11 Chapter 50 Food Safety Code. Recent technology additions include a machine-learning adverse-event dashboard for the Developmental Disabilities Division (with UH Mānoa, RSM US, and Microsoft, launched December 2025) and statewide deployment of the Pulsara emergency communication platform (with the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, announced March 2026).

HDOH does not operate as a commercial enterprise: it is funded through annual state legislative appropriations and federal grants (e.g., a $3.5M HHS behavioral-health grant over five years and the four-year CMS/SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program). Services are delivered at no cost or on an eligibility basis; WIC and SNAP operate as needs-tested benefits. The agency's "customers" are the entire resident population of Hawaiʻi plus approximately 3 million annual tourists, and its stakeholder ecosystem includes federal partners (CDC, CMS, SAMHSA, EPA), county governments, healthcare providers, and community organizations across 16 supported languages.

Name

Hawaii Department of Health

Legal name

State of Hawaii, Department of Health

Website

https://health.hawaii.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is a state executive-branch agency protecting and improving the health and environment of all Hawaiʻi residents and visitors. It operates disease-control, environmental-health, behavioral-health, vital-records, and emergency-preparedness programs through district offices on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, and Kauaʻi, funded by state appropriations and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Hospitals (8060), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial/Regional Health Departments (HLAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Program Administration & Operations (HLAJAMAB), Public Health Policy, Planning & Governance (BPAIAJAB), County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Administration (BPAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Behavioral health programs
• Environmental health regulation
• Emergency preparedness coordination
• Vital records administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Hawaii Department of Health is the State of Hawaii's primary public health agency, delivering a comprehensive range of public health services across three administrations: Health Resources, Environmental Health, and Behavioral Health. Core offerings include disease prevention and control, environmental health regulation, vital records issuance, mental health and substance abuse treatment, food safety oversight, emergency preparedness coordination, family and maternal-child health services, and disability and aging services. The department also administers regulatory programs for medical cannabis, immunization records, and healthcare facility licensing, supported by district health offices on every major Hawaiian island.

Product overview

The Hawaii Department of Health operates as a comprehensive state health agency offering multiple interconnected programs and services organized under three main administrations: Health Resources, Environmental Health, and Behavioral Health. Core products include the Hawaii State Immunization System (HISIS) for immunization records, Medical Cannabis programs (Patient Registry, Dispensary oversight, Hemp Products), and the SNAP/WIC nutrition partnership. The department provides extensive behavioral health services through CAMHD (Child & Adolescent Mental Health) with Family Guidance Centers across islands, AMHD (Adult Mental Health) including Hawaii CARES 988 crisis line, and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. Environmental health services span Food Safety, Clean Air/Water, and Vector Control. Additional products include Vital Records, Disability Services with a machine learning-powered data dashboard, Family Health Services, Executive Office on Aging, and Emergency Medical Services coordination including Pulsara emergency communication platform. The department also manages Public Health Preparedness and the Hawaii State Hospital for in-patient psychiatric care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAMHD (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division): Mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional and/or behavioral challenges
• AMHD (Adult Mental Health Division)
• Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR)
• Office of Health Status Monitoring / Vital Records
• Office of Public Health Preparedness
• Office of Language Access (OLA)

