Hawaii sends its 4 electoral votes to Biden; Blangiardi, Roth win county mayoral races, Kahele takes Tulsi Gabbard's congressional seat, voter turnout slows results, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii ballot sorting ©2020 All Hawaii News

Full Hawaii election results as of 1:13 a.m. HST  Wednesday. Hawaii Office of Elections.

Hawaii picks Biden in race for the White House. As expected, Hawaii voted overwhelmingly to support Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Tuesday’s general election. In results released about 11 p.m., Biden had secured about 65% of the vote. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s general election voter turnout was the best its been since 1998.  High-profile races both locally and nationally were driving factors for a high voter turnout in this general election. By the second printout early Wednesday morning, election officials reported 557,189 ballots cast, for a 66.9% voter turnout. That’s based off a total of 832,466 registered voters across the state. Hawaii News Now.

Voters endure long lines to cast ballots. Long lines of Oahu voters at both Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale held up the entire state’s release of election results Tuesday to determine key races, including Hawaii’s preference for the next U.S. president. Star-Advertiser.

US House: Democrats Ed Case And Kai Kahele Headed For Landslide Wins. Neither candidate faced a serious challenger in their bids to represent Hawaii in the U.S. House, which is still controlled by Democrats. Civil Beat.

Kai Kahele to join fellow Democrat Ed Case in U.S. House. Kai Kahele, a Native Hawaiian who grew up in the fishing village of Milolii and serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Air National Guard, will bring a duality of views to the U.S. House of Representatives as Hawaii’s newest member of Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Kai Kahele wins race for next U.S. Representative Dist. II, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Kahele won 58.4% of votes at 165,031. KITV4.

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Hawaii Legislature: GOP Loses A House Seat, Stays Even In The Senate. A fresh crop of younger lawmakers — all of them Democrats — are on track to pick up seats. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Republican Party lose ground in state House. Hawaii’s Republican Party lost one of its five seats in the state House — already the fewest number of seats it held since statehood in 1959. Star-Advertiser.

Incumbents cruise to easy state Senate victories. Seven incumbent state senators were cruising to victory Tuesday night, including Bennette Misalucha, who was appointed to fill the seat of the late state Sen. Breene Harimoto. Star-Advertiser.

Luana Alapa ousts Colette Machado in Office of Hawaiian Affairs race.  First-time candidate Luana Alapa has ousted Office of Hawaiian Affairs chairwoman Colette Machado from the Molokai seat on the Board of Trustees, according to second printout results releaseds shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Rick Blangiardi wins Honolulu mayor’s race. Long-time television executive Rick Blangiardi captured the Honolulu mayor’s office Tuesday night, easily outpointing fellow first-time candidate Keith Amemiya by about a 6-4 margin. Star-Advertiser.

Blangiardi wins race for Honolulu in tough contest between political newcomers.  Former TV executive Rick Blangiardi handily won the race for Honolulu mayor Tuesday night after a tough general election contest that pitted two political newcomers against one another ― and included no shortage of mudslinging. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor: Rick Blangiardi Declares Victory, Keith Amemiya Concedes. With the majority of votes counted, the results show Oahu voters favored former Hawaii News Now general manager Rick Blangiardi.  Civil Beat.

Former TV executive Rick Blangiardi won the race for Honolulu mayor over Keith Amemiya, the one-time head of the high school athletics organization. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rick Blangiardi wins race for Honolulu Mayor in 2020 General Election. Rick Blangiardi wins the race for Honolulu Mayor over Keith Amemiya after the first printout results. KHON2.

Rick Blangiardi wins the race for Honolulu Mayor. Following the second printout that was released just before 2 a.m., Blangiardi had 58.2% of votes at 216,558 votes. KITV4.

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In race for Honolulu prosecutor, retired judge Steve Alm wins election on pledge of reform. Running on a platform of reform, retired Judge Steve Alm defeated defense attorney Megan Kau in the 2020 general election race to become Honolulu’s next prosecuting attorney. Hawaii News Now.

Steve Alm wins race for Honolulu's next prosecutor. Following the second printout from the Hawai'i State Office of Elections, Alm had 52.0% of the votes at 193,772. KITV4.

Steve Alm Is Well Ahead Of Megan Kau In Honolulu Prosecutor Race. This will be the first time since 1988 that the beleaguered office was not held by either Peter Carlisle or Keith Kaneshiro. Civil Beat.

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Augusto ‘Augie T’ Tulba and Radiant Cordero to join Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council: Kiaaina, Cordero And Tulba Pull Ahead. Honolulu will have five new City Council members on Jan. 2. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Voters Favor Term Limits For Prosecutor. It is one of four charter amendment questions on the general election ballot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Roth clinches Hawaii Island mayoral seat. Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth beat political newcomer Ikaika Marzo late Tuesday in the race to be the next mayor of Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Roth Elected Hawaiʻi County Mayor. Mitch Roth leads Ikaika Marzo in the race for the Hawaiʻi County Mayor. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Casts Familiar Face in New Role as Mayor. Former Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth will assume the mantle of Hawai‘i County Mayor following his victory over fellow challenger and community organizer Ikaika Marzo. Big Island Now.

Veteran prosecutor Mitch Roth clinches victory in Big Island mayoral race. In the race for Hawaii County mayor, Mitch Roth secured a victory over community organizer Ikaika Marzo. By the second printout, Roth garnered 48,895 votes, or 57.4%. Marzo earned 40.1%, or 34,142 votes. Hawaii News Now.

