The Environmental Health Workforce in Hawai'i: Current Status and Recommendations for Improvement

Environmental health (EH) is a critical branch of public health that addresses current and emerging health threats related to issues such as climate change and pollution. The state of Hawai'i faces distinct EH challenges, including air pollution from volcanic activity, widespread vulnerability to sea level rise, wildfire, exposure to pollution from accidental spills from military sites, and a tropical environment that contributes to heat-related illness and that is conducive to mosquito-borne illnesses. A robust EH workforce is essential to respond to these concerns. This article uses a combination of targeted literature review and qualitative interview methods to synthesize evidence relevant to the issue for the state of Hawai'i. Such a workforce includes professionals in state and federal agencies, academia, and the non-profit and community sectors. Many academic disciplines and professionals can contribute to the EH workforce, including environmental scientists and epidemiologists, toxicologists, exposure assessment scientists, risk characterization scientists, environmental policy and communication experts and community-based EH workers. Currently, there is an insufficient EH workforce in Hawai'i and addressing this gap will require strategic investments in academia and the Hawai'i Department of Health, as well as expanded collaboration. Training programs are also critical, in particular cross-sector ones. Finally, a proficient EH workforce in Hawai'i needs to be able to communicate effectively with the diverse populations of the state and demonstrate commitment to and understanding of the unique populations of the state and their EH concerns.