Transient vacation rentals shuttered as Hawaii nears 500 COVID-19 cases, Facebook's Zuckerberg gives $1M to Kauai, Legislature mulls budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol ©2020 All Hawaii News

Pandemic Is Scrambling State Budget Priorities. The COVID-19 calamity means the Hawaii Legislature’s grand plans for the 2020 session may be just pipe dreams. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Enlists Online Program To Help Enforce Travel Quarantine. The state of Hawaii said Friday it wants travelers to use an online program to provide information about their travel plans to help authorities enforce a 14-day coronavirus quarantine imposed on people arriving in the islands. Associated Press.

State will use app to track travelers. The new service, called the Hawaii Safe Travels System, includes an electronic survey to be answered by all incoming travelers to the state, including details about the travelers’ itineraries and lodging information, said Rona Suzuki, director of the Hawaii Department of Taxation, at a press briefing Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Not Ready For A Wave Of Evictions Caused By The Pandemic. Housing advocates are calling on Gov. David Ige to act now to stop a housing crisis. The governor has offered mixed messages. Civil Beat.

=====

Hawaii’s COVID-19 cases near the 500 mark as 13 new cases are reported. There were just 13 new cases of coronavirus reported across Hawaii on Easter Sunday, bringing the state’s total to 499. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 499, up 13. Hawaii Department of Health officials said Sunday that the state’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 499, up 13 from Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Now Has 499 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases. Thirteen new cases were reported in the past day, including five on the Big Island and four in Maui County. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Coronavirus Case Tally Nears 500. Hawai‘i confirmed 13 new cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the statewide total to 499. Big Island Now.

13 new cases of COVID-19 bring state total to 499. The Department of Health reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 today. The state total is now 499. KHON2.

=====

With less demand, price of gas falls, but not much. The average price per gallon statewide, according to the most recent weekly report from AAA Hawaii, was $3.31 Thursday. That’s 22 cents less than the year-ago price and 20 cents cheaper than the price a few days before a statewide stay-at-home order was announced March 23. Star-Advertiser.

Jail populations drop amid virus pandemic. The number of inmates being housed in the state’s four jails has dropped by 25% in just over a month’s time as various segments of the criminal justice system work to lower populations in the facilities amid fears of widespread coronavirus infection. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prison Inmates Sew Masks During Pandemic. Inmates in the sewing program at the Waiawa Correctional Facility and Kulani Correctional Facility have begun to sew thousands of cloth face coverings to combat the spread of COVID-19. Big Island Video News.

=====

Online platform detailing spread of coronavirus in state gains traction. A new online platform that uses crowdsourced data to generate a picture of the new coronavirus’ spread in Hawaii has already received thousands of submissions in one week since going live. Star-Advertiser.

AlohaTrace Tracks Real-Time Data of COVID-19 Spread. AlohaTrace – a community-driven data collection effort — is a new online platform that crowdsources daily information from Hawaiʻi residents to track COVID-19 through general whereabouts and interactions of those with existing symptoms. Maui Now.

=====

First night of curfew runs smoothly for Oahu and Maui, Mayors urge residents to continue to stay home. Police were out patrolling looking for any nonessential people on the roadways between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor considering making fabric stores ‘essential’ as sales move online. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city is looking at options to allow people to continue making cloth masks. And that could lead to fabric merchants being classified as “essential” under the city’s stay-at-home order. Hawaii News Now.

Petition to Mayor Caldwell: 'Fabric stores are essential'. Mayor will reopen fabric stores, but some still complain they need to go inside and touch the material. KITV4.

=====

Two cruise ships in Honolulu this week; 4 people to disembark. The Pacific Princess does not have enough fuel to reach its final destination in California. KITV4.

Projects advance during Waikiki downturn. The tourism lockdown, which has emptied Waikiki, has created an opportunity for the state’s most economically important district to begin about a half-dozen construction projects, including shoring up its world-famous beaches. Star-Advertiser.

Police continue to patrol Waikiki Beach. In Waikiki, KHON didn’t see many people gathering at the beach. But we did see officers patrolling the area telling some to keep moving. KHON2.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser to do away with one day of traditional print. Changes are coming to Hawaii’s largest daily newspaper. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser has informed its subscribers that the coronavirus crisis — mixed with changes in the way readers consumer news — is placing an extraordinary strain on the newspaper’s financial operations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Kim shuts down vacation rentals: Proclamation signed Friday declares STVRs ‘nonessential.’ Mayor Harry Kim signed an emergency rule Friday shutting down transient vacation rentals for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. West Hawaii Today.

Vacation Rentals, B&Bs Ordered To Cease Operations On Hawaiʻi Island. Mayor Harry Kim on Friday signed the "COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 1" putting an end to bed and breakfasts, short term vacation rentals, and time shares until the pandemic emergency ends. Big Island Video News.

=====

Kim: Parks still closed, but access to ocean permitted. After weeks of confusion, Hawaii County officials confirmed this week that county parks will remain closed for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown. Tribune-Herald.

