Teacher furlough schedule set, vaccines arrive, electors meet, Larry Ellison makes Lanai official residence, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii electors, courtesy Democratic Party of Hawaii

Hawaii electors cast votes for Joe Biden. As the last state to cast its electoral votes, Hawaii put the finishing touch on electing Joe Biden with its four votes. KITV4.

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Senate president Ron Kouchi doubts furlough will begin Jan. 1. Court challenges will likely mean that planned furloughs of thousands of state workers will not happen beginning Jan. 1, state Senate President Ron Kouchi said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

State Senate president talks upcoming legislative session, COVID mitigation efforts at Capitol, budget and economy. State legislators are preparing for a new legislative session that likely will look different from any before. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Legislature Preparing Capitol Building For January Return. Lawmakers have plans to allow the public back to the State Capitol building, but lawmakers are also getting ready to conduct business entirely remotely. Civil Beat.

DOE announces furlough schedule for teachers, employees starting Jan. 4. The Hawaii Department of Education sent an email to public school teachers Monday night with a list of dates the furloughs will take place. Hawaii News Now.

DOE outlines furlough plan to employees. Starting January employees will take furlough days which means there will be no work and no pay for that day. KHON2.

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Vaccines arrive, thousands more on the way. Hawaii received its first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines Monday, in what hopefully will mark a turning point in the state’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sickened nearly 20,000 people and left 274 dead. Star-Advertiser.

First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipment Arrives In Hawaii. A pharmacy team inspected the thermo-insulated container housing 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine before transferring the doses to an ultra-cold freezer for storage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s mass vaccination effort set to begin, marking a turning point in the pandemic. The hospital received the state’s first shipment of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine just before 8 a.m. Monday. It came inside a thermo-insulated container packed in dry ice. Hawaii News Now.

COVID Vaccines Arriving In Hawaii. The State says the first to receive the vaccine will be health care workers at high risk of exposure, and residents of long-term care facilities. Big Island Video News.

COVID-19 Vaccine Shipment Arrive at Queen’s Medical Center. On Monday, a shipment of 975 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived at Queen’s Medical Center. Big Island Now.

Initial 975 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Arrive in Hawai‘i.  State officials say this initial delivery of 975 does of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine marks an important milestone in the ongoing effort to combat COVID-19 and return life to normal. Maui Now.

Amid prison outbreaks, state vaccine plan has inmates in priority. Inmates and correctional facility staff are placed in stage two alongside groups like teachers and critical risk workers. KHON2.

Surveillance Test Study Shows Few COVID-19 Positives During Safe Travels. But visitor education and pre-screening process should be improved, author says. Civil Beat.

Hawaii COVID-19 Hospitalizations Vary Widely By Race And Ethnicity. The state Department of Health posted COVID-19 hospitalization data by race on its website Monday for the first time since the pandemic began. Civil Beat.

Prison Officials Won’t Say If COVID-19 Killed Halawa Inmate Who Died Sunday. So far 169 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus at the state’s largest prison. Civil Beat.

Hālawa Prison Infections Rise. A COVID-19 outbreak at the Hālawa Correctional Facility has grown to infect more than 160 inmates and nearly 30 staff. The prison is currently in lockdown with all inmate movement including transfer to and from the facility have been suspended for the next two weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

VIRUS TRACKER — Dec. 14: 190 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 190 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Monday, including 158 on Oahu, 15 on the Big Island and 15 on Maui. Two Hawaii residents were diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell reverses course, moves to keep COVID-infected inmates out of Oahu reopening metrics. Weeks after explaining to the public why COVID-19 cases reported in large prison outbreaks needed to be reported in Honolulu’s daily counts ― potentially preventing the county from moving into the next tier of its recovery framework ― Mayor Caldwell said Monday that he had asked Gov. Ige for permission to begin removing those cases from the county’s daily counts. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu reveals first battery electric bus. The City and County of Honolulu has unveiled a new electric bus, the first of 17 such buses expected to be shipped here over the next year, kicking off what officials hope is a complete transformation of TheBus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Star-Advertiser.

City unveils first ever electric bus on Monday. According to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell the city expects to have 17 zero emission buses on island by the end of next year. KITV4.

