Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Hawaii sets travel rules for Thursday reopening, state GDP drops 42%, PPP consumed at 'scary' rate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lt. Gov. Green explains travel COVID-19 testing

Island-by-island COVID-19 requirements and rules could confuse some visitors. Gov. David Ige signed a 66-page emergency order Tuesday that gives travelers coming into Hawaii from another U.S. destination the option to take a COVID-19 test and bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine. Star-Advertiser.

More Details Emerge On Hawaii’s Pre-Travel COVID Test Plan. A single test will be required for all travelers arriving in the islands, although counties have some leeway to tailor testing programs for their areas. Civil Beat.

Last minute changes to the pre-travel testing plan stir up new questions. Many of the state’s testing and travel partners have still not released full details about their testing process. Hawaii News Now.

All Counties to Partake in Pre-Travel Testing Program
, Big Island Opts Out of Interisland Travel. All counties will participate in Hawai‘i’s pre-travel coronavirus testing program following negotiations between Gov. David Ige and the mayors of the state’s various counties. Big Island Now.

Gov. approves different travel rules for Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island. Be prepared to follow different rules when you travel to different neighbor islands. The governor has approved additional safeguards for Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. KHON2.

Gov. Ige Signs 14th Proclamation: Two Days to Go Until Launch of Hawai‘i’s Pre-Travel Testing. The new document extends the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers; however, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige extends COVID-19 emergency period through November. Gov. Ige signed his 14th supplementary emergency proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Nov. 30.  KHON2.

Inter-island travel to return for Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, while Hawaii County opts-out. The Counties of Maui and Kauai will accept travelers who get negative results of an accepted COVID-19 test 72-hours prior to inter-island travel, Hawaii Governor David Ige announced today. KHON2.

Maui, Kauai to allow inter-island airline passengers take pre-travel tests. Travelers flying between Oahu, Kauai and Maui County who are looking to avoid quarantining upon arrival will soon be able to participate in the same pre-travel COVID-19 testing program available to trans-Pacific passengers, Gov. Ige announced Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

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As visitor relaunch nears, Hawaii’s economy continues to bottom out. According to Carl Bonham, the executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, Hawaii experienced a 42% drop in GDP, which measures economic growth. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii steps up spending for coronavirus tests and tracing ahead of tourism’s return. Hawaii is spending $30 million in federal Cares Act money to purchase “hundreds of thousands” of additional COVID-19 tests and equipment as the state cautiously reopens tourism and the local economy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii using protective equipment for coronavirus at ‘scary’ rate. Here’s another measure of the unexpected toll and cost to Hawaii of the COVID-19 pandemic: the high burn rate for personal protection equipment, known as PPE. Star-Advertiser.

State, county, local groups prepare to catch quarantine breakers after pre-travel testing program launches. On Thursday, officials say they expect about 2,000 to 3,000 visitor arrivals per day. KHON2.

Where to get tested for travel.
CVS Healthhttps://www.cvs.com/selfpaytesting Starting on Oct. 10, travelers will be able to register online to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. KITV4.

The state releases its list of 'Trusted Testing and Travel Partners'. The state of Hawaii will accept test results only from Trusted Testing and Travel Partners listed here: AFC Urgent Care, Bartell Drugs, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Color, CVS Health, Discovery Health MD, Kaiser Permanente, Quest Diagnostics, Vault Health and Walgreens. KITV4.

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State to issue restaurant debit cards with $500 prepaid to qualified recipients starting Friday. A new program will soon launch to provide struggling Hawaii residents with $500 prepaid debit cards to use at local eateries and restaurants across the state. Star-Advertiser.

Restaurant card program launches website for beneficiaries. On Tuesday, the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism announced a website for the unemployed to check to see if they are eligible to receive the $500 restaurant debit card issued by the state as part of the Economic Relief Program. Garden Island.

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Akina Spends More Than $150K To Keep Souza From OHA Seat. The nonpartisan race to be an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee pits Democratic supporters against a conservative incumbent. Civil Beat.

First humpback of season spotted. The first humpback whale of the 2020-21 season was spotted at 9:10 a.m. Thursday in the waters between Molokini and Maui, the Pacific Whale Foundation announced Monday. Maui News.

Nonprofit to sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife for not protecting Hawaiian honeycreeper. The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat and develop a recovery plan for the iiwi, a native forest bird in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Conservation Group Pushes Feds To Set Habitat For Hawaii’s Endangered Iiwi Bird. The species, like many of Hawaii’s other remaining forest birds, has been decimated by mosquito-borne diseases. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 13: 62 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii And 4 Deaths. Among the new infections documented Tuesday, 21 cases were on the Big Island and 11 cases were on Maui. The remaining cases were reported on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: For Prosecutor, More Voters Prefer Alm Over Kau. They also strongly favor term limits for prosecutor just like the ones for Honolulu mayor and City Council. Civil Beat.

Oahu election turnout already at 16%. City election officials reported they have already collected 76,520 general election ballot envelopes from Oahu voters as of Tuesday afternoon, or more than 16% of those on the city’s voter rolls. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has asked the governor to allow a post-arrival test to be done at the airport for those who don't take pre-travel test. For those passengers who don't take a pre-travel test, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has asked the Governor to allow a post-arrival test to be done at the airport. KITV4.

Honolulu consumer prices rise amid coronavirus pandemic. A federal agency has new, unpleasant data for many Hawaii consumers already suffering financially amid the state’s badly damaged economy: Prices have risen for most goods and services on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

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$10M city program to help arts community. Oahu businesses and nonprofits involved in culture and the arts that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for reimbursable grants from the city through a $10 million Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund announced Tuesday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Launches $10 Million Arts And Cultures Grant Fund.
The City and County of Honolulu is using $10 million of its federal CARES Act dollars on a new Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund. Civil Beat.

City begins grant programs to support O'ahu’s culture and arts. O‘ahu businesses and nonprofits in culture and arts can now apply for reimbursable grants from the City and County of Honolulu’s $10 million Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund. KITV4.

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Ex-Honolulu police officer gets 14 days in jail for sex assault of minor during traffic stop. Former Honolulu police officer Kramer Aoki was sentenced today to 14 days in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage girl he stopped for speeding while on duty in 2014. Star-Advertiser.

