§226-20 Objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement--health. (a) Planning for the State's socio-cultural advancement with regard to health shall be directed towards achievement of the following objectives:
(1) Fulfillment of basic individual health needs of the general public.
(2) Maintenance of sanitary and environmentally healthful conditions in Hawaii's communities.
(3) Elimination of health disparities by identifying and addressing social determinants of health.
(b) To achieve the health objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:
(1) Provide adequate and accessible services and facilities for prevention and treatment of physical and mental health problems, including substance abuse.
(2) Encourage improved cooperation among public and private sectors in the provision of health care to accommodate the total health needs of individuals throughout the State.
(3) Encourage public and private efforts to develop and promote statewide and local strategies to reduce health care and related insurance costs.
(4) Foster an awareness of the need for personal health maintenance and preventive health care through education and other measures.
(5) Provide programs, services, and activities that ensure environmentally healthful and sanitary conditions.
(6) Improve the State's capabilities in preventing contamination by pesticides and other potentially hazardous substances through increased coordination, education, monitoring, and enforcement.
(7) Prioritize programs, services, interventions, and activities that address identified social determinants of health to improve native Hawaiian health and well-being consistent with the United States Congress' declaration of policy as codified in title 42 United States Code section 11702, and to reduce health disparities of disproportionately affected demographics, including native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos. The prioritization of affected demographic groups other than native Hawaiians may be reviewed every ten years and revised based on the best available epidemiological and public health data. [L 1978, c 100, pt of §2; am L 1986, c 276, §19; am L 2014, c 155, §2]
Law Journals and Reviews
Poisons in Our Communities: Environmental Justice's Role in Regulating Hawai`i's Biotechnology Industry. 40 UH L. Rev. 155 (2018).