Hawaii officials and party leaders condemn Capitol violence, state DOE warns 1,300 teachers could be cut, vaccination hubs open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump supporters rally at Hawaii Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 PC:Hawaii News Now

Trump supporters, detractors gather in Hawaii; most condemn pro-Trump mob in DC. About 200 supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrated at Hawaii’s Capitol building on Wednesday, but they kept their demonstration peaceful and most rejected the acts of mob violence by Trump supporters who swarmed on Congress. Hawaii News Now.

Ige Blames President Trump For Violence At US Capitol. Peaceful protesters gathered outside the Hawaii Capitol to support the president and object to the pandemic response. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige Issues Statement Amid News of Protestors Storming of the US Capitol. Maui Now.

Governor Ige releases statement in response to ongoing situation at U.S. Capitol. KITV4.

Our DC Reporter Had A Close-Up View Of The Mob Taking Over The Capitol. Nick Grube was on his way to the Electoral College ceremony when events of the day overtook him. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers condemn uprising. The unprecedented assault on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday by a mob of angry Donald Trump supporters drew incredulity and condemnation of the president’s inflammatory run-up to the violence that saw one woman shot and killed, a lockdown and a police standoff with protesters in the normally august U.S. House of Representatives. Star-Advertiser.

Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation recount a terrifying day in DC. Some of Hawaii’s congressional members were hunkered down inside their offices when rioters breached the US Capitol building on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii delegation reacts to storming of US Capitol. Lawmakers were forced to evacuate as they worked to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i Delegation Safe as Violence Erupts in Capitol. “This is a sad day in America’s history,” Hawai‘i Governor David Ige told local reporters after calling an unscheduled press conference Wednesday afternoon. Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i lawmakers respond to Capitol riot. Gov. David Ige called the protests to undermine the presidential election an assault on democracy and everything this country stands for. Garden Island.

Hawaii Republican, Democratic parties issue joint statement calling for calm. The chairs of the Hawaii Republican and Democratic parties issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the violent mob that stormed the US Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii political party leaders set differences aside, condemn violence at US Capitol. Republican and Democratic leaders in Hawaii put their political differences aside and condemned the violence in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Jan. 6. KHON2.

Hawai'i Republican Party and Democratic Party of Hawaii release joint statement on ongoing situation at U.S. Capitol. KITV4.

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House Speaker Scott Saiki to push uniform travel rules. House Speaker Scott Saiki plans to introduce legislation that would create statewide, uniform COVID-19 travel rules to reduce confusion for both residents and tourists. Star-Advertiser.

State Finance Director Says Carbon And Sugar Taxes May Be Among Increases. Craig Hirai stressed that nothing is settled but dropped some hints about possible tax increases in a House Finance Committee hearing. Civil Beat.

‘In crisis’: Superintendent says 1,300 teaching positions could be cut by end of year. The state Department of Education is expecting a budget cut of $400 million and officials warn that could mean 1,300 teaching positions could be cut. Hawaii News Now.

Department of Education reports a plan is in the works to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to 44,000+ employees. Educators and childcare employees are listed on Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. KHON2.

Hawaiian Affairs Committee Lacks Native Hawaiian Legislators. Gambling on Hawaiian Home Lands, greater burial protections, and OHA election reform are just some of the top Native Hawaiian issues up for debate among state lawmakers this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

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AlohaSafe app aims to slow COVID-19 as deaths increase. The state Health Department officially launched its new AlohaSafe Alert app, along with a new media campaign targeting Hawaii’s youth on Wednesday as the daily COVID-19 case count and death toll continued to rise. Star-Advertiser.

State launches AlohaSafe Alert app. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health in partnership with aio Digital and the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative have launched AlohaSafe Alert, an exposure notification app to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Garden Island.

A new app could warn you if you’ve been possibly exposed to COVID-19. The AlohaSafe Alert, which is now available in Maui, Honolulu, Hawaii and Kauai counties, anonymously tracks signals in relation to other devices with the application. Hawaii News Now.

Catholic Charities Hawai'i to provide additional rent relief through state assistance program. Catholic Charities Hawaii and the State of Hawaii announced on Wednesday the launch of a new rent relief program that will begin accepting applications next week. KITV4.

New Rent Relief Program Announced. Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and the State of Hawai‘i announced Wednesday the launch of a new rent relief program that will begin accepting applications next week. Big Island Now.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian to suspend air service between Honolulu and both Molokai and Lanai. Hawaiian Airlines said today it will discontinue ‘Ohana by Hawaiian passenger service between Honolulu and both Molokai and Lanai next week. This move will suspend all operations by the interisland carrier. Star-Advertiser.

