Hawaii Governor Criticizes Federal Handling as Measles Cases Rise Nationally

Governor Green Condemns Measles Resurgence, Blames Vaccine Misinformation

Governor Josh Green of Hawaii delivered a scathing critique of the current measles crisis sweeping across the United States, calling it “absolutely public health malpractice” and “completely preventable.” His comments came during a Tuesday news conference organized by Protect Our Care, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

Green specifically criticized U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading misinformation about vaccines, stating that the Trump administration has “taken the gloves off and allowed Secretary Kennedy to just run roughshod over policy,” creating a foundation of distrust with “terrible outcomes.”

The governor’s remarks come as South Carolina battles a massive measles outbreak that has grown to over 640 confirmed cases since October, affecting numerous schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports new measles cases in at least nine states this year. The U.S. has now experienced 12 consecutive months of measles transmission, putting the nation at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

Green, a physician himself, spoke from personal experience about the disease’s severity. In 2019, as Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor, he led a critical medical mission to Samoa during a devastating measles outbreak that resulted in 83 deaths.

“Hospitals were overflowing, with hallways full of children in respiratory distress,” Green recounted. “It’s absolutely deadly serious, and it’s completely preventable because two shots of the measles vaccine, MMR, are 97% effective.”

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, an infectious disease physician and former director for CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, echoed Green’s concerns. He emphasized that the current situation represents the largest measles outbreak since 1991, attributing it directly to Kennedy’s questioning of vaccine safety and efficacy.

“If we lose measles elimination status, it will be a clear indicator that our public health infrastructure needs urgent revitalization,” Daskalakis warned, “and that we must commit to science-driven policies rather than the ideological policies that we have seen in the last year.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pushed back against these criticisms. Press Secretary Emily Hilliard stated in an email that the claims were baseless, noting that “under Secretary Kennedy, CDC surged resources, and multiple states declared measles outbreaks over in 2025.” She added that declines in vaccination rates began before the current administration, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Annie Andrews, a South Carolina pediatrician and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, described the impact she’s witnessing firsthand. “So many parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children,” she said. “So many parents have delayed vaccines. So every encounter I have with a patient in the hospital now involves a conversation about where they are on their vaccine journey.”

Andrews explained that while measles can present like a cold for many patients, complications can be severe, including pneumonia leading to respiratory failure or encephalitis causing seizures, permanent neurological damage, or death.

Hawaii reported only two travel-related measles cases last year, both in April involving a child under age 5 and a household member. Despite measles virus detection in wastewater samples across multiple counties, no additional human cases have been confirmed. However, the state faces declining vaccination rates, with kindergarten MMR vaccination at 89.9% in the 2024-25 school year—below the national rate of 92.5% and well short of the 95% needed for effective herd immunity.

The state also faces growing opposition to mandated vaccinations. A grassroots campaign called “Keep Vaccinations Optional” recently held events opposing required immunizations for school attendance, with concerns about potential elimination of religious exemptions.

Nationwide, over 2,200 confirmed measles cases were reported across 45 states in 2025, resulting in three deaths. As of mid-January this year, 171 cases have been reported, primarily affecting unvaccinated children or those with unknown vaccination status.

Health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective prevention method, with the CDC recommending two doses of the MMR vaccine for children and at least one dose for adults born after 1957 without documented immunity.