64% say Hawaii is moving in right direction on COVID-19, lawmakers seek stricter quarantine monitoring, Kauai reopening its beaches, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige Facebook Live screenshot

Majority believes Hawaii is moving in right direction against COVID-19. 64% of Hawaii residents believe government is moving in the right direction in its handling of the coronavirus crisis, a statewide survey has found. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Officials suggest COVID-19 testing of air passengers prior to their arrival as condition to restarting tourism. Hawaii’s lieutenant governor and a member of its congressional delegation on Wednesday floated the idea of COVID-19 testing for any arriving air passenger prior to travel as a condition to reopen the tourism industry. Tribune-Herald.

Thermal sensors at airports, mass testing seen as key to safely reopening tourism. Thermal sensors, which have been used in a handful of airports around the world to detect travelers with fevers, are emerging as one of several new tools the state could use to reopen tourism. Hawaii News Now.

Congressman Calls For Testing Hawaii-Bound Travelers. U.S. Rep Ed Case is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend rules around pre-boarding requirements. Civil Beat.

Case Wants FAA to Allow Hawai‘i to Impose COVID-19 Testing as a Condition to Boarding Planes for Hawai‘i. Congressman Ed Case today called on the Federal Aviation Administration to confirm the State of Hawai‘i’s ability to impose and enforce COVID-19 prevention public health conditions on air travel to the islands. Maui Now.

Ed Case pushing FAA to allow stricter travel policies for flights to Hawai'i. Hawaii U.S. Representative Ed Case wrote a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration asking for help from the FAA to test people for COVID-19 before boarding a Hawaii-bound plane. KITV4.

Senators express concerns over enforcement of 14-day quarantine order for travelers. Officials are trying to tighten up the system at the airports. But state lawmakers still have concerns over the enforcement of the 14-day quarantine order for travelers and put those concerns in a letter. KHON2.

Senate Committee Asks Chief Justice to be Tougher on Quarantine Violators. The Hawai‘i State Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 doesn’t think the mandatory travel quarantine is being appropriately implemented. Big Island Now.

Some hotels concerned about quarantine enforcement. Some of the state’s hotels say they need more guidance about how to enforce a 14-day quarantine on travelers, including what to do if guests refuse to comply or how to participate if they still use physical keys instead of cards. Associated Press.

=====

Hawaii’s economy is reopening, but tourism remains on lockdown. Hawaii’s low COVID-19 infection and mortality rates have increased calls to start reopening the state’s economy — but support to restart tourism is still mixed. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu restaurant, Kauai resort lay off more than 180 employees. A restaurant chain in Honolulu and a Kauai hotel have recently laid off a combined 187 workers, according to Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act notices filed with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations this week. Pacific Business News.

This Federal Bailout Is Bringing A Lot More Money To Hawaii Than The Last One In 2008. The Great Recession’s federal stimulus program focused on building projects while CARES is putting more money directly into the pockets of residents and business owners. Civil Beat.

Hawaii to get $50M from federal government to fight COVID-19. The Department of Health said it plans to use part of the money to train about 300 contact tracers after being criticized for being slow to expand the public health workforce to deal with a surge in cases. Star-Advertiser.

State announces plans to bolster contact tracing, testing efforts as economy reopens. The governor announced plans Wednesday to ramp up contact tracing efforts in order to prepare for a possible increase in COVID-19 cases as the state’s economy reopens. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii To Get $50M For Ramped Up Contact Tracing, Funds For UH Tracers Training Sought. Hawaii is receiving $50 million in federal funding to ramp up contact tracing, Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz announced today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Islands to receive $50M in federal funding for Covid-19 contact tracing. The Aloha State will be receiving $53 million in new federal funding to bolster Covid-19 contract tracing and testing across the Islands, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Schatz urges state to quickly bolster contact tracing with $50M in federal funding. Hawaii will get $50 million in federal funding to dramatically expand its COVID-19 contact tracing and testing program. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai'i DOH and UH create contact tracing program. To help locate people who may be infected with the coronavirus the Department of Health and University of Hawaii joined forces to create a year-long $2.5 million contact tracing program. KITV4.