Officer who pleaded no contest to groping teen girl during traffic stop sentenced. Kramer Aoki pleaded no contest to a charge of 4th degree sex assault, and was sentenced to two weeks in prison. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Post-arrival antigen tests for out-of-state travelers to be available at all 3 of the island’s commercial airports. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday that out-of-state travelers to the Big Island who’ve tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure to Hawaii will be able to take a rapid-response antigen test at any of the Big Island’s three commercial airports to avoid a 14-day quarantine. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Approved For Second Travel Test, But No Inter-Island Plan. Out of state arrivals to Hawaiʻi Island seeking to bypass the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine by using a pre-travel test will be required to take a second COVID-19 test upon arrival to the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Council calls emergency meeting for Wednesday: Legislative body seeks travel testing update from mayor. County Council Chairman Aaron Chung has called an emergency council meeting for 1 p.m. today to get a briefing from Mayor Harry Kim about how interisland and trans-Pacific travel will work come Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Mail stoppage alarms Kailua-Kona residents:
Temporary delivery halt coincides with ballot mail-out. Three Kailua-Kona apartment buildings had their mail stopped, apparently without notice, shortly after ballots went out last week. West Hawaii Today.

Public has 2 more weeks to comment on proposed UH Hilo teaching telescope. The public has two more weeks to participate in a virtual open house by University of Hawai?i at Hilo to learn about the university’s proposed 28-inch educational telescope at Halepohaku, the mid-level facility on Maunakea. KITV4.

‘We need your help’: Hawaii Rainbow Rangers provides update on animal control contract. Hawaii Rainbow Rangers will provide all animal control services starting Nov. 1 as the nonprofit works toward full staffing and sheltering capabilities, the organization’s leaders recently told Hawaii County Council members. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui’s protocols for interisland flights to mirror trans-Pacific plan. Also, county may lift quarantine for travel among Maui, Lanai, Molokai. Maui News.

Anonymous $1 Million Donation to Support Maui Trails Program. An anonymous donor is providing more than $1 million in funding to the Nā Ala Hele Trails and Access Program on Maui. Most of the funding will support planning, design, and construction of hiking trails in the recently acquired Kamehamenui Forest in upcountry Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Meet the Candidates: Mike Dandurand. Kaua‘i County Council candidate Mike Dandurand, 58, is a business owner of Kustom Sounds Kaua‘i, a mobile DJ company for weddings, luaus, and graduation parties for over 33 years. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i, Maui opt into pre-travel interisland test. The state officially reopens tomorrow, and Gov. Ige has approved Mayor Derek Kawakami’s four-tier program as well as a pre-travel testing option for interisland travelers. Garden Island.

Gov. Ige approves Kaua'i emergency rules allowing interisland travelers who pass pre-test to be exempt from quarantine. Emergency Rule 19 provides a four-tiered system to define allowable businesses and activities, based on the current disease outlook on Kaua‘i at that time. KITV4.

Airlines, hotels gear up for opening. Hawaiian Airlines and two major hotels on Kaua‘i gear up for the reopening of trans-Pacific travel on Oct. 15, while one hotel expects an uptick, another has seen a decrease in bookings. Garden Island.


 

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Two days from tourist reopening, Hawaii travel testing plans still up in the air; state reopens keiki lunch program, Blangiardi leads in Honolulu mayor's race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rick Blangiardi and Keith Amemiya

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Blangiardi Holds Commanding Lead In Mayor’s Race. The former television executive is ahead of Keith Amemiya by 20 percentage points and enjoys broad support among most voters. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat-HNN poll: With just weeks to go, mayoral race swings heavily in Blangiardi’s favor. With just three weeks to go until the general election, former television executive Rick Blangiardi has taken a significant lead in the two-man race to become Honolulu’s next mayor, according to a Civil Beat/Hawaii News Now poll ― a lead some political experts say is probably insurmountable. Hawaii News Now.

Mayoral Candidates Differentiate Themselves on Pandemic Priorities, Leadership Style. Both Keith Amemiya and Rick Blangiardi say their top priority would be guiding Hawaii’s most populous island out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have different approaches for doing so. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Hawaii reopening plans hazy as pre-arrivals testing program set to begin. As of Monday state and county officials were still moving the goalposts on a program that’s already been delayed three times. Star-Advertiser.

Is Hawaii ready to welcome back tourists? Opinions vary among industry leaders. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii gears up for a return of quarantine-free air travelers. While many businesses gear up for a return of visitors, who don't have to go through quarantine, not everything is in place to get those air passengers to Hawaii without a hitch. KITV4.

What The Heck Is Going On With Neighbor Island Travel Rules? On Monday, officials for all three neighbor island counties expressed bewilderment with the failure of Gov. David Ige to clarify the status of Thursday’s reopening. Civil Beat.

Confusion mounts for visitors coming into the state using the pre-travel testing program. There are a lot of things riding on the state’s pre-travel testing program, which starts Thursday, Oct. 15. Mainland travelers who test negative for COVID-19 can skip the 14-day quarantine, which is why travelers say they don’t want to get it wrong. KHON2.

Confusion continues to surround traveler testing plans. Some officials questioned the legality and wisdom of the post-flight testing during a Monday meeting of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness. Tribune-Herald.

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New Hawaii unemployment call center swamped. About 150,000 calls a day have flooded the virtual phone bank since it opened Sept. 30, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. That’s roughly 18,000 calls an hour, or 300 a minute. Star-Advertiser.

Grab-and-go meals resume for all keiki at Hawaii public schools. Children 18 years and younger may pick up free grab-and-go meals at 203 public schools across the state today through Dec. 18, whether or not they attend the school. Star-Advertiser.

Grab-and-Go meals available. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education started the free Grab-and-Go school meals program at 203 public schools for the fall semester. Garden Island.

Hawaii superintendent Christina Kishimoto says Acellus online curriculum will be phased out. An in-depth review of the Acellus Learning Accelerator has concluded the program should be discontinued as an option for full distance learning in Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Education to discontinue use of controversial Acellus program. A controversial online program used by thousands of public school students will soon be discontinued following a review by the Department of Education into the program named Acellus. KHON2.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 12: 42 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. Hawaii health officials reported 42 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, all on Oahu except for five cases on the Big Island. One death was reported on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell: Oahu lacks capacity to test travelers second time, at least for now. As the state prepares to launch its long-awaited pre-travel testing program this week, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday that the city did not currently have the testing capacity to conduct a second test on arriving passengers and was not prepared to make a second test an element of the plan to relaunch Oahu’s tourism industry. Hawaii News Now.

Visitor COVID-19 cases to be reflected in Honolulu’s reopening tiers. The start of the state’s pre-travel testing will challenge Honolulu to keep its average of COVID-19 cases below 100 daily positives, as the county moves closer to loosening restrictions in a couple of weeks. KHON2.

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Honolulu Council: Government Official Up Against Small Business Owner. In the race for Honolulu City Council District 3, seasoned government official Esther Kiaaina is facing off against Greg Thielen, a small business owner with an established family name. Civil Beat.