Honolulu Director Back To Work While Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit Continues. Enterprise Services Director Guy Kaulukukui stepped away from his job in April after he was sued by a Kamehameha Schools graduate who said he groomed her into having sexual relations while he was her teacher. Civil Beat.

In effort to curb Laniakea Beach problems, city to install a fence this week. Mayor Caldwell says the structure will improve traffic and pedestrian safety along the highway. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island hospitals expect to receive first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine next week. Hawaii Island hospitals could begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week, officials said Monday afternoon, hours after the arrival of the first doses on Oahu. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Community Hospital plans to get its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine next week. The hospital is unsure how many doses will come in that first batch, however the hospital held what it calls a successful vaccine clinic trial run last week. KITV4.

Uptick in COVID cases follows Thanksgiving holiday. The state and the Big Island have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following Thanksgiving. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Courthouse Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19. An employee at the Hale Kaulike Courthouse in Hilo has tested positive for COVID-19, the Hawai‘i State Judiciary announced today. Big Island Now.

Betty Jane Pa, beloved Hawaii Island hula, Tahitian dancer dies at 83. Legendary Big Island dancer Betty Jane Pa has died. Known affectionately as “Aunty BJ,” she was Hilo’s first professional Tahitian dancer learning from Kaui Brandt in the 1950s. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Family Life Center awarded $1.25M grant. Family Life Center, a nonprofit organization serving the homeless population in Maui and Kauai Counties, announced last week that it has been selected to receive a $1.25 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Maui News.

Hospitals and clinics across Maui County eager for arrival of COVID-19 vaccine. Maui Memorial Medical Center is expecting 975 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with shots in arms administered sometime next week. It hopes to inoculate 100 health care workers per day over 2 weeks. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

County awards Small Business Boost Grants. The County of Kaua‘i announced it will provide grant funding to approximately 180 Kaua‘i businesses that remain on its application waitlist for the Small Business Boost Grant Program, which originally opened in August. Garden Island.

Kauai Businesses: ‘We Can’t Survive’ Without Travel. With tourism effectively canceled for the 2020 holiday season, a number of Kauai resorts and businesses are closing again — some for good. Civil Beat.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison moves his primary residence to Lanai, fleeing California. Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison said he has moved his primary residence to Hawaii, becoming the latest Silicon Valley executive to depart the state where they built their fortunes. Bloomberg News.

Billionaire Larry Ellison takes up full time residence on Lanai. Reports say Billionaire Larry Ellison has made Hawaii his official residence. Ellison reportedly moved to the island of Lanai recently, informing his employees about the change of primary residence in a letter. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Supreme Court orders inmate release amid COVID-19 jail outbreak, finger-pointing continues as coronavirus cases escalate, Obama beach house controversy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Prison wire ©2020 All Hawaii News

Court orders some inmates released. The Hawaii Supreme Court has ordered the temporary release of certain pretrial detainees and inmates at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, where COVID-19 cases continue to spread and cause unrest. Star-Advertiser.

As COVID-19 rages through state’s largest jail, court orders release of some inmates. With coronavirus raging through OCCC uncontrollably, the state Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the release of certain inmates from the overcrowded facility. The order comes on the same day that the state Public Safety Department announced that the number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 at OCCC had swelled to 170. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Supreme Court orders the release of some OCCC inmates by Wednesday. The Hawaii Supreme Court has ordered the release of some of its Oahu Community Correctional Center inmates by Wednesday, August 19. KHON2.

Supreme Court orders OCCC jail inmate release due to COVID-19. Releases start Wednesday, and anyone released has to check in with the court in February. KITV4.

Inmates Start Fires Over Quarantine Lockdowns, Cramped Conditions. The state Supreme Court ordered the release of certain inmates because physical distancing is not possible and has the potential to place the inmates and staff at risk of death. Civil Beat.

Inmate unrest reported at OCCC, where number of COVID-19 cases has swelled to 200. Growing tension at Oahu Community Correctional Center led to inmate unrest on Sunday, with detainees setting several small fires. Hawaii News Now.

Inmates causing damage, setting fires as COVID-19 outbreak continues to strain OCCC. “Quarantine lockdowns, and cramped conditions, combined with the stress of the COVID-19 outbreak at OCCC translates to inmates becoming restless and agitated,” said a representative for the Department of Public Safety. KHON2.

