What's Being Discussed

Meeting minutes: The board will review and approve minutes from its April 8, 2026 open and closed sessions.
New acupuncture licenses: The board will formally approve recently issued licenses for several new practitioners.
Updates to acupuncture rules: The board will discuss proposed changes to Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 16-72, which governs how acupuncture is practiced and regulated in the state.
Scope of practice question: The board will take up a previously deferred question about whether shockwave therapy — specifically a device called the SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Technologies Ortho Gold — is within the legal scope of what licensed acupuncturists in Hawaii are allowed to do.

Decisions Expected

Approval of April 2026 meeting minutes.
Ratification of newly issued acupuncture licenses for six practitioners.
Possible direction on proposed rule changes for acupuncture practitioners.
A determination or further discussion on whether shockwave therapy devices fall within the authorized scope of acupuncture practice.

Who Should Pay Attention

Licensed acupuncturists in Hawaii, especially those using or considering shockwave therapy devices in their practice.
Acupuncture students and interns who may be affected by any rule changes.
Patients who receive acupuncture care and want to understand what treatments are legally permitted.
Healthcare providers and others interested in how Hawaii regulates complementary medicine practices.

The meeting is open to the public and can be attended in person in Honolulu or virtually via Zoom. Public testimony is welcome; written comments should be emailed to acupuncture@dcca.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours before the meeting.