Mitch Roth wins Big Island mayoral race. Mitch Roth, 56, handily defeated political novice Ikaika Marzo in the mayor’s race in what the candidates described an amicable race between “friends.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Races: Mitch Roth Out Ahead In Mayor’s Race. Voters also chose County Council members and decided the fate of numerous charter amendments. Civil Beat.

Mitch Roth wins Hawai'i Island mayoral race. Mitch Roth has won the race for Hawai'i County Mayor following the second printout results on Wednesday. KITV4.

Mitch Roth wins race for Hawaii County Mayor. KHON2.

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Kimball beats Yagong in Hamakua council race; Kanealii-Kleinfelder edges Rodenhurst in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Final Printout Shows Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder Winner of District 5 Seat. Big Island Now.

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Majority of proposed Charter amendments pass. West Hawaii Today.

Long lines at polling places delay results. Some voters waited in line for nearly three hours Tuesday afternoon as COVID-19 precautions slowed the voting process in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

‘Huge turnout:’ West Hawaii voters flock to make choices in person. Despite a statewide shift to vote by mail, Big Island voters flocked to the voter service center in West Hawaii to cast ballots in person on Tuesday culminating with a big Election Day surge. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council incumbents carrying the day; Johnson leads in vacant Lanai residency seat. Maui News.

Initial results favor county charter amendments except Managing Director. Six of the seven Maui County Charter Amendments are on track to being voted in – with the exception of the Office of the Managing Director, according to the second summary report by the State Office of Elections. Maui News.

Turnout hits highest levels in over 20 years. In a politically charged climate of pandemic and protests, Maui County voter turnout already has reached its highest level in 20 years, according to county and state election data. Maui News.

Lines Long But Manageable on Election Day at Maui’s Voting Service Center. Maui Now.

Voting officials surprised by large Wailuku precinct turnout. County officials and volunteers were surprised with the large turnout of in-person voters on Election Day at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Maui News.

Kauai

DeCosta, Carvalho Jr. in line to join council. Preliminary results as of Tuesday night show incumbents outweighing newcomers in the upcoming iteration of the Kaua‘i County Council with a 72.1% turnout. Garden Island.

Former Mayor Bernhard Carvalho On His Way To Kauai Council. The former Kauai Mayor is likely to join at least three council incumbents. Civil Beat.

Hawaii mulls medical marijuana for anxiety, insomnia; gun sales surge; Caldwell holds gubernatorial fundraiser, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medical marijuana sign in Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

 

Petitions would add 3 conditions to medical pot list. Petitions seeking to add anxiety, depression and insomnia to the list of “debilitating medical conditions” that qualify Hawaii patients for medical cannabis use will undergo a public hearing Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Gun sales surge, creating a backlog to process permits. Gun sales have taken off like a shot, leaving some counties struggling to keep up with the surge in permits and registrations. KITV4.

A week out from Election Day, more than half of all registered voters in Hawaii have cast their ballots, following a trend seen across the U.S. Statewide voter turnout on Tuesday was about 51.9%, according to data provided by the county clerks’ offices. Civil Beat.

Virtual fundraiser supporting Caldwell’s bid for governor raises eyebrows. A fundraiser hosted by Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday afternoon is raising eyebrows. That’s because proceeds from the virtual event go to his run for governor in 2022. Hawaii News Now.

Some worry state will botch rollout of program that extends unemployment benefits.  For those who have used up their 26 weeks of unemployment and the 13 weeks of federal pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, there is another option. Hawaii News Now.

HTA consultant: Canadians eager to fly back to Hawaii ahead of harsh winter. With tourists from the mainland flooding into Hawaii, and a pre-travel testing plan starting for Japan, residents in other countries are eagerly awaiting their turn to be allowed to travel to the islands with a negative COVID test. Hawaii News Now.

Dark Days: Hawaiian Airlines’ Struggles Reflect The Pain Of The Tourism Industry. The state’s largest private employer before COVID-19 struck, Hawaiian Airlines business took a nosedive in the third quarter of 2020. Civil Beat.

Retired state official to pay $5,000 fine for accepting $650 in meals at Honolulu restaurants. The former chief examiner of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Insurance Division will pay a $5,000 fine after accepting over $650 worth of meals from a vendor he oversaw, including dinner for himself and his wife at upscale Nobu Honolulu restaurant, the state Ethics Commission said today. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 28: 62 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. The new cases include 41 on Oahu, five on Hawaii island, two on Maui, one on Kauai and seven on Lanai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu vote tally topples record. The Honolulu Elections Division had tallied 313,320 ballots as of the end of day today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate Rick Blangiardi now outraising, outspending Keith Amemiya. For the first time this election season, Honolulu mayoral candidate Rick Blangiardi’s campaign is outpacing opponent Keith Amemiya’s team in both collections and expenditures. Star-Advertiser.

Latest spending figures released in Honolulu mayoral race. They show former television executive Rick Blangiardi outspending attorney Keith Amemiya in the final leg of the campaign trail. Blangiardi spent about $170,000 more than Amemiya during the last month. Hawaii News Now. 

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Hawaii Opens Section 8 Waitlist For Oahu Renters. Current Oahu renters can sign up online between Thursday and Monday to try to get on the waitlist. Civil Beat.

Hawaii opens Section 8 housing waitlist. The federal housing money is being directed at needy Oahu families who are struggling to keep their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in four years, state is opening Section 8 housing voucher applications. When the state starts accepting applications for its Housing Choice Voucher program or Section 8 on Thursday, the executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority expects about 20,000 people on Oahu to sign-up. KITV4.

