The University of Hawaii is creating an opt-in, third-party registry for people directly impacted by the Red Hill water crisis to track health outcomes. 

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences provided a federal grant of $27.2 million to fund the registry, according to a news release. 

“The health and social-emotional implications of the Red Hill water crisis on individuals and families, in addition to the environmental impacts, are critically important,” said Aimee Grace, principal investigator and director of the UH Office of Strategic Health Initiatives, in a statement. “We see this registry as providing an important opportunity for individuals and families to share their stories and be linked to services, and be able to monitor their health over time.”

The UH Office of Strategic Health Initiatives will use the registry to track participants’ health and gather information on how fuel exposures may impact health. In its first year, the Red Hill Registry will include a Congressionally mandated feasibility assessment for an epidemiological outcomes study, which would provide insight into the long-term health effects.   

The Red Hill Registry will also provide connections to services and educational programs. 

The registry team will engage the community by hosting listening sessions and creating a community oversight working group. The team will also hire local community members, including people directly impacted by the crisis, to support outreach, enrollment and referral services. 

The registry’s online portal is expected to launch in fall 2025. 

People who are interested in receiving updates on the registry’s development and community engagement efforts may sign up at this website.  

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.