OCCC inmates show frustration over lock down second day in a row. For the second day in a row, inmates at Hawaii's largest correctional facility started a fire in the housing module. KITV4.

‘An utter failure': Legal, medical experts fault state for massive outbreak at OCCC. Experts blasted the state for the massive COVID-19 outbreak at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, saying prison officials have not done enough to stop the spread. Hawaii News Now.

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‘This is their fault’: Dr. Miscovich rips Hawaii DOH. Dr. Scott Miscovich was emphatic when placing blame for the surge in positive coronavirus tests on Oahu in recent weeks, many of which he has tested himself. KHON2.

VIRUS TRACKER — Aug. 16: 220 New Cases As Surge Continues. Most of the cases were on Oahu, where officials are battling an outbreak in the state’s largest jail. Civil Beat.

The Latest: 9 Queen's Workers Positive; 220 New Cases; Positivity Rate Tops WHO Guideline. The Hawaii Department of Health reported 220 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the state's total to over 5,000 at 5,042. These include 4,591 on Oahu, 148 on Hawaii Island, 226 in Maui County, and 54 on Kauai. Twenty-three cases were diagnosed out of state. The death toll stands at 40.  Hawaii Public Radio.

With a benchmark of 3,000 active COVID-19 cases surpassed, another lockdown is on the table. Hawaii’s active corona­virus cases on Sunday went over 3,000 — a benchmark that health care officials have said would warrant a month-long stay-at-home order for Oahu, where most of the infections are. Star-Advertiser.

Coronavirus Cases in Hawai‘i Top 5,000 Sunday. The Hawai‘i Department of Health reported 220 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 5,042. Big Island Now.

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State Lawmakers Call For Steps To Blunt Trump Anti-Mail Balloting Moves. The chairs of the Hawaii legislative judiciary committees called for action to prevent the state's highly successful mail-in balloting from being disrupted by President Trump's moves against the U.S Postal Service.  Hawaii Public Radio.

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Amid economic crisis, the state unemployment office is hiring. Hawaii has 27 unemployment claim adjudicators, four of whom are currently on medical leave, plus 11 volunteers from other state agencies, six retirees who came back to help, and 12 new hires, said William Kunstman, DLIR spokesman. Hawaii News Now.

Health Officials Knew COVID-19 Would Hit Pacific Islanders Hard. The State Still Fell Short. As of Friday, 30% of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hawaii affect non-Hawaiian Pacific Islanders — including but not limited to Marshallese, Samoans, Tongans, Chuukese and other Indigenous peoples of the Pacific — even though they make up just 4% of the state’s population. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige calls out senators following Department of Health contact tracing tour. Gov. David Ige has admonished Senate President Ron Kouchi after members of the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 toured the Health Department on Aug. 7 to review contact tracing operations at the invitation of the state epidemiologist — but apparently without enough advance notice. Star-Advertiser.

Ige to Kouchi: Senators’ visit to DOH was ‘neither respectful nor appropriate'. In a newly obtained letter to Hawaii’s Senate president, Gov. David Ige calls out the lawmakers who made an unannounced visit to the health department earlier this month. Hawaii News Now.

State Was Lying To Us About Contact Tracing, Gabbard Says. Gabbard was joined by a Department of Health employee whistleblower, and revealed what is really going on with the State's COVID-19 contact tracing tracing efforts. Big Island Video News.

Public schools get unusual start to new academic year. Today is the first day of school for public school students, but rather than offering their traditional warm welcome, many principals advised kids to stay home given the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism officials can’t market Hawaii as ‘the safest place on earth’ anymore. It was just a few months ago when some Hawaii tourism and government officials thought Hawaii had a shot at marketing the state to tourists as “the safest place on earth.” Star-Advertiser.

Auto sales careened downhill 41.8% in the second quarter. Hawaii auto sales plunged 41.8% in the second quarter as the work-from-home labor force, a near standstill in tourism, the closure of most recreational activities and a quarter million people unemployed left the industry parked on the side of the road. Star-Advertiser.

Farmland becoming food vs. fuel battleground. What’s at stake are two competing state policy goals: producing 100% of energy from renewable sources by 2045, and doubling local food production by 2030. Star-Advertiser.