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City reports another Honolulu city bus driver has tested positive for COVID-19. Another TheBus driver has tested positive for COVID-19, city officials confirmed today, the second one to be reported, so far, this week. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police officers will be out on Halloween to enforce COVID-19 rules. Mayor Kirk Caldwell once again urged Oahu visitors and residents not to let down their guard, hold large gatherings or cluster in Waikiki on Halloween this Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

How SHOPO Keeps Trying To Hide Police Misconduct Despite New Disclosure Law. The statewide police union doesn’t want the public to have access to the arbitration decision that gave alleged abuser Darren Cachola his badge back. Civil Beat.

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NTSB: Pilot in deadly 2019 skydiving plane crash often did risky maneuvers. More than 16 months after a deadly skydiving plane crash at Dillingham Airfield, the final NTSB report highlights mechanical problems with the aircraft, as well as concerns about the pilot. Hawaii News Now.

NTSB releases details from skydiving plane crash that killed 11 at Dillingham Airfield. Federal officials released documents today that provide details about one of the deadliest U.S. civil aviation accidents of the past decade, including testimony from people who had varying accounts of the crash pilot’s flight habits. Star-Advertiser.

NTSB releases final report on deadly Mokuleia skydiving crash. Sixteen months after a horrific skydiving crash in Mokuleia that killed 11 people, the National Transportation Safety Board released its final report. KHON2.

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Gambling machines, cash and drugs seized from illegal game room in McCullyTwenty gambling machines, cash, and drugs were seized from an illegal game room in the McCully area on Tuesday night. KITV4.

Olive Garden to open Thursday at Ala Moana Center. Hawaii’s first Olive Garden is scheduled to open Thursday, just as plans for a second location in Kapolei have been announced. Star-Advertiser.

Olive Garden set to open first location at Ala Moana Center Thursday. In a year filled with devastating news about the restaurant industry, here’s a bright spot: Olive Garden’s first Hawaii location will open on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Ala Moana Center. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Compost facility on hold: Green waste, food scrap shortage could spell doom to $10.5M plant. A $10.5 million facility intended to take green waste and mix it with other materials to make compost is on hold after officials discovered they’re missing a critical ingredient — food waste to make the material cook to the high temperature needed in the composting process. West Hawaii Today.

PUC, others respond to Honua Ola’s high court request. The state Public Utilities Commission has asked that a petition filed last month by Honua Ola Bioenergy — which seeks to vacate the commission’s July 9 decision that nullified an amended power purchase agreement between the nearly completed Pepeekeo power plant and Hawaiian Electric Co. — be denied in its entirety. Tribune-Herald.

New light snarls traffic: DOT says timing will undergo adjustments. A new traffic light located at the intersection of Highway 11 and Kipimana Street — the entrance to Shipman Business Park — began normal operation on Monday morning, but traffic was snarled along the highway that afternoon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Free COVID-19 testing available across island. Maui County is offering free COVID-19 testing in West, South and Central Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai visitor tests positive for COVID-19 after twice testing negative. Kauai health officials today reported a new positive case of COVID-19 from an adult, female visitor who has been placed in isolation. Star-Advertiser.

DOH: New active case has negative pre and post-travel tests. The Kaua‘i District Health Office reported a new positive case of COVID-19 among an adult female visitor yesterday. Garden Island.

Over 600 cats and dogs make their way to Mainland. Wednesday afternoon, 302 furry friends jetted off Kaua‘i toward their new furry futures on the Mainland. Garden Island.

Target to open at Kukui Grove Center. The planned store will cover approximately 122,000 square feet following a renovation to the existing space at the Kukui Marketplace. Garden Island.

Molokai

Mayor Victorino announces free COVID-19 community testing will be offered Thursday. Maui County Michael Victorino announced on Wednesday that free, COVID-19 community testing will be offered on Thursday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center on Moloka'i. KITV4.

Lanai

Lāna‘i COVID-19 Cases Now 94: Mayor Expects Leveling Off and Steady Decline in Next Week. So far, an estimated 87% of the island population on Lānaʻi has been tested with 2,747 tests administered since an outbreak was first reported early last week.  That brings the island’s positivity rate to 3.13 percent. Maui Now.

Victorino upbeat about Lanai’s COVID-19 status. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino is confident that the COVID-19 outbreak on Lanai is under control after the issuing of a stay-at-home order Tuesday and encouraging results from recent surge testing. Maui News.

Hawaii unveils coronavirus vaccine plans, test backlog sends tourists to quarantine, Honolulu marathon canceled, Lanai COVID-19 outbreak balloons, students infected, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Department of Health Immunization Branch Chief Ron Balajadia

How Hawaii Is Planning For A Future COVID-19 Vaccine. It could cost Hawaii a minimum of $25 million to get people vaccinated to prevent COVID-19 — once a vaccine is approved by the federal government — state officials said Thursday. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige announces draft COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for Hawaii. Gov. David Ige, Lt. Gov. Josh Green and state Department of Health Immunization Branch Chief Ron Balajadia today announced the state’s tentative plan to distribute the coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available. Star-Advertiser.

Officials outline how Hawaii would distribute a COVID-19 vaccine. The governor and state health officials offered a preview Thursday into how a COVID-19 vaccine would be distributed in Hawaii ― once one is approved. Hawaii News Now.

State unveils vaccine plan. Gov. David Ige announced on Thursday a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan that will go into effect whenever a safe vaccine is made available to the public. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Preparing For Statewide COVID-19 Vaccination Program. High-risk healthcare employees, first responders, and residents with underlying health conditions, including those 65 and older, will be the first to get the vaccine. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i Releases Preliminary COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan. No COVID-19 vaccine is yet available in the United States and may not be for months, but Hawai‘i has developed a preliminary distribution plan to be implemented as soon as one is. Big Island Now.