Another sweep of homeless encampment on Nimitz Highway scheduled for Thursday. Another sweep of homeless people on the state-owned Nimitz Highway medians — especially a notorious one on private land — is planned for Thursday by a private contractor hired by the state. Star-Advertiser.

City launches new farm to food program to help feed residents in need and rebuild businesses. A new program geared to helping not only families in need, but also farmers is set to take off on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

24-hour closure of beach access gates in Kailua fuels tension, backlash. The gates block off trails that lead to Kailua Beach, commonly referred to "Flagpoles," and well-known for its consistent surf break. KITV4.

Honolulu Club closes permanently after nearly 50 years. The nearly 50-year-old Honolulu Club, resurrected after its former owner emerged from bankruptcy in 2013, could not survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

After more than 40 years, Honolulu Club says goodbye. It’s a death of an institution. That’s what some say after learning the iconic Honolulu Club is permanently closed due to the pandemic. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Royal Kona Resort to reopen Thursday with start of pre-travel testing program. The iconic Royal Kona Resort overlooking Kailua Bay welcomes back guests Thursday following a seven-month closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic and multi-million renovation. West Hawaii Today.

University of Nations Provides Followup on Campus COVID Cluster. A total of 52 cases were identified and approximately 20 remain in isolation. Big Island Now.

Most Kona students with virus have recovered. A Christian college in Kailua-­Kona said more than half of its 52 COVID-19-infected students, faculty and staff are now recovered. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Ige orally agrees to pre-travel test for inter-island travel to Maui County. Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz has been in communications with neighbor island mayors and the governor alongside Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino. KHON2.

Governor Ige gives oral approval to allow interisland travelers to Maui
with negative COVID-19 test result. KITV4.

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Maui County Files Suit Against Fossil Fuel Companies for Costs of Surviving Climate Change. Mayor Michael Victorino announced today that Maui County has filed a lawsuit against 20 fossil fuel companies for the rising costs and impacts of climate change, citing what he calls “a decades-long campaign of deception deployed by the defendants to hide their products’ known dangers from Maui’s citizens and businesses to maximize profits.” Maui Now.

Maui County files suit against 20 fossil fuel companies over climate change. The County of Maui is suing 20 fossil fuel companies over climate change impacts. The complaint, which was filed Monday, alleges the companies hid the dangers posed by their products for decades in order to maximize profits. Hawaii News Now.

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Input sought on tourism management planning. Each county and its respective visitors bureau have worked to create steering committees comprised of residents representing their communities, the visitor industry, different business sectors and nonprofits. Steering committees for Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai began meeting in September. Maui News.

Mary Kielty Appointed as Deputy Director of Parks. The appointment of Mary Kielty as Deputy Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation was made today by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino. Kielty is a 27-year veteran of the Parks Department and succeeds John Buck, who recently retired. Maui Now.

Kauai

Meet your candidates: Wally Nishimura. Kaua‘i County Council candidate Wally Nishimura has a vision for long-term change for his children. Garden Island.

Housing policy in final stages.
The Kaua‘i County Council is one step away from approving a revamped Housing Policy. Garden Island.

Pacific Current looks to reduce dependency on tourism. The Ka‘ie‘ie Waho Company, a subsidiary of Pacific Current, acquired Kaua‘i’s Port Allen Solar Facility in part to decrease the state’s dependence on the tourism industry. Garden Island.

DLNR encourages hunting in Kauai’s Honopu Valley ahead of fence installation. The state is encouraging hunting in Honopu Valley on Kauai’s Na Pali Coast. The DLNR is trying to clear the area of hooved animals as crews build a fence to protect endangered plants and seabirds in a 250-acre section. Hawaii News Now.

Molokai

Frustration Rising On Moloka'i Homesteads Over Slow Internet For Distance Learning, Working At Home. Even before the pandemic, internet service on Molokaʻi was rarely ideal – spotty coverage, slow speeds and constant buffering. This has become an even bigger frustration for residents on the island’s Hawaiian Home Lands, where service is limited to one embattled telecom provider. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lanai

Panel to discuss Lanai planning bills. Vacation rental permits and guidelines for business districts on Lanai will be topics of a Planning and Sustainability Land Use Committee meeting Tuesday. Maui News.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Possible data breach in travel software, racial data missing in state COVID-19 counts, tech billionaire donates 1M masks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2020 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaiian family in an ocean pond ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii COVID-19 Data For Race And Ethnicity Is Missing. Leaders across many Pacific Islander communities have been working to prevent COVID-19 infections from increasing. Civil Beat.

Advocates worry immigrant, working families struggling to get by amid pandemic woes. A new advocacy group said that the backlog in unemployment claims is hitting immigrant and working-class families hard. Hawaii News Now.

Potential data breach exposed in state’s travel exemption request system. The state is investigating a potential breach of data within one of their systems tied to the Attorney General’s office. Nearly 150 individuals who applied for a travel exemption through the state Attorney General’s website were notified Friday about the potential breach. Hawaii News Now.

Uncertainty around traveler testing program has many taking ‘wait-and-see’ approach. Visitors will face testing requirements that still aren’t finalized, with different rules on every island. Hawaii News Now.

What to expect at the airport when the pre-travel testing program begins. Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program will begin on Thursday, Oct. 15. KHON2.

Kauai, Maui mayors wait for Gov. Ige's approval of pre-travel testing proposals
. Pretravel testing plans differ for other counties. KITV4.

Will Hawaii Finally Be Able To Break Its Dependence On Tourism? The state is about to reopen its tourism industry, the heart of Hawaii’s economic engine. Is it time to find another way forward? Civil Beat.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings continue to tick downward. Hawaii bankruptcies continue to decrease even as individuals and businesses struggle to make ends meet in the slowing economy. Star-Advertiser.

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QAnon Conspiracies, Proud Boys And The Future of Hawaii’s GOP. The party has struggled for the past decade to gain a meaningful foothold in the islands. The rise of Donald Trump and the radical right has only made the situation more dire. Civil Beat.

Election officials run tests of ballot machines ahead of the general. Official observers tested voting machines on Oahu Saturday morning. Neighbor island machines were tested this past week. Hawaii News Now.

Voting machines tested ahead of general election, helps to ensure election integrity. With the general election less than four weeks away, the state Office of Elections is busy gearing up for the big day. KHON2.