=====

Hawaii County seeking virus testing for homeless, providers. Hawaii County is asking the state to test all homeless and homeless program staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic. West Hawaii Today.

Sheltering the homeless: Hawaii County, HOPE Services secure hotel rooms amid stay-at-home order. The Holiday Inn Express in Kailua-Kona has been repurposed into a homeless shelter amid Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home order. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Holiday Inn Express Now Homeless Shelter In Time Of COVID-19. HOPE Services began moving houseless kupuna into the Holiday Inn Express on Thursday, where they will be able to shelter in place during the pandemic. Big Island Video News.

=====

Police bust Pohue Bay party: 16 cited for trespassing, violating stay-at-home order. Police were sent to the area shortly after 2 p.m. following a report from a Ka‘u land manager that there were approximately 10 to 15 people trespassing at Pohue Bay, which is located several miles south of the Ocean View Ranchos subdivision. West Hawaii Today.

Hanging on in Honokaa: Former plantation town hit especially hard by pandemic, lockdown order. For Honokaa, Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor shutters B&Bs and short-term rentals. Properties can be used for essential workers. After requiring that bed-and-breakfast and short-term rental homes no longer allow visitors, Mayor Michael Victorino said Friday he is looking at eliminating rental cars for visitors to further deter them from arriving on Maui. Maui News.

=====

Petition calls for top hospital leaders to resign over COVID-19 allegations. As coronavirus cases linked to Maui Memorial Medical Center continued to rise, an online petition called for the ouster of top officials with the island’s main hospital over allegations that their COVID-19 policies are “dangerous” and “abusive.” Maui News.

Petition calls for leaders of Maui hospital to resign. An online petition calling for the resignation of four Maui Memorial Medical Center executives has garnered more than 3,000 signatures as public outcry over a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Maui’s only hospital intensifies. Star-Advertiser.

Positive cases at Maui Memorial Medical Center increase, some staff feel unsafe. On Sunday, the Hawaii Department of Health confirmed 31 positive cases linked to Maui Memorial Medical Center. KHON2.

=====

Rural Maui County lawmakers seek National Guard assistance. Maui County has been implementing tougher rules to stop the spread of the coronavirus, even as the number of cases continues to rise on the Valley Isle and amid reports that not everyone is following social distancing rules on Molokai. Hawaii News Now.

Maui legislators ask for Hawaii National Guard's help enforcing lockdown. Sen. English says he'd only need about half dozen National Guardsmembers in East Maui, and would like them to start ASAP. KITV4.

Citations issued in roving roadblocks; sanitation concerns addressed. Vehicles had long waits while Maui Police Department and Hawaii National Guard conducted roving roadblocks around Maui this weekend, as Maui County reported its largest single-day jump of 14 coronavirus cases Saturday. Maui News.

7 Citations Issued at Maui Roadblocks. On Saturday, a total of seven citations were issued during roving roadblocks throughout Maui County. Maui police say no arrests were made. Maui Now.

Kauai

Facebook’s CEO, wife donates $1M to help Kauai battle coronavirus. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have made a hefty donation to help COVID relief efforts on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Couple who arrived on Kauai went to Foodland. That got them arrested. A couple who blatantly disregarded the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine has been arrested by Kauai police, the department says. On Friday, police said 36-year-old Adam Schwarze of Aiea, Oahu, and 31-year-old Desiree Marvin of Alexandria, Virginia arrived on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Shipping industry still strong. Earl Kashiwagi, general manager of Esaki’s Produce, a produce-distribution center in Kapa’a, has dealt with natural disasters such as hurricanes and tidal waves that have affected the local economic landscape of Kaua‘i in his 50-year tenure with the company. Garden Island.

Koloa Rum making hand sanitizer. Koloa Rum Company’s distillery has expanded production capabilities to produce hand sanitizer in response to the needs of first responders and health-care organizations on the island. Garden Island.

Officials expect traffic nightmare for Trump visit, first female police chief sworn in, Thirty Meter Telescope appealed to state Supreme Court, legislative panel holds ocean health meeting today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump hotel in Waikiki © 2017 All Hawaii News

Honolulu city and state officials warned residents and visitors to expect massive rush-hour traffic delays Friday and possibly Saturday during President Donald Trump’s visit to Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is warning that President Donald Trump’s stopover in Hawaii on Friday will cause “major traffic delays” along the motorcade route and in the state’s largest tourism district — Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

The president's visit Friday is expected to cause significant traffic delays thanks to road closures along his motorcade route and in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Honolulu Police Department warn the public to expect traffic delays as President Donald Trump makes his first visit to Hawaii as President of the United States. KITV.

City officials discuss potential traffic issues ahead of President Trump’s visit to Honolulu. KHON2.

=====

Some of the Hawaii State Legislature is talking about ocean health today in an informational briefing for the House of Representatives Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs. Garden Island.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings are beginning to reflect slowing growth in the state economy and are now on pace to exceed last year’s total. Star-Advertiser.