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Moratorium on aquarium trade continues. A decision by the state Environmental Council last week effectively continues a moratorium on commercial aquarium collection along the Kona Coast, an activity long opposed by some Native Hawaiians and marine conservation groups. Star-Advertiser.

Council upholds BLNR’s rejection of aquarium fishing EIS. A May decision by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to maintain a ban on aquarium fish collection off West Hawaii was recently upheld by the state Environmental Council. West Hawaii Today.

Aquarium fishing ban upheld. The state’s Environmental Council has upheld the state Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to maintain the ban on collecting fish for the aquarium-pet trade off the west coast of Hawai‘i Island, and to reject an environmental impact statement aimed at restarting the destructive practice. Garden Island.

Oahu

Obama and the beach house loopholes. As Barack Obama entered the home stretch of his presidency, his close friend Marty Nesbitt was scouting an oceanfront property on Oahu, the Hawaiian island where the two regularly vacationed together with their families. Star-Advertiser.

Bones found on a property tied to Obama, causing tension with Native Hawaiians. n January, workers had found human remains, or iwi kupuna, as they reshaped a multimillion-dollar oceanfront lot into a luxury compound being developed by Marty Nesbitt, the chair of the Obama Foundation and head of a Chicago-based private-equity firm. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Government Goes Local for Some Transit Technology. Some local tech companies are landing big contracts with the City & County of Honolulu’s for transit work. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

South Kohala resorts show off reopening plans. Representatives from several properties on the Gold Coast Thursday shared with state and county legislators and officials their ever-evolving plans and procedures for reopening with on-site visits at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Fairmont Orchid and Hilton Grand Vacations. West Hawaii Today.

Sewer replacement project gets underway Tuesday. Traffic patterns on Palani Road, between Kailua Pier and Kuakini Highway, will be altered beginning Tuesday as work begins to replace an aging sewer line. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Big-brand hotels roll out pandemic safety plans. Leaders mull resort bubbles for Neighbor Island resortgoers. Maui News.

Mayor Victorino Addresses Rumors Relating to Resort Bubbles and Public Beach Access. Mayor Michael Victorino today addressed “rumors and misinformation” he said is spreading on social media about resort bubbles and public beach access. Maui Now.

Tenants at Lahaina Front Street Apartments Celebrate Federal Court Win to Keep Rent Affordable Until 2051. The 40-page decision by Hawai‘i federal District Court Judge Jill Otake rejected an attempt by the project developer, Front Street Affordable Housing Partners, to end the restrictions set in place to prevent sharp increases in rents or sale of the project unencumbered by the rent restrictions. Maui Now.

Thermal scanners now installed at all arrival gates at Kahului Airport. Facial imaging gear to be added before end of year. Maui News.

Some businesses support Young Brothers rate hike. Several Maui County businesses are throwing their support behind Young Brothers’ request to raise its rates 47 percent, though at least one called for an independent audit of the struggling interisland shipper. Maui News.

Kauai

Festival of Hope sold out again. Novelyn Hinazumi, Child &Family Service Kaua‘i director, was busy stuffing backpacks with digital thermometers Saturday as cars started flowing through the CFS Festival of Hope for Families distribution in the Vidinha Stadium parking lot. Garden Island.

Tidal erosion forecast, Kealoha trial continues, Maui $823.6M budget scrutinized, bank agrees to take over Kawananakoa trust, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Crowded beach ©2019 All Hawaii News

Summer tides increase likelihood of Hawaii shoreline erosion. Hawaii’s big waves and high tides will make shoreline erosion and flooding likely this summer, officials said. Associated Press.

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Ex-officer testifies at Kealoha trial that he ‘perpetuated a lie’ in mailbox theft case. Retired police officer Niall Silva admitted repeatedly lying to the FBI, federal prosecutors, grand jurors and in court testimony in connection with the alleged theft of the mailbox of retired Honolulu Police Chief Louise Kealoha and his wife, former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

‘My Heart Sank’: Former Officer Details His Role In Mailbox Conspiracy. Niall Silva, who pleaded guilty in 2016 for his part in the alleged framing of Gerard Puana, testified Tuesday that he falsified police reports and lied to the FBI. Civil Beat.

