Senate Bill 2096 proposes to amend Chapter 342D of Hawaii Revised Statutes to require wastewater treatment plants that have been approved for land application of sewage sludge to test sewage sludge and any other residual material intended for land application for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This creates a new testing obligation for wastewater facilities engaging in biosolids land application.
The Hawaii Department of Health issued an updated interim guidance document for PFAS Environmental Action Levels (EALs) in January 2026. This guidance provides screening criteria for assessing PFAS contamination in soil and water at environmental sites. The document includes specific action levels for over 24 PFAS compounds and is used to quickly identify low-risk sites and determine when additional investigation or remediation is warranted. This supersedes previous versions of the PFAS EALs guidance.
Hawaii enacted SB1020 prohibiting businesses that sell food or beverages from using disposable or single-use plastic food ware, beverage cups, lids, and food containers containing intentionally added PFAS. The overall Act takes effect July 1, 2025, with the PFAS prohibition specifically applying from January 1, 2026. This affects restaurants, food vendors, and businesses packaging food or beverages for individual consumption in Hawaii.
PFAS was detected in water samples collected at the Hōʻaeʻae Wells Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Treatment Facility of the Waipahu ʻEwa Waiʻanae water system (Public Water System HI0000335), which serves the west area of Oʻahu from ʻEwa Beach to Mākaha. The detection triggers ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements under Hawaii's PFAS regulatory framework. The Board of Water Supply is coordinating with DOH on treatment and monitoring.
Hawaii Department of Health updated its interim Environmental Action Levels (EALs) for PFAS, adding HFPO-DA (GenX) to the 'Primary Terminal PFASs' category due to its recalcitrance to breakdown in the environment and TOPs processing. The guidance establishes action levels for over 24 PFAS compounds including PFOA (4 ppt), PFOS (4 ppt), PFHxS (10 ppt), PFNA (10 ppt), HFPO-DA (10 ppt), and others with levels up to 18,000 ppt. Hawaii's EAL guidance is considered one of the most comprehensive PFAS screening frameworks in the United States, incorporating Total Oxidizable Precursors (TOPs) testing, Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) methods, and a Hawaii-specific calculator for cumulative risk assessment from complex PFAS mixtures.
The Hawaii Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) issued an update to the Interim Soil and Water Environmental Action Levels (EALs) for PFAS. The February 2025 update adds HFPO-DA (GenX) to the 'Primary Terminal PFASs' category due to its recalcitrance to breakdown in the environment and TOPs processing. An option to input sample data for HFPO-DA has been added to the accompanying 'Total PFAS Risk' calculator.
The Hawaii Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) Office has updated its interim Soil and Water Environmental Action Levels (EALs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The February 2025 revision adds HFPO-DA (GenX) to the 'Primary Terminal PFASs' category due to its recalcitrance to breakdown in the environment and TOPs processing. The update includes new sample data input capability for HFPO-DA in the accompanying Total PFAS Risk calculator. Hawaii maintains one of the most comprehensive sets of risk-based PFAS action levels in the United States, covering 24 PFAS compounds.
Hawaii Senate Bill 683 (2025 Legislative Session) proposes expanding PFAS restrictions beyond the existing food packaging prohibition under Act 152. The bill would restrict PFAS in a broader range of products including clothing, textiles, food packaging, and cosmetic products such as lotions, nail polish, shaving cream, and mascara. The legislation recognizes PFAS as 'forever chemicals' that do not naturally break down and can enter the human body through consumption, skin application, and food packaging materials.
Senate Bill 738 would amend Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 342D to require wastewater treatment plants to test sewage sludge and other residual materials intended for land application for the presence of PFAS. The bill also proposes adding a definition for PFAS to the state's water pollution control statute. If enacted, this would create new monitoring and reporting obligations for wastewater facilities handling biosolids.
Hawaii Senate Bill 683 addresses per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. The bill recognizes PFAS as 'forever chemicals' that persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body through consumption, skin contact, and food packaging. The legislation builds upon Act 152 (2022) which previously prohibited PFAS in certain food packaging. SB683 proposes to extend PFAS restrictions to clothing, textiles, food packaging, and cosmetic products including lotions, nail polish, shaving cream, and mascara.
Hawaii Act 152 (2022) prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of paper food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS. The ban took effect December 31, 2024. Affected products include wraps and liners, plates, food boats, and pizza boxes comprised in substantial part of paper, paperboard, or other materials originally derived from plant fibers. Food manufacturers, kitchen supply distributors, and food establishments must comply. Alternatives include uncoated paper products, foil or foil-lined products, bioplastic products, and molded fiber products with bioplastic linings.
Act 152 (2022) prohibition on PFAS in food packaging became effective December 31, 2024. The regulation bans the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of paper food packaging with intentionally added PFAS, including wraps, liners, plates, food boats, pizza boxes, and other paper-based food packaging. Applies to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, and food establishments. Businesses must transition to PFAS-free packaging alternatives.