State sharing COVID-19 vaccine plans. Every state was required to submit a draft COVID-19 vaccination-distribution plan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. Garden Island.

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Backlog in the state’s manual COVID-19 test verification process sends thousands of Hawaii travelers to quarantine. Some 3,700 travelers to Hawaii whose test results uploaded after they arrived have received status updates on the Safe Travels Hawaii platform saying that their results had to be reviewed manually. Star-Advertiser.

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Ballistic missile submarine practices drone, Osprey and helicopter resupply off Hawaii. A 560-foot Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine has been operating off Hawaii for several days practicing “expeditionary” resupply from a drone, Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey and Navy Sea Hawk helicopter. Star-Advertiser.

Saguaro Correctional Center logs 12 more Hawaii inmate infections. This brings the facility’s Hawaii inmate case total to 43. KHON2.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 22: 102 New COVID-19 Cases. The newest COVID-19 cases recorded included 52 on Oahu, 18 in Maui County, 29 on the Big Island and three residents diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayoral Candidates Can’t — Or Won’t — Say What They’ll Do About Rail. Facing a more than $1 billion deficit, Amemiya and Blangiardi say they don’t have enough information to map out the next steps to finish the project. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu Marathon canceled due to coronavirus pandemic. After months of going back and forth, the Honolulu Marathon Association announced today that the 48th Honolulu Marathon scheduled for Dec. 13 would not be held. Star-Advertiser.

In another blow to Hawaii’s economy, the 2020 Honolulu Marathon is canceled. The 48th Honolulu Marathon had been scheduled for Dec. 13. Hawaii News Now.

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Vacation rentals once again allowed to operate on O'ahu. Owners of the rentals were left desperate for income after a loss in demand. KITV4.

Honolulu to offer free COVID-19 testing at Waikiki Shell. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Thursday that the city would offer free community testing at the Waikiki Shell through the end of November, using a surplus of 28,000 test kits. Star-Advertiser.

Hotels help police enforce quarantine for travelers who land without a negative test. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said hotels are assisting police with enforcing the quarantine mandate for visitors who didn’t land with a negative COVID-19 test. Hawaii News Now.

Bars are closed and people are driving less, but Oahu’s roads aren’t any safer. According to Honolulu police, 42 lives were lost in crashes from Jan. 1 and Oct. 20. That’s up by one compared to the same time. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Almost 4,000 tested after arriving on the Big Island. Between Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Kim said, 3,891 travelers took the second test at Big Island airports, 407 of whom did so in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Most new Big Island cases are people younger than 40. Most of the 29 new COVID-19 infections reported Thursday on the Big Island were in younger individuals, according to Mayor Harry Kim. Tribune-Herald.

Bill creating airport zone moves forward: Bill 199 allows hotel at Kona, Hilo airports. A bill that would allow hotels at Kona’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport and Hilo International Airport moved a step forward Tuesday with a positive vote from the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Former Hawaii governors support Big Isle energy project. Four former Hawaii governors have thrown their support behind the controversial Honua Ola Bioenergy project, whose fate is under appeal before the state Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Early Voting Underway in Maui County with 27,350 Votes Already Cast for Nov. 3 Election. In Maui County, County Clerk Kathy Kaohu said voting is going “smoothly” so far with 27,350 of the 96,882 active registered voters (28.23 percent) already casting their ballots. Maui Now.

Census efforts wrap up in Maui County. 53.3 percent response rate recorded with officials awaiting door-to-door results. Maui News.

Maui Voluntary Post-Arrival Travel Testing Program includes Mobile Unit. Travelers must have taken a pre-departure test to be eligible for the free post-arrival test. Travelers should take the second test 72 hours or later after they arrive into Maui County. Maui Now.

Kauai

Destination Management Plan Committee meet virtually with residents. Kaua‘i’s Destination Management Action Plan Committee members held an engaging virtual meeting Wednesday evening with residents of the South Shore and Westside of Kaua‘i and the island of Ni‘ihau. Garden Island.

Voter Service Center opens in Lihu‘e. Open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Nov. 2, the VSC allows voters an opportunity to register and vote on the same day. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai residents told to shelter in place as coronavirus cases grow on rural island. State officials are urging Lanai residents to shelter in place as the coronavirus rapidly spreads through the rural island, which started with a handful of infections earlier this week that spiraled into at least 38 cases. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 outbreak on Lanai continues to grow, with at least 38 cases now confirmed. State Health Department officials say the number of COVID-19 cases on Lanai has now ballooned to 38, just days after the first cases were confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Lāna‘i Update: Residents Encouraged to Shelter-in-Place, 800 PCR Tests Provided. Maui Now.

Three students at Lana'i High and Elementary School test positive for COVID-19, according to school letter. According to the school, it has taken the necessary precautions by notifying potential close contacts, sanitizing impacted areas, and relaying information to the State Department of Health. KITV4.

Maui County providing Lanai with 800 PCR tests, 11,300 masks. Residents on Lanai are strongly encouraged to attend the virtual community meeting scheduled for Oct. 23, where information on signs and symptoms, chain of infection, PPE, mitigation steps and other guidance will be provided. KHON2.

Hawaii COVID-19 vaccination plan kept secret, every island's rules different as tourists return, Tulsi Gabbard relocates to California, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cruise ship along Kona coast ©2020 All Hawaii News

 No cruise bookings in islands for remainder of 2020; cloudy waters ahead for industry. Although the state welcomed back trans-Pacific travelers without quarantines to island airports on Thursday, provided arriving passengers have tested negative for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours, the future of the cruise ship industry remains murky. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Is Ready But The State Is Keeping It Under Wraps. Even in the absence of an approved vaccine, Hawaii officials are drafting plans to distribute the first vaccines when they become available. Civil Beat.