Reentry Support Key in Reducing Incarcerated Population. The transition from incarceration back into society has always been a challenge for Hawaiʻiʻs criminal justice system. Over the course of two months, the COVID-19 threat has moved hundreds of inmates back into the community – oftentimes with little to no support in navigating life outside jail or prison. Hawaii Public Radio.

State senator questions whether he had COVID-19. State Sen. Clarence Nishihara, whose positive COVID-19 test led to the March 19 shutdown of the state Capitol, said Wednesday his test may have been a false positive. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

How Honolulu Will Spend $487 Million In Federal Funds. With nearly half a billion dollars in federal aid, Honolulu plans to spend much of it assisting individuals and businesses, supporting first responders and working to prevent and reduce homelessness, city officials told council members on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

=====

Health officials work to contain cluster of COVID-19 cases in a Kalihi housing project. The state reported three new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, and officials confirm they’re linked to a cluster of patients at Kalihi Valley Homes. Hawaii News Now.

First COVID-19 Cases Reported In Hawaii Public Housing. Seven cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Hawaii public housing, Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson said at a press conference Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s 3 latest coronavirus cases came from cluster in Oahu family. One adult and two minors were infected as part of a cluster of seven cases in one extended family in public housing. Star-Advertiser.

=====

No food court dining or fitting rooms under new retail reopening rules. Food take-out, drug stores, and food markets have remained open at shopping centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but on Friday, the rest of the shops can resume business. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council advances luxury tax measure. A bill creating a structure for a luxury residence tax — with 99% of the targeted property situated in three West Hawaii council districts — easily passed its first hearing Wednesday before the County Council, with one more vote to go before heading to Mayor Harry Kim, who supports it. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Luxury Homeowners Could Be On The Hook For County Budget Shortfall. Fair or not, owners of high-end homes are being asked to fill a Hawaii County budget hole caused by the coronavirus. Civil Beat.

=====

ACLU confused by county’s defense for removal of Hilo homeless camp. The American Civil Liberties Union called Hawaii County’s defense of the April removal of a downtown Hilo homeless camp “confusing.” Tribune-Herald.

=====

Four Concepts In Volcanoes National Park Disaster Recovery Project. Public input is needed to review various concepts in a disaster recovery project following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse. Big Island Video News.

National park seeks input on four proposed designs. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the U.S. Geological Survey are seeking community feedback on a series of proposed recovery projects within the park. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Second Phase of Reopening Maui County Parks Begins Saturday, May 16. Mayor Michael Victorino announced the reopening of additional County parks and beach parks will take place on Saturday, May 16. The reopening of parks facilities includes select tennis and pickleball courts. Maui Now.

Maui nurses describe grueling battle in and outside the hospital. It has been a grueling battle on the front lines of Hawaii’s largest outbreak. It has been 12 days since Maui's main hospital admitted its last coronavirus patient. Hawaii News Now.

County proposes changes to zoning district. Short-term rentals would be removed but B&Bs allowed. The Maui Planning Commission recommended a bill Tuesday that would allow more than one accessory dwelling and remove short-term rentals in a rarely used zoning district. Maui News.

UH-MC to hold most fall classes online. Two-thirds online, one-third in person. University of Hawaii Maui College was ahead of the curve when it came to creating and releasing a fall class schedule that includes safety protocols for COVID-19. Maui News.

Maui retail store employee owed back wages after being denied leave to care for child during crisis. After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, it determined that Mana Foods violated the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act when it denied the employee leave. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kaua‘i beaches are reopening on Friday, according to a Wednesday announcement by Mayor Derek Kawakami, who has also announced an extension of the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers through June 30th. Garden Island.