Connie Chun / 1928-2020: She was the first nurse and Filipina to serve in state House. Connie Chun, the first Filipina and first nurse elected to the state House of Representatives, was also a lawyer, philanthropist, marathon runner and matriarch of the “Hunky Bunch.” Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaiian Airlines Cuts Service To Lanai and Molokai. Hawaiian said it is committed to resuming the service but didn’t say when. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines to suspend ‘Ohana service. The airline announced Friday that starting Nov. 1, it would temporarily suspend passenger flights between Honolulu and Molokai and Lanai, as well as cargo-only service within the Hawaiian islands. Maui News.

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Hawaii school board chief Catherine Payne urges dropping Acellus online curriculum. Board of Education Chairwoman Catherine Payne wants Hawaii’s schools to stop using the Acellus distance-learning program by the end of the academic year and allow parents to opt out immediately. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Ed Board Chair Expects Acellus To ‘Drop Dead’ By End Of School Year. The online curriculum, which some principals have rejected for racist content, is likely on its way out. Civil Beat.

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Hundreds of Hawaii’s shelter animals to be relocated to the mainland. Hundreds of shelter animals are getting a second chance at adoption. On Oct. 29, the group Wings of Rescue plans to airlift some 600 animals from around the pacific to the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 11: 103 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. In the last week, an average of 92 cases a day were identified in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Ballot Questions Could Bolster Ethics Watchdog’s Staffing And Spending. Oahu voters are being asked to make changes to the Honolulu Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council: A Veteran Lawmaker Vs. A Comedian. The candidates running to replace Councilman Ron Menor in Honolulu’s District 9 have vastly different agendas and experience. Civil Beat.

Neglected Varona Village plantation community in Ewa awaits redevelopment plans. Today, 46 homes remain, including several that are boarded up after being ravaged by time and poor city upkeep after Oahu Sugar shut down in 1995. Star-Advertiser.

Community unites to restore and clean Waianae Japanese Cemetery. The Waianae community pulled together, and on Oct. 4 well over 50 people — from keiki to kupuna — showed up, armed with weed whackers, chainsaws, rakes and trash cans to clean up the old cemetery. Star-Advertiser.

Plans moving forward on new Oahu jail despite economic woes. Since at least 1964, none of the efforts to build a new site for the Oahu Community Correctional Center has gotten this far. Star-Advertiser.

Kailua brewing company ordered to shutdown calls for more transparency from liquor commission.
Lanikai Brewing Company was ordered to shut down for 24 hours by the liquor commission Friday evening for violating the mayor’s emergency order and failing to operate as a restaurant. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

2nd test tentatively approved for travelers to the Big Island. Hawaii Island Mayor Harry Kim said Friday that out-of-state passengers arriving on the Big Island will be taking a second COVID-19 test to supplement the state’s pre-travel testing program. Star-Advertiser.

1 million masks: Big Island benefits from Benioff connections. A San Francisco tech billionaire with a home on the Kona coast wants to make sure the Big Island doesn’t run out of masks. West Hawaii Today.

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Report: Hilo veterans home employee stayed on the job for 3 days after COVID-19 exposure. The coronavirus outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo may have begun with an employee who worked ― despite being linked to a large cluster. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Department of Health rescinds citation given to operator of Hilo veterans home. The Hawaii Department of Health on Thursday cited the private operator of a state veterans nursing home for deficiencies leading to a COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year in which 27 residents died. Star-Advertiser.

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Big Isle’s Na Leo TV resumes operations after FBI raid as board meets with CEO. The board of directors of Na Leo o Hawaii announced this weekend it met with Na Leo TV president and CEO Stacy K. Higa, who assured the board that management and staff are fully cooperating with an investigation being conducted by the FBI. Star-Advertiser.

Neighbors win a round: Board of Appeals overturns Walua Road vacation rental permit. Neighbors of a Kailua-Kona vacation rental won a round Friday, when the county Board of Appeals overturned the Planning Department and revoked the nonconforming use and vacation rental permits of a part-time resident who claimed a homeowner’s property tax exemption. West Hawaii Today.

Zoo renew pushed back: County targets February for reopening of Panawea animal park. The reopening of Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens has been delayed to early 2021. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui officer accused of soliciting sex from women he met on the job indicted. A U.S. Attorney has indicted a former Maui police accused of harassing women by sending them suggestive messages to solicit sex. Hawaii News Now.

Maui’s Struggling Tourism Industry Prepares For Return of Transpacific Travelers. All across Maui, hotels, vacation properties, car rental companies, restaurants, retail shops and other businesses that cater to the island’s 3 million or so annual travelers are preparing for the return of non-quarantining tourists, beginning Oct. 15. Maui Now.

County Council sends water plan back to committee. The Maui County Council voted unanimously Friday to send back to committee the Maui Island Water Use Development Plan, a dense blueprint for protection, management and use of water over a 20-year period. Maui News.

West Maui Taxpayers Association Hosting Candidates Night Webinar Oct. 15, 2020. The West Maui Taxpayers Association will host a virtual Candidates Night webinar on Oct. 15, 2020 at 5:30 pm with candidates for the following: State Representative District 10, Maui County Councilmember – all districts and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Maui Now.

Kauai

Charter amendments explained. The first side of the state general election ballot has federal, state and county office elections. The second side gives residents the opportunity to vote on proposed amendments to the Kaua‘i County Charter. Garden Island.

Felicia Cowden. As Cowden’s first term as a councilmember comes to an end, she shares what she learned from her radio career. Garden Island.

Volunteers continue work on Kalalau Trail. While the pandemic has lessened the number of volunteers helping to keep the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail clear for hikers, Mark Hubbard and a few other faithful Kaua‘i residents are still hard at work, clearing fallen branches and fortifying the trail on a regular basis. Garden Island.

Friday, October 9, 2020

FBI raids public access TV station, Hawaii imports more health-care workers as tourist reopening nears, ballots going out in the mail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2020 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
FBI confers with Na Leo CEO Stacy Higa as agent holds back reporters ©2020 All Hawaii News

FBI Searches The Offices Of Cable Public Access Headquarters In Hilo. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant Thursday morning on the offices of Na Leo ‘O Hawaii public access television, which provides public access programming to Hawaii County cable television subscribers. Civil Beat.

FBI raids Na Leo offices in Hilo. Few details were available late Thursday following an FBI raid earlier in the day at Na Leo ‘O Hawaii’s TV studios and offices in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

FBI raids Hilo offices of Na Leo TV amidst ongoing investigation. The FBI raided the Hilo offices of public access broadcast station on Hawaii Island on Thursday, temporarily impacting business operations and forcing the postponement of a political forum. Hawaii News Now.

FBI Executes Search Warrant At Nā Leo TV Station. Nā Leo TV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serving as Hawai‘i Island’s public access TV station. Big Island Video News.