State meets deadline to submit COVID-19 vaccination plan to federal government. Health officials confirmed they submitted Hawaii’s COVID vaccination rollout plan which met the Friday deadline. Details on the plan itself however weren’t immediately made available. Hawaii News Now.

Secrecy Shrouds Ige’s New High-Level Coronavirus Panel. A committee set up to help guide Hawaii’s economic recovery holds private meetings with no public agendas or minutes. Civil Beat.

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Some travelers are allowed to enter without tests from approved labs. Some travelers who arrived in Hawaii during the first four days of the reopening of tourism were allowed to skip the 14-day mandatory quarantine even though they did not have COVID-19 tests from the state’s “trusted testing partners.” Star-Advertiser.

Interisland ‘Trusted Partner’ Traveler Test Program Now In Place For Maui, Kauai. Gov. David Ige announced the new program on Saturday allowing interisland travelers to bypass the 14-day quarantine. Civil Beat.

Maui, Big Island explain how different rules are shared with travelers. For the past three days, Hawaii has seen thousand of travelers fly in after quarantine restrictions relaxed. KHON2.

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The state set aside $100 million in federal CARES Act funds to help struggling families with rent or mortgage payments. And so far, just 2% has been distributed. That’s even though tens of thousands of Hawaii residents are in desperate need of help. Hawaii News Now.

Rental assistance program temporarily halts applications. A state program providing rental assistance to tenants struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic is temporarily no longer accepting applicants after reaching its processing capacity. Tribune-Herald.

Survey shows over 80% of Hawaii businesses expect lower revenue this and next year due to COVID-19. Organizers hope the stark data will paint a clearer, data-driven picture so government officials will allocate more federal funding to help businesses. KITV4.

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Officials tweak mail-in voting process. Election officials mailed ballots early, added drop boxes on most islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's 2020 Elections: Haven't Gotten Your Ballot? Where To Call. There's a lot about 2020 that makes it a year to leave behind. But at least one important task remains: choosing the next president and filling a host of local offices, all with the power to impact our lives. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Tulsi Gabbard leaves Hawaii Army National Guard after 17 years for California duty. Congresswoman and former presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has left the Hawaii Army National Guard after 17 years and has a new part-time military assignment: civil affairs officer with a California-based Army Reserve unit. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s approval rating lowest at 44% in Hawaii Poll. Oahu voters give Hawaii’s congressional delegation enviable high approval ratings, with the clear exception of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — a onetime long-shot candidate to become president who received a dismal 44% approval rating. Star-Advertiser.

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Forecasters predict wetter-than-average rainy season. Most Hawaii locations can expect above average rainfall during the wet season, which officially began Oct. 1 and runs through April. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i’s COVID Total Tops 14,000 Since Pandemic Began. The Hawai‘i Department of Health reported 83 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 14,031 since the pandemic began. Two new COVID-related fatalities were also reported. Big Island Now.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 18: 83 New COVID-19 Cases And 1 Death In Hawaii. Health officials reported one death on Oahu and 83 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, including 68 cases on Oahu, 14 on Hawaii island and one on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaii Poll shows commanding lead for Rick Blangiardi in mayor’s race. Rick Blangiardi holds a solid double-­digit lead over fellow first-time candidate Keith Amemiya in the race for Honolulu mayor, according to the latest Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Poll has Steve Alm ahead of Megan Kau in Honolulu prosecutor race. Former Judge, U.S. attorney and Deputy Prosecutor Steve Alm appears to have a solid lead in the race for Honolulu prosecuting attorney two weeks before the general election. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Poll: Oahu voters disapprove of Kirk Caldwell’s coronavirus response. Hawaii Poll participants were solidly critical of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s overall handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic — although some of the details in the mayor’s COVID-19 plan for controlling the spread of the virus on Oahu earned higher marks. Star-Advertiser.

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Mayor Caldwell calls for special meeting over future of an already costly rail project. The mayor wants to end the so-called P-3 negotiations for a private operator to build the final segment and run the system because the bids came in way over budget. Hawaii News Now.

Chinatown senior affordable-housing plan causes dispute between organization, developer. A local Chinese cultural organization is squaring off against an affordable-housing developer over a long-planned apartment tower for seniors on city land in Chinatown. Star-Advertiser.

Manoa couple fined $40K for allegedly altering stream. The state Health Department said contractors working for John and Linda Hayama filled in parts of the Manoa Stream near the Kahaloa Drive Bridge with nearly 20 dump trucks full of rocks and sand. Hawaii News Now.

Some visitors in Waikiki say they came prepared to follow Hawai'i's COVID-19 restrictions. Many got to enjoy the islands right away, after following the state's COVID 19 pre-travel testing program. KITV4.

Ewa Beach man recovering from COVID has a warning to others: ‘This thing is for real’. 42-year-old Eddie Bisquera spent 48 days in the hospital. He said he didn’t have any underlying health conditions, but during his battle with COVID, he went through a few complications and almost gave up. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County almost halfway through coronavirus relief money. Hawaii County spent almost half of its $80 million federal coronavirus relief money in the first seven months of the program, and with three months to go before the money has to be spent or returned, Mayor Harry Kim is confident returning it won’t be an option. In fact, Kim said Friday, he told Gov. David Ige he may need more. West Hawaii Today.
 