Products and services

• Hawaii State Immunization System (HISIS) A free online public portal allowing individuals to securely access, print, or download official immunization records, operated by the Hawaii Department of Health.
• Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program State registry program requiring qualified patients to register through a licensed physician or APRN certification before medical cannabis use, accessible at medmj.ehawaii.gov.
• Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program Statewide oversight of laboratories testing the safety and quality of cannabis products and monitoring of dispensaries that grow, manufacture, and sell to registered patients.
• Hemp Processing and Manufactured Hemp Products Program Regulatory program for the processing of hemp biomass into allowable manufactured hemp products and hemp crude extract, overseeing their sale to protect public health and safety.
• SNAP and WIC Partnership Referral Service Referral process linking the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), with SNAP sharing monthly referrals with WIC to identify qualifying families.
• Mobile Medical Clinics Coordinated mobile medical clinics deployed for emergency response providing primary care, telehealth access, prescription refills, behavioral health referrals, and social service navigation in disaster-affected areas.
• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Confidential statewide health survey conducted year-round through telephone interviews with adults, providing data on smoking, insurance coverage, access to care, and health equity, contracted through Omnitrak Group, Inc. and partnered with CDC.
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) Free mental health services for eligible children and youth with severe emotional and/or behavioral challenges, including assessment, case management, and therapeutic supports provided in home, community, or temporary out-of-home placements.
• Family Guidance Centers Intensive mental health services for youth, staffed by Mental Health Care Coordinators with locations across Hawaii County, Kauai County, Maui County, and Oahu.
• Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD) Mental health services for adults seeking to reduce prevalence of emotional disorders through community-based mental health centers and in-patient state hospital facility.
• Hawaii CARES 988 24/7 crisis support and mental health services available by calling or texting 988, providing access to mental health or substance use treatment.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) Program to reduce severity and disability effects related to alcohol and other drug use by assuring access to an integrated public/private community-based system of prevention strategies and treatment services.
• Office of Public Health Preparedness Coordination of DOH emergency preparedness activities including Strategic National Stockpile distribution and Department Operations Center coordination to protect public health during emergencies.
• Food Safety Branch Regulatory program protecting public health through education and regulation of food safety, disease prevention, community sanitation, and emergency response, including permit applications, food handler certification, and inspection programs.
• Vital Records Office Issues birth, marriage, civil union, and death certificates, processes amendments, provides apostille/authentication services, and manages the Office of Health Status Monitoring.
• Family Health Services Division Division supporting families with programs for women, infants, and children (including those with special health care needs) through family planning, early developmental intervention, and supplemental nutrition including WIC services.
• Executive Office on Aging Designated lead agency coordinating statewide aging and caregiver support services including Senior Medicare Patrol, Health Insurance Assistance Program (Hawaii SHIP), Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Healthy Aging Partnership programs.
• Disability and Communication Access Board Program providing disability parking permits, facility access, communication access services, and resources for service and assistance animals to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Division Division promoting wellness and improving quality of life through prevention, detection, and management of chronic diseases including asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and tobacco prevention.
• Environmental Health Administration Administration overseeing environmental health through Clean Air Branch, Clean Water Branch, Safe Drinking Water Branch, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, Food and Drug Branch, and Vector Control Branch.
• Emergency Medical Services & Injury Prevention Systems Branch Branch aiming to minimize death, injury, and disability due to life-threatening situations by ensuring availability of high-quality emergency medical care through coordinated emergency medical and health services systems.
• Hawaii State Hospital In-patient state psychiatric hospital facility serving mentally ill individuals, including those referred through courts and the criminal justice system.
• Disability Services Data Dashboard Data dashboard using machine learning to identify adverse events for Hawaii residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities by integrating Medicaid claims and case-management data on Microsoft systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Statewide emergency response coordination through Department Operations Center
• +1 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Federal partner in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program, a four-year initiative expanding mental health and substance use treatment services through Medicaid funding.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Federal partner with CMS in administering the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program expanding behavioral health services.
• The Queen's Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Partnership with The Queen's Medical Center in deploying coordinated mobile medical clinics to storm-damaged North Shore of O'ahu following Kona low storm flooding. The initiative provides immediate medical support, telehealth access, prescription refills, behavioral health referrals, and social service navigation for displaced families.
• Hawai'i H.O.M.E. ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Mobile clinic partnership providing primary care, telehealth, medication support, and social services to North Shore residents displaced by flooding. The initiative addresses urgent health gaps for families with interrupted access to care.
• Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Coalition partner in the mobile clinic initiative providing services to storm-affected families, focusing on maternal and child health support during disaster recovery.
• PulsaracoreTechnology or Integration · 24 March 2026The Hawaii Fire Department deployed Pulsara's communication and logistics platform for emergency care coordination. The State of Hawai'i DOH is expanding the initiative statewide, providing Pulsara at no cost to all healthcare organizations to create Hawai'i's first unified emergency response system.
• Hawai'i Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Lead agency in state emergency care improvement efforts using Pulsara communication platform, achieving measurable reductions in stroke treatment times and improving real-time coordination during mass casualty events.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026EPA endorsed the 'Maui Method' developed by Maui County as the preferred national standard for lithium-ion battery disposal. The method submerges damaged batteries in brine solution to neutralize stored energy before safe disposal.
• Hawai'i Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2026New referral process linking SNAP and WIC programs. SNAP shares monthly referrals with WIC to identify qualifying families not yet enrolled, with WIC staff reaching out by phone, text, or email to offer appointments.
• University of Hawai'i at MānoacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2025Partnership to develop a data dashboard using machine learning to identify adverse events for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The dashboard integrates Medicaid claims and case-management data for 3,600 participants statewide.
• RSM USminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025Consulting firm partnered with University of Hawai'i and DOH to develop the adverse event detection dashboard built on Microsoft systems.
• West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing clear, evidence-based recommendations for child and adolescent immunizations through the WCHA and DOH collaboration.
• Omnitrak Group, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal company contracted by DOH to conduct the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) telephone interviews with adults across Hawai'i.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), providing longest-running statewide confidential health survey on topics including smoking, insurance coverage, access to care, and health equity.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Public Health: The largest U.S. state public-health agency, operating a comprehensive suite of programs analogous to Hawaii DOH (disease control, environmental health, behavioral health, vital records). Functions as a higher-resourced peer against which Hawaii's program breadth and regulatory authority can be benchmarked.
• New York State Department of Health: Operates one of the most comprehensive state health agencies in the U.S., including environmental health, behavioral health, and Medicaid program administration. Direct functional peer across nearly all of Hawaii DOH's three administrations.
• Texas Department of State Health Services: Large-scale state health agency with public-health program administration, environmental regulation, and behavioral-health services. Serves as a benchmark for how a state DOH operates at significantly greater population scale than Hawaii.
• Illinois Department of Public Health: Mid-to-large state public-health agency administering a comparable suite of programs including disease control, environmental health, and health-facility licensing. Useful benchmark for operations at greater population scale than Hawaii.

Direct peers

• Alaska Department of Health: The most structurally comparable state DOH: small population, vast geographic dispersion, reliance on remote delivery and telehealth, and significant federal-grant dependency. Faces similar challenges of serving populations across non-contiguous regions.
• Florida Department of Health: Comparable in handling large tourist populations, multilingual service demand, and statewide county-health-office distribution. Both states must design public-health programs around significant visitor populations in addition to residents.
• Washington State Department of Health: Pacific Coast state health agency with similar scale, multilingual populations, and active engagement with CMS, SAMHSA, and CDC demonstration programs. Most directly comparable in West Coast public-health innovation.
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: One of the few state agencies that combines public-health and environmental-protection functions in a single department, mirroring Hawaii DOH's Environmental Health Administration + Health Resources structure.
• Oregon Health Authority: Mid-size state health authority with comparable scope including behavioral health, environmental health, and Medicaid administration. Faces similar challenges of serving diverse populations in non-urban areas.
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Mid-size state DPH known for innovative public-health policy and strong regulatory frameworks. Comparable in administering public-health programs across diverse populations with limited geographic dispersion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HawaiiDOH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaiidoh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Department of Health