AGP Executive Report

Violence & Safety: Honolulu police are searching for a machete suspect after a Waipahu supermarket parking-lot attack left a 28-year-old with a laceration. In Wahiawa, a 66-year-old was critically injured in a stabbing at a McDonald’s; police arrested a 24-year-old on second-degree attempted murder, while another man was also reported critically injured in a separate Wahiawa stabbing. Community Health & Recovery: A UHERO study finds Maui wildfire survivors are making progress, but many still face food insecurity, unstable housing, and gaps in medical and mental health care, with lingering health issues like high blood pressure and reduced lung function. Infectious Disease Watch: Hawaii health officials confirmed additional travel-related cyclosporiasis cases in residents; the risk of local spread remains low, and the outbreak has been linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce. Disaster Preparedness: Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to review emergency plans as Hurricane Fausto approaches. Local Wellness & Access: The Hawaii Career Expo returns to Blaisdell Center July 29 with free admission and many employers, including health care, offering on-the-spot hiring opportunities. Public Health Infrastructure: USDA announced $35 million for feral swine eradication efforts in Hawaii and other states, citing risks to agriculture, ecosystems, and human and livestock health. School Resilience: Two Hawaii schools damaged by Kona Low storms—Konawaena High and Hōkūlani Elementary—are set to reopen Aug. 3 after repairs and mold-related concerns.

Local Legal Relief: An 83-year-old Honolulu widow reached a settlement after the city imposed nearly $590,000 in fines over an alleged short-term rental listing error, with the penalty reduced by 95% so she can keep her home. Health & Access Watch: WalletHub’s 2026 state healthcare rankings put Hawaii in the top tier (No. 5 overall), highlighting cost, access, and outcomes—while New Hampshire and Minnesota lead the nation. Nephrology Research in Hawaii: Otsuka will present new two-year eGFR and safety results for VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) in IgA nephropathy at GlomCon Hawaii 2026, supporting an FDA supplemental approval push. Wellness & Recovery: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea launched Kai Holo Spa, featuring an aquathermal hydrotherapy circuit with hot and cold pools plus saunas and steam. Public Health & Food Safety: Hawaii health officials warned of elevated fecal contamination at Hanakaʻōʻō Beach in Lahaina and also confirmed additional travel-related cyclosporiasis cases among Hawaii residents. Community Mental Health: The LTSC Ripple Effect walk drew a record 500 attendees for suicide prevention and culturally responsive mental health services.

Violence & Safety: A mass shooting at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle left at least 2 dead and 5 injured, including a 2-year-old boy; police arrested one suspect while another was still at large, and livestream footage captured the panic. Local Health Infrastructure: Honolulu’s Straub Benioff Medical Center begins about a month of utility work near its new parking building, with lane and sidewalk closures and bike reroutes starting Monday. Injury & Mobility: A helmeted e-scooter rider in Honolulu was hospitalized after crashing and being ejected, suffering a severe leg injury. Storm Preparedness: Hawaiian Electric urged residents to review emergency plans and supplies as Hurricane Fausto could approach Maui and other islands next week. Public Health & Food Costs: U.S. grocery prices surged 33% since early 2019, the steepest rise in 50 years, driven by supply chain disruptions, climate impacts, and tariffs—pushing more families to coupon and shop around. Hate Crime Allegations: A California family says they were attacked at a West Maui resort after being targeted as “haole boys,” and they’re urging hate-crime investigation. Wellness & Aging Research: UH Mānoa researchers linked gut microbes to biological aging, finding microbial patterns associated with measures of healthspan. Health & Justice: Hawaii’s Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was indicted in a major bribery scandal tied to COVID-19 testing contracts, with Gov. Green calling for her resignation.

Hawaii Public Health & Food Safety: The state is warning of elevated fecal contamination at Hanakaʻōʻō Beach in Lahaina and has also confirmed additional travel-related cyclosporiasis cases in Hawaiʻi residents, as the national outbreak continues to grow. Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Fausto is strengthening toward Hawaiʻi; officials across the islands are urging residents and visitors to review emergency plans for possible flooding, evacuations, and power outages. Local Health Research: A new UH Mānoa study links specific gut microbes with differences in biological aging, suggesting the microbiome may help explain part of how people age. Health Policy & Ethics: A federal judge in Virginia ruled FDA restrictions on the abortion drug mifepristone were unlawful, adding to ongoing legal battles that also intersect with Hawaiʻi’s prior decision. Community & Wellness: Brandy Ledford, known for “Baywatch: Hawaii,” marked 14 years sober and shared how faith and recovery helped her rebuild health. Safety & Violence: Honolulu and Mililani police reported multiple serious incidents this week, including stabbings and a Kona Street shooting, with victims taken to hospital.

