Honolulu Hale to be illuminated to commemorate World Hepatitis Day

Honolulu Hale lit in the color green

HONOLULU - Mayor Rick Blangiardi has directed that Honolulu Hale be lit in the color green from sundown on Tuesday, July 30 through sunrise on Wednesday, July 31 to commemorate World Hepatitis Day.

World Hepatitis Day is celebrated each year on July 28, but the illumination of Honolulu Hale on July 30 is in alignment with the World Hepatitis Day event hosted by the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center. The event, titled "Hawai'i Hepatitis Day 2024: Eliminating Hepatitis by 2030," is being held at the University of Hawai'i's Biomedical Sciences Department from 4 - 7 p.m. on July 30. It features clinicians, pharmacists, care coordinators, patients, insurance representatives, and more - all coming together to recognize the imperative of expanding our community's public health response to viral hepatitis.

The lighting of Honolulu Hale serves as a powerful reminder for all of us to be proactive when it comes to raising awareness, and using the tools we have available to diagnose, treat, and prevent viral hepatitis.

The date of July 28 for World Hepatitis Day was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.

-PAU-