Hawaii’s first N-95 mask factory opens in Kona. The first automated mask factory in the state is expected to start production this week with a staff of 10. Nicholas Garcia will be manufacturing N95 and flat masks, plus “super” versions of both types of mask. West Hawaii Today.

Expansion at NELHA: Big Island Abalone, Blue Ocean Mariculture announce plans for growth. Two of NELHA’s Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park success stories, Blue Ocean Mariculture and Big Island Abalone are poised for additional growth and expansion that’ll result in the creation of dozens of jobs over the next several years at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority’s Hawaii Ocean Science Technology Park. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council Race: Strong Political Factions Are Fighting Each Other. The so-called Ohana candidates are in a political battle with the candidates on the Hui O Maui slate, a classic battle of progressives vs. conservatives. Civil Beat.

Different styles, passions for South Maui candidates. Incumbent Kelly Takaya King and political newcomer Tom Cook have the backing of very different groups and are each passionate about their distinct platforms in the race for the South Maui residency seat on the County Council. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai launches post-arrival testing Monday. Under the optional program, Kauai residents who return from out of state travel and receive a negative  pre-travel test through the State's Safe Travels program are eligible for a free COVID-19 test 4-10 days after their return.  KITV4.

Virtual meetings planned to discuss future of island tourism. The Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan Community is hosting a virtual meeting for residents living in the south and west portions of Kaua‘i at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and residents residing in north and east Kaua‘i at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22. Garden Island.

DOH fines two Kaua‘i companies. Garden Island Mortuary Ltd., in Lawa‘i, was cited for late submittals of their semiannual reports and annual fee on their crematory units. ShredCo LLC in Lihu‘e was cited for late submittals of their semiannual and annual emission reports on their portable grinding and screening plant. Garden Island.

Smooth opening day for trans-Pacific travel to Hawaii, most Hawaii residents wear masks, Honolulu rail tops $10B, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More than 8,000 out-of-state passengers fly into Hawaii on the first day they could test out of a travel quarantine. It was a solid first day for the reopening of Hawaii tourism with 8,000-plus passengers coming through local airports — still only a little more than a third of October 2019’s daily domestic air traffic. Star-Advertiser.

Opening Day For Hawaii Tourism: It’s Just The Beginning. Lt. Gov. Josh Green laid out several likely next steps as Hawaii reopened to travelers on Thursday with 8,000 arrivals expected. Civil Beat.

Thousands Arrive With Pre-Tests, Bypass Quarantine. Thirty trans-Pacific flights arrived in Hawaii yesterday on the first day of the state’s traveler testing program, carrying an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tourists return to Hawaii amid ever-changing pandemic rules. A new pre-travel testing program allowing visitors in Hawaii who test negative for COVID-19 to come to Hawaii and avoid the two weeks of mandatory quarantine — a measure that’s been in place for all arriving passengers for most of the year. Hawaii Island requires a second, on-arrival rapid antigen test to avoid the 14-day mandatory quarantine. Associated Press.

On first day of traveler testing program, some report issues and confusion over rules. Thousands of visitors and returning residents flew into the state Thursday, on the first day of the much-anticipated traveler testing program. Hawaii News Now.

Visitors face long lines, long wait times at airports on first day of pre-travel testing program. The first day kicked off for Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program, and thousands from the mainland took the opportunity to come to Hawaii. KHON2.

Safe Travels Hawai'i Program officially launches. Day One of state's pre-travel testing program. KITV4.

State to rely on voluntary, post-arrival tests to gauge safety of traveler testing program. Over the next couple days, the state’s first pre-tested travelers will get a notification on their Safe Travels Hawaii app asking if they’d like to volunteer to take a second COVID-19 test. Hawaii News Now.

Are You Wearing A Mask In Public? These Hawaii Researchers Want To Know. Hawaii is one of the first states to conduct a widespread study of how many people are wearing face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The highest rate of mask usage was observed on Oahu at 83%, followed by Hawaii Island at 76%, Maui at 71%, and Kauai at 62%. Civil Beat.

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New record set for Hawaii voter registrations. Following a record-setting primary election turnout, more than 832,000 people across the state already had registered to vote as of Thursday — and many likely already have voted through mail-in ballots for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election, which will decide Honolulu’s next mayor and the next U.S. president. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Hawaii Voters Embrace Biden For US President. They also say they are satisfied with voting by mail, especially in a time of coronavirus. Civil Beat.

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New State Laws Have Significant Effects on Employers. The rules have changed on nondisclosure agreements, criminal background checks and family leave, while financial penalties for violating some labor regulations have increased as much as 1,000%. Hawaii Business magazine.

Former UPW Officials Sue Union Over Ousters. Former Hawaii labor union officials ousted over allegations of financial abuse are suing their old union over claims their terminations were not properly handled. Civil Beat.

Courts And Prosecutors Are Keeping Jail Populations Lower During Pandemic. Efforts to divert arrestees to reduce jail populations and limit the spread of COVID-19 have made some headway. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 15: 91 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. The state identified 13 people with COVID-19 on the Big Island and two on Maui. Two Hawaii residents were diagnosed with the virus out of state. The remaining 74 cases were reported on Oahu, according to the Department of Health. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu mayoral candidates agree it’s time to reopen tourism, despite the risks. The next mayor of Honolulu will start the job just a few months after the relaunch of tourism thanks to a new traveler testing program. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu mayor wants to open mobile COVID-19 testing lab at airport. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he believes the city is ready to reopen tourism ― and hopes a new mobile lab at Honolulu’s airport will increase testing capacity. He says the lab could process up to 10,000 tests a day, delivering results in under three hours. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu on track to move to Tier 2 of reopening strategy. Oahu is on track to move into the next level of reopening the economy in one week with restrictions on gyms, personal services and other activities being lifted as long as coronavirus cases remain low. Star-Advertiser.

