State Epidemiologic Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW)
SEOW
The State Epidemiologic Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) has been providing epidemiologic services to and working with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) which is a part of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, from 2006 to present. The SEOW has evolved to target underage drinking and substance use due to the focus of the federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS). The SEOW is a partnership between ADAD, University of Hawaiʻi, and interested community stakeholders.
The SEOW hosts a quarterly meeting where individuals/organizations have the opportunity to share their substance use-related data.
For additional information, please contact phac+uhseow@hawaii.edu

Latest Resources
- 2021 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators (Modified 9/28/2022)
- Hawaii Alcohol Tax Policy Study — Consultation Draft Version 1.2 (February 10, 2022)
- By Alicia Sparks, Layne Nakano, Bobby Do, Amelia Arechy, Richard Collins, David Jernigan, and Victoria Fan. The Potential Economic and Social Effects of an Alcohol Tax Increase in Hawai‘i
- 2019 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators (Modified 1/15/2021)
- Rapid Literature Review on Behavioral Health During Pandemic
- Rapid Literature Review on Underage Drinking, Pregnancy, and FASD
- Rapid Literature Review on Homelessness and Substance Use
- Rapid Literature Review on Behavioral Health During Pandemic – Update
2022 SEOW Line Up
February 23, 2022 Meeting
We had a presentation on an alcohol tax from the following individuals:
- Rick Collins, Director of the Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth
- Dr. David Jernigan, Professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, and the Assistant Dean for Practice at the Boston University School of Public Health
- Layne Nakano, UH Epidemiology Team
- Presentation: Alcohol Tax Study
- Review and discussion on the SEOW charter
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes for February 2022
Recording: PHAC Youtube
May 25, 2022 Meeting
SEOW Data Presentation: We are excited to host the following data presentation, introduced by John Valera, AICP, Acting Administrator from the State of Hawaii Department of Health Alcohol & Drug Abuse Division:
- “Student Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs Survey” presented by Jane Onoye, PhD, Associate Professor from the University of Hawaii, Department of Psychiatry at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
State Community Partnerships Workgroup: We are launching the State Community Partnerships Workgroup as part of the State Epidemiologic Outcomes Workgroup, with an introduction by Tehani Diaz, MPA, Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships For Success Coordinator from the State of Hawaii Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division:
- Presentation: Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships For Success
- “State Community Partnerships Workgroup Overview” presented by Laura Johnston and Cielo Subia, Policy Research Associates from the University of Hawaii Pacific Health Analytics Collaborative.
- Presentation: State Community Partnerships Workgroup (SCPW) Overview
- “State Community Partnerships Workgroup Overview” presented by Laura Johnston and Cielo Subia, Policy Research Associates from the University of Hawaii Pacific Health Analytics Collaborative.
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes for May 2022
Recording: PHAC Youtube
August 31, 2022 Meeting
- Angelina Mercado, Executive Director from the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, presented on Understanding Substance Use, Mental Health, and Domestic Violence
- Layne Nakano, Graduate Assistant from the UH Epidemiology Team, provided an update on the SEOW 2021 Profile
- We also shared an announcement on the SEOW
Previous Quarterly Meetings
February 19, 2021 Meeting
- Rico Witt, from the Hawaiʻi – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)
- Presentation: Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) and HIDTA Statistics
- Bobby Do & Connie Emory from the UH Epidemiology Team, presented an update on the SEOW: 2019 Profile launch, webpage, and charter
We also had a short activity:
- 2020 Drug and alcohol challenge
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes for February 2021
August 19, 2021 Meeting
Panel on Homelessness in Hawaiʻi
- Emma Grochowsky, Homelessness Community Development Specialist from the Office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness
- Presentation: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Homelessness
- Wallace Engberg, Data Analyst for Homeless Management Information System from Partners in Care
- Heather Lusk, Executive Director of the Hawaii Health Harm Reduction Center
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes February 2021
Recording: PHAC YouTube
May 28, 2021 Meeting
