Aloha,
This week Governor Josh Green held U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for the failed federal response to the ongoing measles crisis in the U.S. — calling it an entirely preventable situation.
During a news conference Tuesday hosted by Protect Our Care — a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit — Governor Green criticized RFK Jr. for spreading misinformation about vaccines that prevent diseases such as measles.
“What’s happening today with measles is absolutely public health malpractice, and it’s completely preventable,” Governor Green said.
With new measles cases in at least nine states this year, the U.S. on Tuesday marked 12 straight months of measles transmission — putting the country in jeopardy of losing its measles elimination status.
The CDC has reported more than 2,200 confirmed measles cases reported by 45 states — resulting in three deaths in 2025.
A total of 171 cases have been reported as of mid-January of this year, mostly in children who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.
Governor Green blamed Secretary Kennedy’s misinformation campaign for the uncontrolled outbreak, saying that the measles resurgence is the result of RFK, Jr.’s questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines — including those for measles, mumps and rubella that helped the U.S. bring measles deaths to nearly zero.
According to Governor Green — a physician and former ER doctor for more than 20 years — measles is not only very contagious, but can have serious complications.
“It can cause pneumonia, it can cause encephalitis or brain inflammation, and it can cause permanent disability and death,” Josh said. “And I say this from experience because I was called in to deal with the outbreak in Samoa just a couple years ago.”
In 2019, while serving as Lt. Governor, Josh led an emergency medical mission from Hawaii to Samoa to help protect its population against measles — safely and effectively vaccinating nearly 37,000 people.
“It’s absolutely deadly serious,” Josh said, “and it’s completely preventable because two shots of the measles vaccine are 97% effective.”
When measles causes pneumonia, it can lead to respiratory failure — and encephalitis caused by measles can lead to seizures, permanent neurological damage or death.
In April of last year, Hawaii reported only two cases of measles, in a child under age 5 and a household member — both travel-related.
Although the measles virus has been detected in wastewater samples numerous times following those two cases — including in Maui County, on Kauai and in West Hawaii — no further human cases have since been reported.
Governor Green continues to take actions to strengthen and protect healthcare in Hawaii — announcing that he will include $16.5 million in the 2026 budget to cover the cost of the enhanced ACA tax credits to keep coverage affordable for everyone in Hawaii who depends on the subsidies.
Josh has also announced that Hawaii has been awarded nearly $190 million in federal funds for fiscal year 2027, as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program — which will bring nearly $1 billion over the next five years, to modernize rural access to care, grow our economy, and create thousands of good jobs across our state.
Finally, Josh will continue to expand the Hawaii Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP) to attract and retain hundreds more healthcare providers across the state.
The HELP program, Rural Healthcare Transformation, and ACA subsidies will continue to increase access and lower the cost of care for everyone in Hawaii.
Stand with Josh against RFK Jr.’s public health malpractice and mishandling of the measles crisis by chipping in $10 or any amount today.
Mahalo,
Team Green