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Honolulu Rail Cost Now at $9.9 Billion But That Estimate Will Likely Grow. The contractor overseeing Honolulu rail for the federal government believes the new, local cost projections released this week showing an $832 million price increase are too low and likely to climb, according to project board members. Civil Beat.

Rail project cost estimate now jacked up above $10 billion. The projected cost of the city’s troubled East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail project has now moved above the $10 billion mark. Star-Advertiser.

The latest estimate for Honolulu’s embattled rail project: $10B. The cost for the city’s beleaguered rail project continues to soar ― and now stands at nearly $10 billion. Hawaii News Now.

Ko Olina to open all 4 lagoons to public. The Ko Olina resort, hit by overwhelming opposition to its plan to ban the public from several lagoon beaches, said today it was reversing direction and will open all four of its lagoons to the public with parking beginning Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Trans-Pacific Travelers Arrive at Kona Airport. The first trans-Pacific travelers participating in Hawai‘i’s pre-travel coronavirus testing program arrived at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole Thursday afternoon. Big Island Now.

Visitors To Kona Tested On Arrival As Tourists Return To Hawaiʻi. President and Founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, Dr. Scott Miscovich, MD, talks about the busy Thursday of passenger testing at Kona Airport. Big Island Video News.

Few hiccups at Hilo airport as trans-Pacific travelers return. The first day of post-flight testing at Hilo International Airport went by largely without incident as a trickle of trans-Pacific travelers returned to the Big Island on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 cases. Hawaii Island surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 cases Thursday with the addition of 13 new cases, bringing the island’s tally to 1005 since Feb. 28. West Hawaii Today.

Puakea Ranch expansion approved. A special permit to expand the uses of a historical ranch near Hawi was approved Thursday on a 6-0 vote by the Leeward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Victorino Declares ‘Rebirth of Our Visitor Industry’ with Launch of Safe Travels Program. At Kahului Airport, just before the Thursday morning arrival of United Airlines Flight 417 from Los Angeles, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino declared: “This is a new day for Maui County. It is a rebirth of our visitor industry.” Maui Now.

Milestone Reached in Hawai‘i’s Tourism Reboot, Leaders Monitor for Adjustments. The state’s Safe Travels Hawai‘i program officially launched on Thursday marking the start of pre-travel COVID-19 testing for trans-Pacific flights arriving in Hawaiʻi. Maui Now.

Many Maui travelers using state’s new pre-travel testing program. Most of the passengers aboard the first trans-Pacific flight to Kahului Airport since the state’s pre-travel testing program began took advantage of the option to bypass Hawaii’s two-week quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test. Maui News.

Protests Arise Over Burial Protections on West Maui Construction Site. Tensions are rising on Maui’s west end over construction that’s begun on known historic burial grounds in Kauaʻula Valley. Lineal descendants of the area have flocked to the site in recent days to halt the project until archeological work can be done to ensure ancestral remains are protected. Hawaii Public Radio.

Pukalani Skate Park social distancing. Signs requiring face masks and social distancing at the Pukalani Skate Park are not being followed earlier this month as groups of skaters gather closely with only a few in the park wearing masks. The facilities were shut down due to COVID-19 in March but reopened on June 1. Maui News.

Kauai

Meet the Candidates: Arryl Kaneshiro. Growing up on Kaua‘i, incumbent Kaua‘i County Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro said there was always a desire to live up to expectations. Garden Island.

Tracking the spread of ROD on Kaua‘i. Researchers at the University of Hawai‘i Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit have collaborated with multiple agencies to develop a management tracking system to keep crucial data organized as the Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death fungus continues to spread to parts of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

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.

Hawaii residents leaving state, Carnival cancels Hawaii cruises for the rest of 2020, BLM infiltrates Kauai Trump rally, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers market, with flowers ©2020 All Hawaii News

 Economists anticipate Hawaii’s shrinking population will decline further due to coronavirus. UH economists recently projected in a report that the state will see a net population loss of 19,000 over the next two years, which means an even bigger number of resident departures since that figure also takes into account the many people expected to move to Hawaii from other states and countries. Star-Advertiser.

With no job prospects on the horizon, some are moving to the mainland. A lack of job opportunities and no communication from the state’s unemployment office is driving some Hawaii residents to pack up their bags and move to the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Is Hawaii Learning To Live With The Coronavirus? Message fatigue has become a real concern as Hawaii officials gear up public service announcements reminding people they need to wear masks, wash their hands and stay away from each other. Civil Beat.

Carnival cancels most 2020 US cruises, including those to Hawaii. Carnival’s rival Norwegian Cruise Line said it’s holding out hope it’ll be able to restart operations in November — and isn’t shutting down all operations just yet. Hawaii News Now.

Public service campaign inspires the catchy ‘Our Kuleana’. The Our Kuleana campaign — which features well-known island figures donning face masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19 on TV and in print ads, as well as everyday folks taking up the challenge and posting photos of themselves masked up with the hashtag #ourkuleana — inspired Hilo musician Brandon Nakano. Tribune-Herald.

After Hawaii tourism reopens, will there be a flood or trickle of visitors? After seven months of tourism lockdowns, the state is finally ready to reopen the gates. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s arrival testing debate continues, decision expected this week. Several leaders and health officials are now sounding the alarm. They’re saying that more needs to be done or the state will see a surge in cases, and possibly another shut down by the end of the year. KHON2.