Hurricane Fausto Preparedness: Hawaii officials are urging residents to review emergency plans, stock food/water/meds for up to 14 days, secure documents, and prepare for possible power outages as Fausto nears the islands. Public Health—Whale Carcass Safety: DLNR warned people to stay out of the water near a humpback whale remains off Molokaʻi’s south shore due to predators and other safety risks; tissue samples are being analyzed and removing remains is prohibited. Food Safety—Cyclospora Watch: Health officials continue to track cyclospora-related illness after additional travel-related cases were reported in Hawaiʻi residents, as the national outbreak grows. Local Safety—Kapahulu Hit-and-Run: Honolulu police are investigating a hit-and-run that seriously injured a 64-year-old pedestrian in Kapahulu; speed, drugs, or alcohol have not been ruled out. Wellness & Recovery Spotlight: “Baywatch: Hawaii” star Brandy Ledford marked 14 years sober, sharing how faith and rehab helped her turn her life around. Sports Medicine Update: Hawaii Hilo Athletics added athletic trainer Chris McBride to its Vulcans Sports Medicine staff.

Hit-and-run in Kapahulu: Honolulu police are searching for a driver who struck a 64-year-old pedestrian on Kaunaoa Street and left the scene; the man was taken to a hospital in serious condition, and investigators are looking at possible speed, drugs or alcohol. Public health at the beach: Hawaii’s Department of Health issued an advisory for elevated fecal bacteria at Hanakaʻōʻō Beach in Lahaina, warning kids, seniors and immunocompromised people to avoid exposure. Marine safety on Molokaʻi: DLNR urged people to stay out of Molokaʻi’s south shore waters near a whale carcass after a humpback died; officials say tides may keep moving remains through fishing and tour areas. Food safety & outbreaks: DOH confirmed additional travel-related cyclosporiasis cases in Hawaii residents, as the broader U.S. outbreak continues to draw attention. Storm preparedness: Hurricane Fausto is approaching the Central Pacific; Hawaii officials urged residents and visitors to prepare for possible flooding, evacuations and power outages. Local health system news: Hawaii Hilo Athletics added athletic trainer Chris McBride to its Vulcans Sports Medicine staff. Health policy & trust: Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others were indicted in a bribery conspiracy tied to COVID-19 testing, with Gov. Josh Green calling for Luke’s resignation.

Public Health Alert: Hawaiʻi DOH says Hanakaʻōʻō Beach in Lahaina has elevated enterococci levels (406 per 100 mL), meaning fecal contamination and potentially harmful germs; kids, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk, with symptoms often including gastroenteritis. Travel-Linked Illness: DOH confirmed two more cyclosporiasis cases in Hawaiʻi residents who traveled together internationally and to a U.S. state with an outbreak; investigators found no sign of local spread, but officials urge anyone with persistent diarrhea after travel to seek care. Water Safety: Repairs at Tripler Army Medical Center are done, but a water conservation advisory remains while tanks refill and quality testing continues; drinking and cooking are restricted at affected facilities until the advisory is lifted. Disaster Readiness: Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to review storm plans and supplies as Hurricane Fausto approaches, with guidance posted through its storm center and emergency preparedness handbook. Corruption & Governance: An Oʻahu grand jury indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others on bribery and related charges tied to the state’s COVID-19 community testing program; Gov. Josh Green called for Luke’s resignation. Marine Health & Safety: DLNR warns people to stay out of Molokaʻi’s south shore waters near a whale carcass as tides may carry remains into areas used by fishers and tours.

Public Health Alert (Hawaii): The Hawaiʻi Department of Health confirmed two more travel-related cyclosporiasis cases in Hawaiʻi residents who traveled together to areas tied to a U.S. outbreak, bringing Hawaiʻi’s 2026 total to three; DOH says there’s currently no sign of locally acquired infection or ongoing community spread. Food Safety & Outbreak Watch: Nationally, CDC reporting continues to track a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak, with investigations also looking at produce-linked clusters. Local Wellness & Community: Big Island Substance Abuse Council’s free Summer Jam returns Saturday with a family event plus an “Ohana Health Fair,” aiming to support prevention, treatment, recovery and wellness. Health Policy (Hawaii): State lawmakers approved a new Public School Realignment and Closure Commission that will recommend consolidations, realignments and closures. Environment & Health (Hawaii): Hawaiʻi and environmental groups are challenging EPA’s partial rejection of the state’s regional haze plan, arguing it undermines air quality improvements. Workforce & Health (Hawaii): Bayer filed a WARN notice for about 76 layoffs tied to consolidating some farm operations across Oʻahu and Maui. Air Quality & Utilities (Hawaii): Hawaiian Electric’s shift away from a voluntary fossil-plant retirement timeline is at the center of the haze-plan dispute.