‘I perpetuated the lie’: Former officer testifies against Kealohas in mailbox trial. A retired police officer who pleaded guilty in connection with the public corruption case against Honolulu’s former police chief and his wife detailed on the stand Tuesday how he participated in the alleged conspiracy to frame one of the police chief’s in-laws. Hawaii News Now.

KEALOHA TRIAL: Week two is underway, get updates here. KHON2.

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State Makes No Conclusion On Whether DPS Deputy Director Violated Ethics Code. But some employees felt coerced to support Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda’s confirmation, the Ethics Commission writes in a guidance letter to Jodie Maesaka-Hirata. Civil Beat.

Push to move more Hawaiians into trade industry. A recent economic study found 57% of Native Hawaiians do not earn enough to survive in Hawaii. But local non profit, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is working to change that. KITV.

Housing Costs Put A Crimp On Keeping Teachers In Hawaii. DOE is partnering with a developer to help educators with down payments, but other states are going much further by building teacher housing. Civil Beat.

Controversy over a cannabis compound remains amid a state 'crackdown'. The Hawaii Department of Health says cannabidiol (CBD) products sold without a prescription and outside of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries may be pulled from sale by health inspectors at any time. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Bank agrees to take control of Kawananakoa trust. First Hawaiian Bank in a court filing has conditionally agreed to take over as trustee of the Kawananakoa Trust, saying it recognizes the importance to the Native Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Brian Schatz addresses Ala Wai Canal, climate change, abortion during town hall. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said it wasn’t possible to pause a $345 million project aimed at safeguarding Waikiki and other Honolulu neighborhoods from catastrophic flooding from the Ala Wai Canal without risking federal funding, during a town hall Tuesday evening at Washington Middle School in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Can HPD’s New Training Program Reduce Domestic Violence Within Its Ranks? After a “bad month” for officers being arrested on abuse allegations, the department talks about a new initiative. But not everyone thinks it will help. Civil Beat.

Suspect charged in attack of Honolulu police officer appears in court. Remington Troy Guyton was charged Monday with first-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, first-degree attempted theft and contempt of court. Hawaii News Now.

Former HPD officer ordered to pay $11,654 for taxes. Retired Honolulu Police Department Lt. Eric Yiu is not going to jail or prison for tax evasion and is even getting the opportunity to keep his criminal record clean. Star-Advertiser.

Dispute cresting over Kamaaina Kids’ commercial use of Kaneohe Bay. A state agency is trying to stop a local nonprofit focused on child care from selling ocean adventure activities at Kaneohe Bay after years of complaints. Star-Advertiser.

Surfrider Foundation volunteers band together to check for beach-water bacteria levels. Surfrider reorganized its beach-water testing program in February 2018 with the goal of adding frequency and new sites to the water quality monitoring already being done by the state Department of Health. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County preps for all-mail election. Hawaii County, like the rest of the state, is preparing for a totally mail-in election next year, and the first step is to acquire new machinery to handle it. West Hawaii Today.

Airport to benefit from capital improvement funds. The Hilo International Airport will have a new air-conditioning system thanks to a $23.8 million capital improvement project. Tribune-Herald.

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Affordable housing proposed for Waikoloa Village. A partnership between a California-based company and a Hawaii nonprofit both dedicated to developing affordable housing options is aiming to bring 60 rental units to Waikoloa Village. West Hawaii Today.

60 Affordable Rental Units Proposed For Waikoloa. A draft environmental assessment and anticipated finding of no significant impact has been published for the planned Kaiaulu O Waikoloa project. Big Island Video News.

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Green waste being accepted at Keei Transfer Station. Hawaii County is again accepting green waste at the Keei Transfer station in South Kona after a three-month closure, with some new guidelines. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Former, current budget heads disagree over spending hike. $823.6M budget up for second and final reading today. Maui News.

Na Hale O Maui blesses project, pours foundation on first lot. Na Hale O Maui blessed its affordable housing project in Lahaina on May 20 and poured a foundation on what will be the first of 12 lots on Wednesday. Maui News.

Water department seeking input on plan. The county Department of Water Supply is asking the public to participate in an online survey aimed at developing a strategic plan. Maui News.

Kauai

Explore Kalalau -- without going there. There’s a way to explore the sheer cliffs and vibrant greens of the Kalalau Trail that have off limits to hikers for the past year. Garden Island.