FBI Raid Nā Leo TV Station in Hilo. The FBI executed a search warrant at Nā Leo TV, located at 91 Mohouli St. in Hilo, this morning. Big Island Now.

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Green calls for a clear statewide mask mandate ... and a fine for violators. While masks have been proven to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, rules on when they should be worn are different depending which island you’re on. With the relaunch of tourism one week away, Lt. Gov. Josh Green is proposing a statewide mask mandate that makes the rules consistent across the board. Hawaii News Now.

Key players in Hawaii's fight against COVID-19 could be sidelined come 2021. Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of Healthcare Association of Hawaii tells KITV4 they have a contract with the state to bring in roughly 240 traveling healthcare workers to help bolster the state's hospital capacity. KITV4.

Contact tracers facing obstacles with contacting COVID-19 positive patients. Contact tracing is one of the tools that the state is using to help control COVID-19 spread. KHON2.

Group busting quarantine breakers prepares for visitor influx. In exactly a week the state will launch its pre-travel testing program allowing visitors to bypass the mandatory 14-day quarantine if they test negative within three days before departure. KITV4.

Tourism resumes next week but some say ‘we are not prepared’. The countdown has begun. On Oct. 15, the state will resume tourism with the new pre-travel testing program but there are concerns over enforcement for those who choose not to get tested. KHON2.

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27,000 Hawaii workers exhausted their state jobless benefits in September. The good news: A federally-funded program will pay up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, as long as they apply for it, and then a state extended benefit program will kick in. Hawaii News Now.

Matson projects an increase in third-quarter profit.
Hawaii’s largest ocean cargo transportation firm announced Thursday that it expects its profit for the three months ended Sept. 30 will be between $67.2 million and $69.4 million. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 8: 101 New COVID-19 Cases And 2 Deaths In Hawaii. Of the new cases documented Thursday, Hawaii County reported 14, Maui reported one, and Oahu reported 86 cases. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell says Oahu could move to the next reopening level in two weeks. Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday said Oahu was on track to move to the next level of economic reopening in two weeks, but that residents need to remain vigilant to make it happen. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Caldwell says ‘Honolulu is two weeks away from entering Tier 2’
. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said in a press conference on Oct. 8 that Oahu is just two weeks away from reaching Tier 2 of Oahu’s reopening process. KHON2.

As tourism relaunch approaches, Oahu moves closer to second phase of reopening. As Oahu keeps its case count low, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city is moving toward the next phase of reopening. Hawaii News Now.

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Rail CEO: ‘We Can’t Quit’ On Final Construction Contract. Despite strong opposition from Honolulu’s mayor and other top city officials, rail’s executive director says he’ll still try to salvage a deal out of the latest effort to award the project’s last, major construction contract. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell tells HART to put heat on CEO Andrew Robbins.
There was little aloha between the head of the city’s troubled rail project and Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday, with Caldwell calling on the rail project’s governing board “to step it up and put the heat on the CEO” on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Candidates Say They’d Finish Rail As Planned But Not How They’d Pay For It. But the situation with the more than $9 billion project is so fluid right now that both Amemiya and Blangiardi struggle to say how they’ll handle it. Civil Beat.

Mayor: bids for City Center leg of rail project way “out of the ballpark”. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the bids for the final and most expensive leg of the rail project came in too high. Hawaii News Now.

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City issues violation notice to Ko Olina Resort for parking closure. The months-long closure of public parking lots that provide access to the Ko Olina Resort’s lagoons is a violation of the resort’s Special Management Area Minor Permit and must be corrected immediately, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting said today. Star-Advertiser.

City works to contain COVID-19 outbreak at Kapolei Hale. The city is monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak at Kapolei Hale and the mayor says he’s looking to implement additional protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. Officials said four city workers at Kapolei Hale have tested positive for COVID-19. Hawaii News Now.

Nursery-grown corals find new home at Hanauma Bay. A team of divers from the state Division of Aquatic Resources today planted five, nursery-grown corals in the waters at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve as part of a pilot project to restore the reef. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County voter rolls swell by another 5,000
: Ballots should show up in mailboxes today or Saturday. Interest is growing in the upcoming election. West Hawaii Today.

Kailua-Kona COVID-19 Outbreak Shakes Community's Sense Of Security.
Kailua-Kona on the Big Island is seeing its largest spike in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kona hospital reports first COVID-19 death. A woman in her 40s is West Hawaii’s first coronavirus-related death, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County General Election Places of Deposit Open Oct. 8. Maui County’s Places of Deposit, except for those located at Voter Service Centers, will open on Oct. 8, County Clerk Kathy Kaohu announced. Maui Now.

Maui opens general election places of deposit for registered voters. Maui began mailing general election ballots Thursday morning as part of the county’s efforts to encourage mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. KHON2.

Paeahu Solar is OK’d by PUC.
A South Maui solar and battery project that’s run into opposition from Maui Meadows neighbors has gotten the go-ahead from the state Public Utilities Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor proposes tier system. Mayor Derek Kawakami has proposed a four-tiered system outlining when businesses and activities can be operational based on coronavirus case counts, including a point at which Kaua‘i would opt out of the state’s pre-travel test program that begins next week. Garden Island.

Kauai’s mayor proposes tiered system for welcoming trans-Pacific travelers back. Kauai’s mayor is proposing a tiered system for welcoming trans-Pacific travelers back that would reinstate the full 14-day quarantine if cases spike on the island. Hawaii News Now.

Kaua'i Mayor proposes four tier system for reopening. Mayor Derek Kawakami proposed his own four tier system on Thursday. KITV4.

Kauai could opt out of pre-travel testing program under new proposal.  Hawaii is just a week away from partially reopening the economy and welcoming tourists back to the islands, but Hawaii Island and Kauai still have pending proposals that would add more safeguards. KHON2.

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KPD officer arrested. A Kaua‘i Police Department officer was arrested Wednesday afternoon for disorderly conduct and criminal property damage while off duty. Garden Island.

Kauai police officer arrested for disorderly conduct, property damage. Officials identified the officer as 38-year-old Officer Tyrus Contrades, of Hanamaulu. Hawaii News Now.

Meet the candidates: Ed Justus. Business at the Talk Story Bookstore dropped at least 70% since the start of lockdown, said Ed Justus, 37, of Kalaheo, bookstore owner and Kaua‘i County County candidate. Garden Island.

Molokai

Food Distributions to be Held Every Friday in October for Moloka‘i Residents. Food Distributions to be Held Every Friday in October for Moloka‘i Residents. Maui Now.