Maui Recovery & Community Health: Hui No Ke Ola Pono is offering free services to help Maui wildfire survivors heal and recover under a federal emergency response grant. Back-to-School Wellness Access: Walmart is hosting free health screenings and flu shots at Kahului (plus other islands) Saturday, with walk-ins welcome for blood pressure, BMI checks, and multiple immunizations. Food Safety Watch: Mexico says lettuce and water samples tied to Taylor Farms tested negative for cyclospora, even as the U.S. continues investigating a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak. Local Health Policy: Hawaii lawmakers and advocates are pushing health equity legislation, aiming to expand access to culturally competent care and reduce disparities. Workforce & Health Coverage: A new analysis highlights how Hawaii’s 1974 prepaid health care law keeps employer insurance offers at 97%, covering workers who work at least 20 hours weekly. Workplace Changes: Bayer filed WARN notices for layoffs tied to farm operation consolidations on Maui and Oʻahu, affecting about 76 employees. Environmental Health & Air Quality: Hawaii’s attorney general and conservation groups are challenging EPA rejection of parts of the state’s clean air plan, including regional haze rules. Health Tech & Kids Online Safety: An AI commission is weighing laws to keep kids and teens safe, focusing on harmful and addictive design risks.

Health Coverage & Policy: Hawaii’s employer health insurance edge stays in the spotlight after a new AHIP analysis found a 97% employer offer rate—driven by the 1974 Prepaid Health Care Act that requires coverage for workers at least 20 hours a week. Clean Air & Environmental Health: Hawaii’s Department of Health and environmental groups are challenging an EPA decision that partially rejects the state’s plan to cut pollution-related haze, arguing it undermines air quality progress. Native Hawaiian Programs: Gov. Josh Green warned federal actions pose a “very significant threat” to Native Hawaiian programs and urged the return of Makua Valley during the Native Hawaiian Convention. Community Water Quality: Honolulu is asking Oahu residents to shape long-term water quality priorities through the Oahu Clean Water Survey, guiding future wastewater and stormwater investments. Public Health Alerts: DOH issued a recall for Peter Rabbit Organics fruit pouches due to a choking hazard from a plastic strand. Safety on the Water: Kauaʻi Ocean Safety advised staying out of Hanalei Bay because of brown water and heavy runoff. Local Health & Care Access: Alaska Airlines says it will replace Hawaiian’s retiring 717 fleet with Boeing 737-800s for Neighbor Island service, aiming for improved reliability. Health-Adjacent Wellness: A WalletHub study ranked Honolulu among the least stressed U.S. cities, while Hawaii also topped a “best state to grow old in” index. Injury & Emergency Response: A man was arrested after an alleged box-cutter attack in Iwilei; separately, Ocean Safety and Maui responders handled a critical West Maui ocean fall rescue.

Medical Debt Relief: Gov. Josh Green signed SB 3025, which could automatically erase medical debt for up to 50,000 Hawaii residents, with notices sent by mail based on income. Air Quality & Health: Hawaii AG Anne Lopez and conservation/public health groups challenge the EPA’s partial rejection of the state’s regional haze plan, arguing it would leave haze-causing pollution from Hawaiian Electric plants affecting Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes national parks. Food Safety: DOH issued a recall for Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics Banana & Strawberry 4 oz pouches sold at Target in Hawaii due to a possible soft plastic strand and choking hazard. Public Health Outbreak Watch: CDC parasitic outbreak counts continue to rise nationwide, with Hawaii listed as not reporting a 2026 count as part of the outbreak. Community Safety: First responders treated a man for apparent stab wounds in Iwilei, while firefighters airlifted a Florida woman in critical condition after a West Maui ocean fall near Nakalele Point. Wildlife Update: NOAA relocated Rocky’s monk seal pup (RV58) from a crowded Oʻahu beach to a more remote shoreline to improve survival chances.

Gut Health & Aging: A new UH Mānoa study links specific gut bacteria patterns to how quickly people show biological aging, explaining about 15% of differences in aging pace. Air Travel & Access to Care: Alaska Airlines says Hawaiian Airlines’ neighbor-island service will shift to Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800s, aiming for more seats, faster Starlink Wi-Fi, and better reliability as the 717 fleet retires. School Health Checklists: Hawaii doctors urge families to get vaccines and physicals scheduled early, and to watch for back-to-school anxiety and depression as kids return. Water Safety & PFAS: State AG Jeff Jackson and other attorneys general push back against EPA rollbacks on “forever chemicals” in drinking water, warning of health risks to liver, kidneys, and more. Public Health Alert: CDC reports cyclosporiasis cases have topped 4,000 across 41 states, with hundreds hospitalized and no deaths reported. Local Health Infrastructure: The Navy’s Red Hill pipeline removal marks another step in closing the facility tied to past drinking-water contamination. Road Safety: Two fatal crashes on Oahu over the weekend killed a moped rider in Maili and an e-motorcyclist on Punahou Street.