Kauai plans to reopen beaches, while extending passenger quarantine. Kauai will reopen its beaches Friday as part of a two-week pilot program that allows people to use the beach under certain restrictions designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai beaches to reopen with restrictions under 2-week pilot program. Kauai beaches will reopen Friday as part of a two-week test involving a new set of restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kawakami Extends Mandatory Quarantine for Incoming Travelers to Kaua‘i Through End of June. Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami today announced that he has signed Emergency Rule 9, which extends the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers to the island of Kauaʻi through the month of June. Maui Now.

Nearly 500 cited for breaking COVID-19 rules. The Kaua‘i Police Department has issued 493 citations as of May 11 since March, according to a department spokesperson. Garden Island.

Mayor proposes $33.6 million CIP budget. The CIP budget, which the Kaua‘i County Council will discuss in a meeting Friday, is proposed at $33,642,237, down from $34,410,730, which was submitted in early March, before the county could gauge how long-standing the coronavirus pandemic would affect revenue streams. Garden Island.

Lawmakers reach tentative deal on budget patch, loopholes let visitors break quarantine, Honolulu bus driver attacked for requiring mask, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol ©2020 All Hawaii News

Legislative Deal In The Works Would Use Untapped Funds To Dodge Budget Cuts. A new financial plan taps into mostly unused funds while moving around money for affordable housing and Aloha Stadium. Civil Beat.

As the state legislature is set to reconvene on Monday, lawmakers have reached a tentative deal on a key bill allocating $862 million in state CARES Act money to the neighbor islands and for emergency services. What’s unusual about the measure is that it’s lawmakers ― and not Governor David Ige’s administration ― who are directing how the emergency money should be spent. Hawaii News Now.

Reconvened Legislative Session Seeks to “Plug $1 Billion Hole” in Budget. When the 2020 Legislative session reconvenes on Monday, May 11, the State Capitol will be secured and closed to the general public. Only lawmakers and essential staff will be given access to the building. Maui Now.

State House committee looks at when, how to reopen economy at Monday meeting. Lawmakers hear informational briefing on the economic impact of COVID-19 in Hawaii. KITV4.

How COVID-19 affects the Legislature's process, and the public's participation. Even though the public is not physically allowed into the building, there are many ways they can participate in the process and contribute to the outcome of proposed legislation. KITV4.

Push is on to fund programs to prevent Hawaii’s homelessness. With the state Legislature re-starting on Monday, nonprofit organizations and the state’s homeless coordinator are warning about a surge in newly homeless families and the need to continue funding social service programs even as the economy shrinks. Star-Advertiser.

=====

State’s 14-day quarantine has loopholes. A majority of the 460 visitors who flew to Oahu on Friday and Saturday said they would be staying with family or friends. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors find loopholes to break quarantine, residents frustrated. For the second weekend in a row North Shore beaches were packed with people. KHON2.

=====

Lack of clear plan to replace tourism leaves Hawaii’s economic future in doubt. The Hawaii economy needs a reset, and COVID-19 has provided the opportunity to do it. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii homeowners, including super rich, try to tap COVID-19 small business aid. Multiple Hawaii homeowner associations have applied and been approved for forgivable Payroll Protection Program loans despite not being eligible, according to a local Small Business Administration official. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Missed An Opportunity To Fix Its Benefits System Before COVID-19 Struck. A proposal following the Great Recession to build a single benefits portal for multiple agencies “died on the vine.” Many believe it would have helped alleviate the current crisis. Civil Beat.

Ige Balks At Proposal To Loan Money To Jobless In Limbo. Hawaii’s jobless can’t afford to go two months without income — and they can’t wait much longer for their claims to be approved, Sen. Laura Thielen said. Civil Beat.

=====

Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders Confront High Rates Of COVID-19 In Many States. In many Western states, as well as Arkansas which has a large Marshallese population, these communities have virus rates that far exceed their share of the population. Civil Beat.