- Ayada Bonilla, State Educational Specialist from the Department of Education, will present an overview of the School-based Behavioral Health (SBBH) Program
- Presentation: SBBH 2021 Program Overview
- Ayada Bonilla, State Educational Specialist from the Department of Education, will present an overview of the School-based Behavioral Health (SBBH) Program
- Tamara Whitney, Program Coordinator from the State of Hawaii Department of Health, and Michele Nakata, Supervisor for the Dispensary Licensing Section, will present substance use data related to the Medical Cannabis Registry Program
- Presentation: OMCCR Presentation
- Tamara Whitney, Program Coordinator from the State of Hawaii Department of Health, and Michele Nakata, Supervisor for the Dispensary Licensing Section, will present substance use data related to the Medical Cannabis Registry Program
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes May 2021
Recording: PHAC YouTube
November 5, 2021 Meeting
- David Jackson and Puanani Hee, from the State of Hawaii Department of Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD), will present CAMHD data
- Kyle Ishizaka and Jaunette DeMello, branch directors from the Kalihi YMCA, will present on the Substance Abuse & Treatment Program for Teens
- Presentation: YMCA of Honolulu – Kalihi Branch
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes November 2021
Transcript: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Transcript
Recording: PHAC YouTube
February 19, 2020 Meeting
- Victoria Fan, ScD, Associate Professor, and Deveraux Talagi, PhD, Data Scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Office of Public Health Studies, Presentation of the State Plan, Substance Use Data Inventory (SUDI)
We also had a short activity and discussion:
- Drug and alcohol challenge
- SEOW charter discussion
- Tentative meeting schedule for 2020 (dates and speakers)
May 20, 2020 Meeting
- Josh Holmes, MPH, Epidemiologist, Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, Overview of Overdose Data to Action collaborations
- Earl Hishinuma, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Overview of Department of Psychiatry databases
Meeting Agenda: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Agenda for May 2020
August 19, 2020 Meeting
- Masahiko “Mike” Kobayashi, Medical Examiner, City & County of Honolulu
- Haley Hsieh, Laulima Data Alliance
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes for August 2020
November 13, 2020 Meeting
- Alvin Bronstein, MD, Department of Health Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch,
- Presentation: Hawaii Poison Center data
- Sean Okamoto, TASI/PHIDC, Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Meeting Notes: SEOW Quarterly Meeting Minutes for November 2020
Recording: PHAC YouTube
SEOW: UH Epidemiology Team
- Dr. Victoria Fan, Associate Professor, PHAC Director, Lead Epidemiologist
- Connie Emory, Junior Epidemiologist
- Bobby Do, Lead Data Analyst
- Layne Nakano, Graduate Research Assistant
SEOW: Current Members (as of April 2021)
- Cora Lyn Balocan, Life Choices Kaua’i
- Lisa Blair, City and County of Honolulu
- Gerald Busch, JABSOM psychiatry
- Sandé Flores, Center on the Family, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Nichole Fukuda, Hawaii State Department of Health
- Deborah Goebert, University of Hawai’i, JABSOM, Department of Psychiatry
- Julie Kauakahi, Child and Family Service, Westside Christian Center
- Theresa Koki, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Life’s Choices Kauai
- Cheryl Labuguen, DOH ADAD
- Harvey Lee, HR Resources
- Tonya Lowery St. John, Hawaii Health Data Warehouse
- Heather Lusk, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center
- Valerie Mariano, Dept. of the Attorney General, CPJAD, Comm. & Crime Prev. Br.
- Allison Mikuni, State DOH Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
- Stephanie Nishimura, JABSOM, Office of Medical Education
- Jane Onoye, University of Hawaii
- Michael Peacock, Hawaii Vet 2 Vet Inc
- Thaddeus Pham, Hawaii Department of Health
- Amanda Pump, Child and Family Service
- Romala Sue Radcliffe, DCAB
- Tammie Smith, Hawaii State Department of Health
- Celia Takahashi, Child and Family Service
- Richard Witt, HIDTA
- Gary Yabuta, HIDTA
Previous Epidemiologic Profiles
- 2007 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators
- 2011 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators
- 2013 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators
- 2014 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol Indicators
- 2014 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Drug Indicators
- 2017 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol Indicators
- 2017 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Drug Indicators
- 2018 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol Indicators
- 2018 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Drug Indicators
- 2021 Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologic Profile: Alcohol and Drug Indicators
Updated: 04/21/2021