Vaccination Hubs Open for Healthcare Workers. As a way to continue to rapidly administer COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers, the Hawai‘i Department of Health and the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i are working with hospitals in each county to ensure independent healthcare providers and their staff can obtain the first dosage of their vaccine this month. Big Island Now.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Jan. 6: 143 New COVID-19 Cases And 10 Deaths. Health officials reported 10 deaths and 143 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Wednesday, including 85 on Oahu, 29 on Maui, eight on the Big Island, three on Kauai, one on Molokai and 17 residents diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Council Chair Announces Committee Assignments. Councilmen Calvin Say and Brandon Elefante will be in powerful roles. Civil Beat.

Queen’s Medical Center reports cluster of 39 COVID-19 cases. The Queen’s Medical Center reported today a cluster of 39 COVID-19 cases at its main Punchbowl location. Star-Advertiser.

The Queen’s Medical Center found 27 caregivers, 12 patients positive with COVID-19. Dozens of staff and patients have tested positive for COVID-19 at The Queen’s Medical Center at Punchbowl. KHON2.

HPD: ‘We can only do so much’ when it comes to stopping aerial fireworks. The Honolulu Police Department says they received about 2,000 calls regarding illegal aerial fireworks in the days leading to New Year’s Eve. But out of those calls, just 45 citations were issued, and there was just one arrest. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu housing market ends 2020 with a bang. Oahu’s housing market made a huge recovery in December with a sales spike that followed several months of hefty declines earlier last year after coronavirus impacts began in March. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

UH responds to review of Maunakea management. A statement from the university concluded with a promise to use the results of the assessment to continue to improve its stewardship of the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

Life Care Center begins COVID vaccinations. Life Care Center of Hilo on Wednesday began vaccinating residents and employees against COVID-19. Tribune-Herald.

Activists clear tents at Wailoa, leave garden. Activists occupying a portion of Wailoa River State Recreation Area in Hilo were expecting state Department of Land and Natural Resource enforcement officers at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Resurrected Kanaka Garden Ordered To Stop. The Kanaka Garden has returned to Wailoa River State Recreation Area, and state law enforcement is already ordering those involved to cease and desist. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Some residents plea for Maui County COVID-19 task force, but Mayor Victorino not interested. 30 new cases of COVID-19 in Maui County reported Wednesday are part of an 81% rise in cases since December 22nd. The outbreak sparked some residents to hold a protest outside of Mayor Mike Victorino’s press conference Wednesday calling on him to accept more help in the form of a COVID-19 task force. KHON2.

Maui health officials focus on two large clusters of COVID cases. One cluster is at Maui Memorial Medical Center where officials said there were 14 positive patients on Thursday. The other cluster at Harbor Lights in Kahului has ballooned to 75 cases, according to county officials. Hawaii News Now.

Harbor Lights Cluster Rises to 75; Mayor Calls for Peace Amid Challenging Times. There are now 75 confirmed cases of COVID-19 tied to the Harbor Lights cluster in Kahului, Maui, with more testing slated to get underway today. Maui Now.

Local restaurants and bars adapt to further county restrictions. Local bar and restaurant owners say the ever-changing rules and new restrictions placed on their businesses are growing more difficult, with one owner saying it’s definitely killing us. Maui News.

Kauai

Rise to Work provides nearly 300 jobs. In a Monday video, the County of Kaua‘i Kupa‘a Kaua‘i program announced 280 displayed workers on Kaua‘i were hired by 100 local employers into the Rise to Work program. Garden Island.

Monk Seal Killings On Kauai Highlight Human Threat To Endangered Species. A new study found that human activity was to blame for more than half of all known seal deaths in the islands over the past quarter century. Civil Beat.

Hawaii governor holds fast on travel testing requirements, surfing contests canceled, only 500,000 COVID vaccinations expected through May, Maui beach closed after naked, mask-less parties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach fun ©2021 All Hawaii News

Ige has no plans to ease testing rules for visitors, despite calls to do so from tourism industry. With Hawaii’s visitor industry slow to rebound, tourism and business leaders are asking the state to modify its pre-travel testing program to make it easier for visitors to come. The response from the governor so far: That’s not going to happen. Hotel industry officials said the recent surge of the virus on the mainland has made it difficult for many travelers to get tested. Hawaii News Now.

State has no plans to change the Safe Travels Program until the CDC releases further guidance. Right now the state has no plans to change the Safe Travels Program at least not until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases new guidelines for travelers who have been vaccinated. KITV4.

The Continuing Clout Of Hawaii’s Public Worker Unions. Pushing back against Gov. David Ige’s threatened furloughs, government worker unions showed they still have ample political influence despite a 2018 Supreme Court decision some said would weaken the organizations. Civil Beat.

Citing concerns about crowds, state suspends surf contests in Hawaii until further notice. Citing health and safety concerns caused by the pandemic, the state pulled the plug on all surf contests Tuesday until further notice. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii facing largest recession in history. Hawaii's state economist believes it will be years before the negative financial effects of the pandemic disappear, even though conditions are expected to dramatically improve later this year. KITV4.