A Hawaiian in New York warns islanders to stay on guard against COVID-19. In light of scientists’ warnings of a second COVID-19 wave, Honolulu expatriate Kiana Davenport, who has been confined alone in a rented New York City studio apartment since March 22, said she feels alarmed by the relaxed attitude she encounters when she calls to check on family back home. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Just 4 new COVID-19 cases total reported over the weekend. But even with the overall low daily case counts, authorities said while the flattened curve is a positive affirmation of strict precautions, residents shouldn’t grow complacent. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Reports 1 New COVID-19 Case Sunday. The Hawaii Department of Health reported one new COVID-19 case Sunday, on Oahu, bringing the state’s total for the pandemic to 632. Civil Beat.

Hawaii COVID-19 Updates for Sunday, May 10. One newly reported case of COVID-19 on Oʻahu brings the cumulative total cases statewide to 632, as Hawaiʻi island holds at 75 cases. Big Island Video News.

1 new COVID-19 case on Oahu brings the state total to 632. 1 new COVID-19 case on Oahu brings the state total to 632. KHON2.

DOH Reports 1 New Coronavirus Case Overnight. Hawai‘i Department of Health officials reported one new case of coronavirus overnight, raising the statewide total to 632. Big Island Now.

1 New Case Sunday on O‘ahu: Hawai‘i Coronavirus Total Now 632. As of noon on Sunday, May 10, 2020, there are 632 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with one new case in the state on the island of Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Department of Health removes Hawaii COVID-19 deaths from ‘released from isolation’ category. After including Hawaii’s COVID-19-related deaths in its “released from isolation” category for months, the Hawaii Department of Health has decided to remove them. Star-Advertiser.


Oahu

No face mask, no ride: Man arrested for striking bus driver, door with crutch.  man has been arrested in Honolulu after allegedly hitting a city bus driver with a crutch, and damaging the door — all because he refused to keep on a face mask. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu bus driver attacked after confronting rider without mask, police say. Honolulu police arrested a 63-year-old man after he allegedly attacked a city bus driver who instructed him to keep his mask on to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

4 cited for hiking the closed Sacred Falls trail on anniversary of 1999 tragedy. Three people were let off the hook while trying to hike Sacred Falls — but four others weren’t so lucky. Two Honolulu residents and two residents of Brazil and Argentina got citations from DLNR enforcement officers Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Condoms, other personal items found in Waikiki massage parlor raid. Prosecutors raided a local massage parlor on Kalakaua Avenue as part of a crack down on the sex trafficking trade in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Special council meeting to hear bill to create luxury home class. A new tax classification for properties assessed at more than $2 million will be the subject of a special County Council meeting this week — and for the first time since the COVID-19 restrictions began, the public will be able to testify in person. West Hawaii Today.

Jail population plummets: HTH sought list of inmates released to due pandemic — but there isn’t one, officials say. The state Department of Public Safety and Hawaii Judiciary have been reducing the population in the state’s jails and prisons because of a Supreme Court order for them to do so in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

Maunakea observatories prepare to reopen. Maunakea Observatories are gradually resuming activities after being given the go-ahead to reopen last week. Tribune-Herald.

On a roll: Roberts takes over Hele-On contract. The first new buses in five years and a new contractor had the Hele-On bus system on track for a better year. Until COVID-19 hit. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

New managing director charter proposal set for November ballot. County Council OKs putting governance change to voters. Maui News.

Maui Council Has Figured Out How To Do Virtual Meetings Right. Unlike the other two county councils and the Honolulu City Council, Maui still allows live, public participation despite the pandemic. Civil Beat.

Methods behind contact tracing revealed. Maui health officials have digital resource as backup but prefer the human touch. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor tightens budget belt. On Friday, Mayor Derek Kawakami submitted a supplemental budget that showed a $10 million reduction in the proposed operating budget, to stand at $250,777,323, and a $22,642,237 capital improvement projects budget. Garden Island.

Making a comeback. The waters in ‘Anini Bay are starting to clear after heavy rains in April clouded much of the bay with light sediment. Garden Island.