Thursday, October 8, 2020

Ige says state on track to open Oct. 15 but not all islands are on board, Fauci says wear your mask, Hilo High grad wins Nobel Prize, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige at Honolulu airport Wednesday

Pre-travel testing program on track. Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that the state’s pre-travel testing program is on track to start Oct. 15 and will include random COVID-19 testing of 10% of incoming passengers four days after arrival in a move to determine the program’s effectiveness. Star-Advertiser.

Ige: Hawaii Is Still On Track For Oct. 15 Tourism Reopening. Hawaii plans to move forward with a plan to reopen to tourists on Oct. 15, Gov. David Ige said on Wednesday, ending days of uncertainty about the governor’s plan amidst a storm of objections by neighbor island mayors and the Honolulu City councilman who represents Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Ige says traveler testing to launch as scheduled, despite safety concerns. The governor said Wednesday he’s “confident” the state’s much-touted testing plan for trans-Pacific travelers will launch as scheduled Oct. 15, but acknowledged that Neighbor Island mayors still aren’t sold on the safety of the program aimed at rebooting tourism. Hawaii News Now.

Ige says Oct. 15 opening of trans-Pacific travel is essential for state’s economy. Gov. David Ige remained insistent Wednesday that the state is committed to opening up trans-Pacific travel on Oct. 15 without requiring quarantines for arriving passengers who tested negative for COVID-19 by using a “trusted partner” of the state within 72 hours prior to departure. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Reopening Tourism Update. On Wednesday, State officials unveiled the "trusted testing partners" who can help provide visitors to Hawaiʻi with the necessary, pre-travel test. Big Island Video News.

Gov. Ige Provides Update on October 15 Pre-Travel Testing Program. Gov. Ige said the state does not expect an immediate flood of travelers, but is using Oct. 15 as a deadline to bring testing and contact tracing capabilities to the highest levels of readiness and effectiveness achieved so far. Maui Now.

Post-Arrival Surveillance Testing of Tourists Won’t Carry Quarantine Penalties.
One of the major potential pitfalls of the program is that those people who test positive as part of second-wave surveillance testing won’t be subject to quarantine if they return a positive result. Neither will participants be made aware of their test results unless they explicitly ask for them, under the current configuration of the plan. Big Island Now.

State launches second surveillance testing program. With a week left before reopening, the state is committing to a surveillance testing program that will randomly select 10% of travelers to take a state-funded second test. Garden Island.

County mayors in disagreement over the state’s tourism relaunch plan. Just eight days before Hawaii reopens for trans-Pacific travel, the state is still nailing down key details for its pre-travel testing program, including which counties will drop the 14-day quarantine for visitors who get tested. Hawaii News Now.

Maui, Kauai Weighing Whether To Opt Out Of Pre-Test Program Following Big Island. Maui and Kauai haven’t decided whether they will follow the lead of the Big Island and opt out of the state’s pre-travel testing program, leaving the 14-day quarantine in place. Hawaii Public Radio.

State urged to implement second COVID test or postpone its pre-travel testing reopening. The Honolulu City Council unanimously approved Resolution 20-253, which urges the Governor to adopt and implement a two or more test system for COVID-19 for all incoming passengers who intend to bypass Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine. KITV4.

Maui Moving Forward with Pre-Travel Testing Program. Mayor Michael Victorino is requesting support from the Governor, visitor industry and businesses to urge transpacific travelers to voluntarily take a second test after they arrive in Maui County, under the State’s pre-travel testing program. Maui Now.

Hawaii Island mayor stands behind decision to keep 14-day quarantine in effect. Hawaii island Mayor Harry Kim is standing by his decision not to participate in the state’s pre-travel testing program unless the governor approves a two-test option for the island that has seen coronavirus cases surge in recent weeks. Star-Advertiser.

‘Misinterpreted’ Mayor Kim says he has a commitment of 50,000 visitor arrival COVID-19 tests. “When you come through Hawaii Island you will be going through a second test.” KHON2.

Mayor Harry Kim clarifies his position on state's pre-travel testing program. Seemingly more confusion along with more details released on Wednesday about the state's scheduled reopening of Trans-Pacific travel on October 15th. KITV4.

A week to go, officials weigh-in on reopening. The county has not ruled out opting out of the state’s pre-travel testing program, County of Kaua‘i Managing Director Michael Dahilig briefed the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday. Garden Island.

Inter-island travelers want option to bypass quarantine similar to pre-travel testing program. While the state is preparing for mainland visitors to come in with the pre-travel testing program set to launch on Oct. 15, many are questioning why inter-island travelers don’t have the same option. KHON2.

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Fauci: Hawaii can reopen to tourists, but should do so gradually and carefully. As the state prepares to launch a pre-travel coronavirus testing program next week, it’s inevitable that COVID-infected people will slip through the cracks and into Hawaii, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert said Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says prudent measures needed for Hawaii tourism to recover.  Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, also said Hawaii can revive its tourism- dependent economy if done prudently and carefully. Star-Advertiser.

Green talks COVID-19, tourism with Fauci. “The reality is, no matter what you do, there are going to be infected people who slip through the cracks,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, about the planned Oct. 15 reopening of Hawaii to tourism. Tribune-Herald.

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Surgeon General Jerome Adams responds to Hawaii emergency order citation. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams spoke publicly for the first time on Oct. 7 about getting a COVID-19 emergency order citation when he was on Oahu in August. KHON2.

Uncertainty lingers over safety of welcoming back students to in-person learning. With classes resuming for public school students on Monday, the Department of Education has yet to release a clear plan for reopening classrooms to in-person learning. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii House Lawmakers Look To Capture Open Senate Seats. Rep. Chris Lee, a Windward Oahu lawmaker and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, who represents Puna and chairs the House Human Services and Homelessness Committee, are both leaving the House for the chance to win seats left open by the departures of Sens. Laura Thielen and Russell Ruderman, who are not seeking reelection. Civil Beat.

New Fees Go Into Effect at State Parks on Friday. Park Visitors will now pay $10 per vehicle and $5 for walk-ins at eight parks on the four major islands. Previously fees were $5 per vehicle and $1 for walk-in visitors. Maui Now.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 7: 110 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. Of the new cases diagnosed, 18 were on Hawaii island. Two Hawaii residents were diagnosed out of state. The remaining new cases were reported on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council passes entrance fee increase at Hanauma Bay. Two Honolulu City Council measures to help restoration efforts at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, including a significant increase in entrance and parking fees for visitors, were passed on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City Leaders Advance Bill To Withdraw Rail Construction Dollars. The Honolulu City Council took a notable first step Wednesday toward revoking the city’s remaining $144 million that has been committed to help complete rail. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Candidates Say They’d Finish Rail As Planned But Not How They’d Pay For It. But the situation with the more than $9 billion project is so fluid right now that both Amemiya and Blangiardi struggle to say how they’ll handle it. Civil Beat.