Food Safety & Local Health: The Hawaii Department of Health cleared a Subway in Kunia to reopen after refrigeration violations were fixed, following a red placard after an inspection. Environmental Health: The Navy has begun removing about 10 miles of Red Hill pipeline tied to the decommissioned fuel facility, a key step toward permanent closure, with work overseen by the EPA and DOH. Public Health Watch: CDC reports cyclosporiasis cases have topped 4,000 across 41 states, with hundreds hospitalized as the outbreak continues to expand. Injury & Emergency Response: A tree fell on a Jeep on Hana Highway, sending one visitor with a head injury to Maui Memorial by air and four others by ground; the road reopened after the tree was removed. Health Policy & Access: A new Supreme Court ruling clears the way for TPS terminations for Haiti and Syria, limiting judicial review for thousands affected. Community Health & Wellness: UWM marked AAPI Month with a mental and physical well-being spotlight through dance and student wellness programming. Violence & Care Needs: Police charged two Kona men after a graduation-party stabbing left one victim in critical condition and another seriously injured.

Food Safety Watch: Hawaiʻi DOH Food Safety Branch authorized Charley’s Steakery in ʻAiea to reopen after a red placard tied to a sewage overflow at a floor drain; the plumbing was repaired and a follow-up inspection cleared the issue. Military & Community Impact: The Pentagon identified 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales (Carrollton, Texas) as two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian attacks, with another death later identified as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton (Fort Bragg area). Health Access & Cost Relief: Hawaii’s Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program (SB 3025) is set to erase qualifying families’ medical debt via a nonprofit partner, with eligibility tied to income and debt burden. Public Health & Nutrition: SNAP recipients in Hawaiʻi will see August benefit payments arrive Aug. 3–5, with amounts based on household size and income. Local Justice & Safety: Two Kona men face attempted murder charges after a stabbing at the Kona Imin Center in Holualoa; victims were treated locally and one was flown to Oʻahu. Housing Affordability: New data suggests homeownership among adults under 35 is far lower than official estimates, with high-cost states like Hawaiʻi among the lowest.

Nicotine & “wellness” pouches: A New York entrepreneur says he quit vaping with hypnosis, then built Ultra Pouches—tobacco- and nicotine-free sachets marketed for sleep and focus, raising fresh questions about what “healthy” nicotine-adjacent products should mean for public health. Local health access & careers: Blood Bank of Hawaii and C2C Workforce USA graduated 13 from an adult accelerated phlebotomist technician program, with job offers including Blood Donation Specialist roles. Diabetes prevention push: UH Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health report that the Beat Diabetes media campaign helped more at-risk adults enroll in the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Cancer screening momentum: Hawaiʻi DOH will host the Hawaiʻi Colorectal Cancer Summit 2026 (July 24) with free in-person or virtual registration to boost awareness and screening. Community safety & preparedness: A free Aug. 6 webinar highlights how Hawaiʻi organizations can strengthen emergency planning and response using Environmental Health and Safety expertise. Health in the news, but not health policy: NOAA plans to relocate a monk seal pup after weaning, and a Hawaii man was rescued after cliff jumping at Toketee Falls.

Local Fire Safety: A rollover crash in Kalihi left a man in serious condition after he was pinned inside his vehicle; Honolulu Fire Department crews extricated him and EMS transported him for treatment. Home Fire Tragedy: In Makakilo, an early-morning two-story house fire killed an 83-year-old man; firefighters found him unconscious during a search, while a 77-year-old woman was evaluated for smoke inhalation. Military & Community Impact: The Pentagon identified 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales (Carrollton, Texas) as two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian missile and drone attacks, with another service member previously reported missing. Disaster Readiness: RIMPAC 2026’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise concluded at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, highlighting multinational medical and logistics coordination. Care After Discharge: Maui Health and Mauliola Pharmacy partnered to expand bedside prescription delivery for patients leaving Maui Memorial Medical Center, aiming to make the hospital-to-home transition safer and easier. Pet Travel Basics: A guide breaks down why flying with pets can be complicated, from microchip and rabies rules to strict destination timelines. Public Health & Safety: Honolulu Police said Batarti Gabbard, Tulsi Gabbard’s brother, was arrested after an alleged “lure children” incident at a Waikīkī hotel.