Posted: November 3rd, 2009 - 8:06am
Source: KITV

HONOLULU -- Just three years ago, inspectors used to make unannounced inspections on restaurants about once a year. However, that situation has worsened.
There are only 12 Department of Health inspectors on Oahu to keep an eye on almost 6,000 restaurants. That is about half as many inspectors as the state had 20 years ago.
When KITV asked people on the street how often inspections like this should happen to assure restaurant and food safety, here is what they said.
"I'd probably say twice a month, but at least once a month, yeah," Roger Nonnweiler said.
Because of attrition and budget cuts, health inspectors are only able to visit Oahu restaurants once about every two years.
"Once every two years? Ooh, that's gross," Mos Karen Malaia said.
If someone complains about dirty conditions or bad food at a restaurant, the Health Department sends an inspector as quickly as possible, usually within a couple of days. However, because of low staffing levels, their regular, unannounced inspections of restaurants have decreased to just one every two years. It is a frustrating situation.
"You see them improving and moving along and then you see them again, like a year and a half to two years and then they've fallen back again. So then, you have to start all over again," inspector Raena Nishimura said.
Those same 12 inspectors on Oahu also inspect non-food establishments, like swimming pools and tattoo parlors.
"It's getting to the point where it may not be able to respond in the manner in which it should be doing," state Sanitation Program Manager Rex Mitsunaga said.
Mitsunaga manages the state Department of Health Sanitation Branch and oversees restaurant inspections.
"People really don't see a need until something bad happens," Mitsunaga said.
"Are you worried about the day that something bad and very serious does happen, because you don't have a lot of inspectors out there?" KITV reporter Keoki Kerr asked.
"It's always been a worry of mine, but it's something that's out of my control," Mitsunaga said.
"The food safety laws are not being enforced for lack of funding," Rep. Marcus Oshiro said.