Rick Blangiardi shares ‘90 Day Roadmap to Recovery’ that calls for accountability, new oversight. The plan calls for new job descriptions for city officials, greater accountability and pledges to work cooperatively with state officials, the City Council and other critical officials should he be elected mayor on Nov. 3. Star-Advertiser.

Ko Olina bans public from lagoon beaches. Ko Olina Resort plans to ban the public from using three of its four lagoons starting next month, reserving their use for hotel guests and condominium owners. Star-Advertiser.

More LED lights to be installed at city parks under new energy efficiency initiative. The City and County of Honolulu launched a new initiative on Wednesday designed to ramp up efficiency efforts at parks and facilities across Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Chief: Case Closure Stats Are Not As Bad As They Look. HPD’s chief rejects FBI data that shows the department is failing to solve the vast majority of crimes but said she is taking steps to improve the clearance rate anyway. Civil Beat.

Board of Water Supply asks Oahu residents to conserve water due to drought conditions
. For the past five months, officials said rainfall has been less than 50% of the normal average on Oahu, which prevents the adequate recharge of the isle’s aquifers. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 case forces closure of Kapolei Satellite City Hall, but Kapolei Hale remains open. The Satellite City Hall at Kapolei Hale is closed for deep cleaning and the remaining employees are in self-quarantine, city officials said today.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hilo High graduate one of 2 Nobel Prize winners in chemistry. Hilo is all abuzz about one of its own, Jennifer A. Doudna, sharing the Nobel Prize in chemistry with co-researcher Emanuelle Charpentier of France. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo High graduate Jennifer A. Doudna wins Nobel in chemistry. Jennifer A. Doudna, who grew up on the Big Island, became the second female scientist in two days with ties to that island to receive a Nobel Prize. Associated Press.

Jennifer Doudna Wins 2020 Nobel Prize In Chemistry. Doudna, who grew up in Hilo, shares the prize with colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier for their genome editing breakthrough that has revolutionized biomedicine. Big Island Video News.

Challenges remain in response to Life Care Center COVID outbreak.
Although an extensive COVID-19 response plan has been in place at Life Care Center of Hilo since the early days of the pandemic, staff and administrators are still working to contain an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Panel denies 59-unit Olowalu housing project. An Olowalu housing project awash with debate was voted down by the County Council Affordable Housing Committee in a close 5-4 decision on Monday. Maui News.

Maui planning commissioner at center of debate over alleged shoreline pollution. On Maui, multiple state and county agencies are investigating alleged pollution at Olowalu on the west shore. At the center of the controversy is the chair of the county’s planning commission. Hawaii News Now.

7 more Roselani residents test positive. Seven more residents at Roselani Place have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total case count to 36 residents and 31 staff, Roselani Place management said Tuesday. Maui News.

Ka‘ahumanu Theatres are planning to reopen Friday. The movie theaters at Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center will reopen Friday after Maui County gave cinemas the green light to resume operations. Maui News.

Kauai

Pacific Current purchases Port Allen Solar facility on Kauai from A&B. Pacific Current and its wholly owned subsidiary, Kaieie Waho Company, LLC, acquired the Port Allen Solar facility on Kauai from Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.’s McBryde Sugar Company, LLC. Pacific Business News.

Celebrating late Senator Spark ‘Sparky’ Matsunaga. Celebrate the 104th birthday of former U.S. Senator Spark “Sparky” Matsunaga in a garden made in his honor, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Storybook Theatre of Hawai‘i in Hanapepe. Garden Island.

A Labor of Love at the Friendship House. Friendship House is a Clubhouse Model Psychiatric Rehabilitation program, providing mental health services to adults with mental illness on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

U.S. surgeon general cited for COVID-19 lockdown violation, Fauci meets with Lt. Gov. Green, islands seek to opt out of state tourism reopening, Keck Observatory astronomer wins Nobel Prize, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2020 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Keck Telescopes and others on Mauna Kea ©2020 All Hawaii News

U.S. surgeon general cited for being in closed Oahu park. The U.S. surgeon general was cited for being in a closed Oahu park in August while in the islands helping with surge testing amid a spike in coronavirus cases, according to a criminal complaint filed in court. Associated Press.

Surgeon General among thousands cited for violating emergency orders. Surgeon General Jerome Adams has a court date pending here in Hawaii. Turns out, when he was here helping the city with surge testing, he went to a park while they were off-limits and an officer cited him. KHON2.

U.S. Surgeon General cited for allegedly violating Mayor Caldwell's emergency rules. According to court documents the U.S. Surgeon General was observed in Kualoa Regional Park with two other men standing and taking pictures. KITV4.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci to join Lt. Gov. Josh Green for live talk story session 7 a.m. Wednesday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, will participate in a live talk story session Wednesday morning with Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Dr. Josh Green. Hawaii News Now.

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Keck Observatory astronomer wins Nobel Prize in physics. Longtime W.M. Keck Observatory astronomer Andrea Ghez has won the Nobel Prize in physics for research proving the existence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Tribune-Herald.

Keck Astronomer Andrea Ghez Wins Nobel Prize. Longtime W. M. Keck Observatory astronomer Dr. Andrea Ghez has won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2020 for her research on the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Big Island Video News.

Winner of Nobel Prize in Physics is longtime user of Hawaii’s Keck Observatory.
U.S. astronomer Andrea Ghez, of the University of California, Los Angeles, has been studying the Galactic Center — the central region of the Milky Way galaxy — at the Keck Observatory on Hawaii island since 1995. Star-Advertiser.

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Neighbor Islands not sold on plan to welcome visitors back; Big Island opts out. Hawaii Island Mayor Harry Kim said he plans to opt out of the state’s pre-travel testing program, and Maui and Kauai appear to be considering a pullout, too. The defection of Neighbor Islands from the program ― seen as a major step in rebooting the tourism industry and the state’s economy ― could be disastrous for its prospects and even trigger a delay. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. says mayors can ‘opt out’ of pre-travel testing program.
Just a day after the governor denied Kauai’s request for a post-arrival test, there is some uncertainty over what happens next for the neighbor islands. KHON2.

