Governor Green and Hep Free Hawaiʻi Mark World Hepatitis Day at KCC

On July 22, Hep Free Hawaiʻi hosted a World Hepatitis Day event at Kapiolani Community College with keynote remarks from Governor Josh Green, who declared July 28 “Hawaiʻi Hepatitis Day.”

Guests included several Department of Health officials, including Dr. Kenneth Fink, Dr. Diana Felton, and Harm Reduction Services Branch Chief Timothy McCormick. Also in attendance was Dr. Naoky Tsai, who authored a moving opinion-editorial last November in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (“Curable Hepatitis C Still Killing Hawaii”).

All members of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation renewed their statements of support for “Hep Free 2030,” the state’s strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis through sustained public investment in vaccination, screening, and treatment.   

The latest “Share Our Stories” video, created by award-winning filmmaker Alexander Bocchieri, was screened for attendees. It features a patient named Mario and may be viewed online on Hep Free Hawaiʻi’s YouTube channel. Hepatitis Program Epidemiologist Myriam Saboui provided attendees with a detailed look at the current state of hepatitis screening, care, and treatment.

“2025 was a landmark year for hepatitis policy in our state, and we are grateful for Governor Green’s leadership. We are heartened by the Legislature’s commitment to dedicating state funds to move Hawaiʻi closer to the ‘winnable battle’ of viral hepatitis elimination. More education, vaccination, screening, and treatment will save lives. It will also help prevent costs related to liver disease,” said HHHRC Executive Director Heather Lusk, who also serves as the Co-Director of Hep Free Hawaiʻi.