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Monday's The Deadline To Register Online To Vote And What Else To Know. There's a lot about 2020 that makes it a year to leave behind. But at least one important task remains: choosing the next president and filling a host of local offices, all with the power to impact our lives. Hawaii Public Radio.

Concerns remain about new Hawaii hemp law. Hawaii will adopt a federal industrial hemp production program at the end of this month, signalling the end of the state’s two-year-long Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. Tribune-Herald.

Navatek CEO Warned Workers Of ‘Draconian Consequences’ If They Slacked Off During Pandemic. Now, Martin Kao faces federal charges of bank fraud and money laundering for allegedly bilking the coronavirus relief program of $12.8 million. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 4: 70 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. Of the cases diagnosed on Sunday, two were in Maui County, 15 were on Hawaii island and 53 were on Oahu. Civil Beat.

State reports 3 additional COVID-19 fatalities, 70 new cases. The state is reporting three additional COVID-19 fatalities on Sunday, pushing the death toll from the virus in the islands to 156. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

2 candidates for Honolulu mayor have spent more than $3M on race so far. Despite the pandemic-depressed economy, the Honolulu mayor’s race is turning out to be a big spending contest. Combined, the two remaining candidates have spent more than $3 million through Sept. 30. Hawaii News Now.

Here’s How Honolulu’s Mayoral Candidates Differ — Or Not — On Police Reform. Both candidates are largely content with the department and the practices that are already in place. Neither would cut police funding. Civil Beat.

Tourism restart may delay Tier 2. Oahu’s reopening metrics are so restrictive that even the return of only a few thousand tourists, might be enough to upset the fragile balance and keep the county from further economic reopening. Star-Advertiser.

The beaches at Ko Olina are opened again. Why aren’t the public parking lots? Public access advocates say the Ko Olina Resort is using the pandemic as an excuse to restrict beach access. Hawaii News Now.

Affordable rentals for Hawaiians to rise in Moiliili. A 23-story apartment tower is slated to rise on the former Stadium Bowl-O-Drome site in Moiliili, providing affordable rentals for 277 Native Hawaiian households. Star-Advertiser.

UH-Manoa plans apartment towers with below-market rents. A few years from now, University of Hawaii students and faculty should have a very different option for living on the school’s flagship Manoa campus. Star-Advertiser.

State nears ownership of Doris Duke’s former boat basin. The state has tentatively agreed to accept the Doris Duke Foundation of Islamic Art’s offer of up to $1 million to underwrite the cost of dismantling a breakwater that protects a popular swimming cove at the late heiress’ former Black Point estate, but it’s unclear whether the controversial project will happen. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Finalists for mayor head down the home stretch. There’s a lot of agreement, but also major differences, between the two candidates running for Hawaii County’s top office. West Hawaii Today.

Fiber optic ring will improve internet speed, stability. Just when COVID-19 has turned many meetings virtual and a faster, more stable communications network is needed most, a project a decade in the making is about to reach completion. West Hawaii Today.

Papaikou Mill Beach Eminent Domain Back On Council Agenda. On Tuesday, a Hawaiʻi County Council committee will discuss a new resolution to authorize proceedings in eminent domain to provide public access to the beach at Pāpaʻikou. Big Island Video News.

‘Very concerning for everybody’: Hawaii Island posts largest single-day jump in new COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Health reported 43 of the new 133 statewide positive cases were on the Big Island in its Saturday noon report. West Hawaii Today.

26 infected in emerging COVID-19 outbreak at the University of the Nations Kona. The University of the Nations in Kailua-Kona is now up to 26 cases of COVID-19 after 16 cases were reported by the Department of Health on Oct. 3. KHON2.

Singing the blues: Musical gigs almost nonexistent for island musicians. Since COVID-19 changed life as we know it in March, entertainment has generally meant sitting in front of the TV at home or watching videos on a computer or mobile device. Tribune-Herald.

Parker Ranch Plans To Build “Cowboy Housing”. Parker Ranch decided to construct 10 to 12 new homes "based on compelling results generated by ranching operations over the last several years." Big Island Video News.

Parker Ranch to build new homes for working cowboys in 2021-22. Parker Ranch will build new housing for working cowboys in its Livestock Division over the next two years. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Community Budget Meetings for Fiscal Year 2022 Begin This Week. The first in a series of six community budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2022, hosted by Mayor Michael Victorino and his administration, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 6. Maui Now.

Hotels see slight uptick in demand. Government and industry leaders are seeing a slight uptick in hotel demand for Maui ahead of the state’s pre-travel testing program, an effort to revive the state’s visitor-reliant economy. Maui News.

Most schools still distance learning. When public school resumes after fall break, only three Maui County campuses are planning to immediately make changes to involve more face-to-face learning. Maui News.

Kauai

Mason Chock. While serving in the Kaua‘i Fire Department for 12 years as a firefighter, incumbent Kaua‘i County Councilmember Mason Chock, 49, was tested by a pivotal moment. Garden Island.

Pro-Trump rally infiltrated. Black Lives Matter counter-protesters — one dressed in Ku Klux Klan garb and another as a Boogaloo Boi wearing an aloha shirt and mask of President Donald Trump — infiltrated a pro-Trump rally in Kapa‘a Friday afternoon and briefly baffled several hundred people who drove by on Kuhio Highway. Garden Island.

More trees on Kauai afflicted with rapid ohia death disease. State officials have found nine more trees on Kauai afflicted with rapid ohia death, the fungal blight that has decimated hundreds of thousands of native ohia trees in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai

Molokai council candidates back for a Round 3. Stacy Crivello challenges Keani Rawlins-Fernandez for her old seat. Maui News.