Hawaii Island Mayor stands behind decision to keep 14-day quarantine in effect. Hawaii island Mayor Harry Kim is standing by his decision not to participate in the state’s pre-travel testing program unless the governor approves a two-test option for the island that has seen coronavirus cases surge in recent weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Kim wants more tests; Big Island mayor might opt out of governor’s plan for trans-Pacific travelers. Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday he thinks the county can provide a second or even a third COVID-19 test to arriving trans-Pacific passengers on the Big Island without draining the state’s “limited amount of test kits.” Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Kim: “We Have To Have A Second Test” For Visitors To Hawaii. Mayor Harry Kim clarified his position after it was reported that he planned to opt out of the State's pre-travel testing program. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Kim Pitching Two-Test System to Reopen Big Island to Tourism. One test simply won’t do. Big Island Now.

Mayor Harry Kim confirms Hawai'i County will not take part in state's pretravel testing program. Mayor Kim said he wants a multi-test system. Until then, people who travel to the Big Island will be required to quarantine for 14 days, even if they have a pre-arrival negative result. KITV4.

Hawaii County Mayor Kim calls for two-test policy for arriving passengers. In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Kim said that he wants travelers to undergo a second round of testing after they arrive in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

Kaua'i Mayor: A decision has not yet been made on whether Kaua'i will opt-out of state's pre-travel testing plan. Kaua'i Mayor Derek Kawakami says he hasn't made a decision yet on whether the Garden Isle will opt-out of the state's plan. KITV4.

Honolulu City Councilmember urges Governor Ige to adopt additional testing for travelers.
With the state slated to reopen next week, a Honolulu City Councilmember is urging Governor David Ige to adopt additional testing for travelers. KITV4.

10 Days to Go: Ironing Out County Options Ahead of Pre-Travel Testing Launch. With just 10 days to go before the state’s Oct. 15 launch of its pre-travel COVID-19 testing program, counties across the state are ironing out how much they will or will not be involved. Maui Now.

As Hawaii prepares to welcome visitors back, input sought on tourism management plans. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is seeking input for new plans aimed at crafting the future of tourism management in the islands. A destination management action plan is being developed for each county. Hawaii News Now.

‘We’re In A Really Tough Place Right Now’: Can Hawaii’s New Health Director Make A Difference? Dr. Libby Char has directed some of the largest emergency agencies in the state. Her supporters say she offers a badly needed collaborative approach to leadership. Civil Beat.

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Ballots going out for Hawaii’s first all-mail general election. The ballots — the first of many more sent to registered voters across the state this week — are being mailed early to ensure timely delivery before the Nov. 3 general election. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Elections begins mailing out general election ballots. While Election Day is still weeks away, ballots will soon be showing up in your mailbox. KHON2.

Health Department urges safe Halloween with household members at home and not trick-or-treating. DOH recommends celebrating with household members at home and avoiding trick-or-treating door to door or wherever treats are handed to children or taken from a shared bucket. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 6: 83 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. Of the cases diagnosed on Tuesday, two were in Maui County, 14 were on Hawaii island and 67 were on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu


Honolulu Agencies Asked To Identify Potential Budget Cuts Up To 10%. The City Council budget chair says property tax increases may be necessary in a year or two if revenue continues to drop. Civil Beat.

Voters Will Have Their Say On A Proposed Honolulu Youth Commission. If approved by voters this year, the new panel would advise the mayor and Council on issues critical to younger residents such as climate change. Civil Beat.

Delays, Lack of Transparency Among Reasons For City Withdrawal From Critical Rail Partnership. Officials had described the P-3 private-public partnership as a way to ease the financial burden on city taxpayers for the last, and most difficult, part of the rail project -- the stretch into the urban core from Middle Street to Ala Moana. Hawaii Public Radio.

$332K project to rebuild the Maunalua Bay loading dock begins.
Workers will be installing a new loading dock at Maunalua Bay. Hawaii News Now.

2 more of Oahu’s Irish pubs close up shop for good amid pandemic woes. Bar owner Bill Comerford confirmed Tuesday that he’s closing two of his four Irish pubs on Oahu. Irish Rose in Waikiki and Anna O’Brien’s in Moiliili will no longer welcome back customers ― even after Oahu reaches the tier 4 level of reopening. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

In or out? West Hawaii’s businesses await Mayor Kim’s decision on pre-travel testing program. Conflicting messages regarding Hawaii County’s participation in the state’s pre-travel testing program, scheduled to begin Oct. 15, have prompted unease among West Hawaii businesses on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Questions surround county composting plans.
The future appeared muddy Tuesday for a county compost project, leaving members of a County Council committee frustrated that the long-awaited project may never be completed. West Hawaii Today.

26 UH-Hilo, HCC employees to have salaries reduced. Eighteen University of Hawaii at Hilo and eight Hawaii Community College employees will be among 216 executive-managerial staffers throughout the UH system to have their salaries reduced Nov. 1 as UH braces for budget shortfalls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

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University of the Nations Kona confirms 4 new COVID-19 cases as 492 undergo testing. Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the University of the Nations Kona on Tuesday as hundreds of staff members and their families underwent testing for the novel coronavirus. West Hawaii Today.

Testing reveals 4 new COVID cases at the University of the Nations Kona campus. New cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at a faith-based college on Hawaii Island. Hawaii News Now.

Four additional people from University of the Nations Kona, already identified through contact tracing and in quarantine, have tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. KITV4.

Maui

Maui County Voters Weigh In On Top Election Issues, Charter Changes Among Them. Maui County residents will be casting ballots for state representatives, county councilmembers, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees and seven county charter amendments. Hawaii Public Radio.

"Habitual DUI" Arrests up 500% in Maui County. Despite nearly two million fewer tourists, the Maui Police Department has made nearly the same number of DUI arrests as they did in 2019. KITV4.

New pediatrics clinic opens.
A nonprofit health care center has launched a new pediatrics clinic in hopes of increasing drop-in visits and child immunizations, both of which have declined during the pandemic. Maui News.

Four Seasons Maui Welcomes Guests Back with Specialized Travel Solutions, Nov. 20. General Manager Marc Bromley said the Resort’s new Safe on Maui program is aimed at helping to protect guests and ultimately, employees. Maui Now.


Kauai

Meet the candidates: Billy DeCosta. “I think everyone in that council has a good heart, but at this time it’s not enough,” said Billy DeCosta, a candidate for one of seven available seats. Garden Island.

$5M for Veterans Cemetery upgrades. The Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery is scheduled to receive a grant of over $5 million primarily to fund the construction of 215 pre-placed crypts, 407 in-ground cremains gravesites, 640 columbarium niches and a new memorial wall. Garden Island.

Kauai home prices jump by 32% on fewer sales. Home sales on Kauai declined by single digits last month even as the median price of a single-family home jumped by 32.5% and the median condominium price rose 17%. Pacific Business News.