Taiwan on Wednesday was added to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry program, which will allow Taiwanese visitors to apply for expedited customs clearance at Honolulu International Airport and 53 other airports in the United States. Pacific Business News.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. reported a net loss of $500.000, or 3 cents per share, for the third quarter, compared to net income of $2.5 million, or 13 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A new era for the Honolulu Police Department began Wednesday with the swearing in ceremony for its 11th chief, Susan Ballard, who replaced recently indicted former Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

Officers Hope New Chief Will Clear Away ‘Dark Cloud Over HPD’. Susan Ballard is sworn in as Honolulu’s police chief to a chorus of praise as the department looks to move beyond the Louis Kealoha years. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s first female Police Chief was sworn into office today at HPD Headquarters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's first female police chief was sworn in to the Honolulu Police Department Wednesday. Chief of Police Susan Ballard was officially named HPD's 11th chief. KITV.

Honolulu’s new top cop took the oath Wednesday morning to protect the City and County. KHON2.

Three former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s elite Criminal Intelligence Unit were back in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to answer to charges filed against them in last month’s indictment of former Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

Three Officers Plead Not Guilty In Honolulu Police Corruption Case. The charges relate to the alleged framing of a man at the behest of the former police chief and his prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu police lieutenant, an officer and a retired major pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges alleging they helped former Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife frame a man. Associated Press.

Three men arrested in the conspiracy case against the former Honolulu police chief pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday. KITV.

Two new members to the Honolulu Police Commission were approved unanimously by city council Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council approved Wednesday two new members to the Honolulu Police Commission. KHON2.

Commentary: It Turns Out We Owe Chuck Totto A Big Thank-You. Federal indictments in the Honolulu police corruption case vindicate the former ethics director but raise questions about the Caldwell administration. Civil Beat.

=====

Vacation rental issue moves to planning department. After hearing more than an hour of testimony, City Council members voted to approve four resolutions directing Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration to come up with bills for them to consider. Star-Advertiser.

Pineapple has been gone for over a decade, and vegetable crops disappeared this year. Now, fallow fields between Mililani and Waipio are about to produce homes in a $2 billion project called Koa Ridge in Central Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Castle & Cooke Hawaii plans to break ground Thursday on Koa Ridge, its long-delayed $2 billion master-planned community that will add 3,500 homes along with commercial space, an elementary school and a new hospital in Central Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A preliminary search for state-controlled land parcels on Oahu where possible “safe zones” could be established for homeless encampments turned up no vacant sites. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR to hire salvage company to remove vessel near Kahala Resort. The DLNR says they plan to hire a salvage company to remove a 25-foot sailboat that ran aground Tuesday on the reef at Maunalua Bay. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Opponents of a giant telescope planned to be built on Mauna Kea are appealing the state Land Board’s approval of the project’s construction permit to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Associated Press.

Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha wants to save Kahaluu Beach Park from the sea. Almost 10 years after a conceptual master plan was created for one of the island’s most popular beach parks, Kanuha was successful Wednesday getting fellow members of the County Council to agree to put $600,000 into the budget to plan and design park improvements. West Hawaii Today.

The county is rethinking plans for a popular Kona beach park. During the Finance Committee meeting, Kona councilmember Dru Kanuha introduced a bill to fund the planning and design of future improvements to the park. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim did not agree with the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply’s decision to keep quiet on the failure of two North Kona deep wells in the first half of October, but he did accept it. West Hawaii Today.

A bill to amend the county water plan for the Keauhou Aquifer in Kona has been withdrawn, after the community voiced concerns. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County won’t be getting a time extension yet for completing its master plan for a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

A plan for a county park in Puna’s Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision is moving forward. Big Island Video News.

Aquaculture in Hawaii just got a $149,972 infusion for research and industry support, and it’s being used to develop a way for small businesses and individuals to get a piece of the shellfish industry. Garden Island.

Maui

Land use change for Makila Kai project in trouble. A 49-unit housing project in Launiupoko, containing a mix of residential workforce housing and market-rate agricultural lots, was essentially halted Wednesday. Maui News.

Navy schedules hearing to cover training impact. The U.S. Navy has scheduled a public hearing from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Maui High School for its draft environmental impact statements for personnel and weapons systems training between Hawaii and Southern California. Maui News.

Longline fishing industry scrutinized for hiring of foreign fishermen. The Hawaii Longline Association has jumped into a legal fight they say threatens their livelihood. Longliners oppose a Maui fisherman's complaint against the state. Hawaii News Now.

Island visitor counts continue on record-breaking pace. A total of 2.1M visitors arrived by air on Maui in the first nine months. Maui News.

Maui Health System, the new operator of three isle hospitals, is reversing its controversial policy to charge as much as $672 for a private postpartum room for new parents at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

District 12 of the Democratic Party of Maui will host a presentation to discuss Medicare on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Pukalani Pool Multipurpose Room. Maui Now.

Kauai

There were eight fatal vehicle crashes on Kauai’s state roads in 2016, more than double the number in 2015, according to new data from the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Garden Island.

Power was still out in some of Kauai’s North Shore Wednesday evening as a swollen Hanalei River caused the closure of Kuhio Highway and blocked access for repairs. Garden Island.