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Hawaii seniors, front-line workers next in line for COVID-19 vaccine shots. Hawaii has administered roughly a third of the nearly 83,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses the state has received so far. Star-Advertiser.

State Details List Of Who’s Next In Line For COVID-19 Vaccine. State officials said Tuesday they’re starting to offer COVID-19 vaccines to people older than 75 and a long list of essential workers, including child care workers, teachers and first responders as part of a newly refined Phase 1b. Civil Beat.

State to expand eligibility for COVID vaccine to those 75 and up, more essential workers. The state is preparing to launch a significant new phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, opening up eligibility to those 75 and older along with a host of essential workers ― from teachers to those who work on utilities to corrections officers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii begins second round of vaccinations for healthcare workers. It has been 21 days since the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Hawaii and hospitals on Oahu are beginning to administer the second dose to healthcare workers to build-up protection against the virus. KHON2.

The state describes next phase of Hawaii's COVID-19 vaccination plan. Governor David Ige on Tuesday said more people in the state need to get vaccinated. KITV4.

Rollout of COVID vaccine for general population eyed for May. State officials hope to administer more than 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine throughout Hawaii by the end of May. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i Vaccine Program Soon Available to Expanded Groups. High-ranking government and health officials convened in Honolulu Tuesday to detail the plan as it is outlined over the next several weeks, making two primary requests of the public during that time. Big Island Now.

Vaccination Update: Details on Rollout Outlined. Governor David Ige provided an update today on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts saying healthcare workers, residents and staff at nursing homes are currently getting vaccinated. Maui Now.

Air Force C-17 delivers vaccinations to National Guard troops. Hundreds of Hawaii National Guard personnel with the joint task force responding to COVID-19 are getting vaccinated, with some on neighbor islands receiving the Pfizer vaccine Tuesday from the back of a C-17 cargo aircraft during a brief stop. Star-Advertiser.

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As teachers look ahead to vaccinations, thousands of students return to classrooms. In-person learning resumed Tuesday for many schools across the state. The state Department of Education said the maximum capacity is 50% at one time on campus, but many schools put a cap even lower. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii will need to pay $59 million in interest to cover unemployment. Hawaii continues to borrow from the U.S. Treasury Department to cover island unemployment claims but has not figured out how to cover $59.8 million in interest payments that will come due. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed State Budget Would Cut 30% From Sex Abuse Treatment Funding. Lawmakers were briefed Tuesday on some ugly proposed state budget reductions, including a plan to cut $1.4 million from treatment services to sexual assault victims over the next two years, and another that would “eviscerate” state enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. Civil Beat.

Unidentified GIs who died in Philippines returned to Hawaii. The remains of some U.S. military personnel who died during World War II and were buried anonymously in the Philippines have been returned to Hawaii to try to determine their identities. Star-Advertiser.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Jan. 5: 124 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 124 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Tuesday, including 74 on Oahu, 21 on Maui, 12 on the Big Island, one on Kauai, and 16 state residents diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell’s Top Aide Lands City Council Gig To Cash In On Retirement Benefits. The six-month job will set up former city Managing Director Roy Amemiya for benefits he can access for the rest of his life. Civil Beat.

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Kapiolani Medical Center nurses to take strike vote. Nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women &Children said they will take a strike authorization vote beginning Thursday after nearly five months of trying to negotiate a new contract with the hospital. Star-Advertiser.

Kapiolani Medical Center nurses faced with decision on whether or not to strike. Nurses will vote Thursday on whether or not they will strike in the middle of a pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

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Natalie Iwasa Joins The HART Board. The government-spending watchdog and frequent rail critic known as “Bike Mom” will lend an independent voice, the House Speaker said. Civil Beat.

City and County of Honolulu participates in 2020 National Community Survey. This year’s survey includes questions about the quality of life, city services, policies and management of the City and County of Honolulu, as well as opinions on issues pertinent to O'ahu residents. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Council confirmations: Rodenhurst squeaks through first step; Kern postponed. Mayor Mitch Roth’s pick for Public Works director squeaked through a sometimes tense confirmation hearing Tuesday after more than two hours of grilling by a split County Council panel. West Hawaii Today.

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State: ‘Kanaka garden’ at Wailoa park must be removed by 5 p.m. today. The state set a 5 p.m. deadline today for activists who have taken over a portion of Wailoa River Recreation Area in Hilo and planted a “kanaka garden” — as was done in 2012 and 2013 — to remove the plantings and other items or have them hauled away by Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officers. Tribune-Herald.

State, Hawaiian Sovereignty Activists Square Off at Wailoa State Park. A showdown is brewing between a group of Hawaiian sovereignty activists and the state of Hawai‘i at the Wailoa River State Recreation Area. Big Island Now.

DLNR orders activists occupying Hilo’s Wailoa River State Park to clear out. A group of activist claiming jurisdiction of a portion of land within Hilo’s Wailoa River State Park have been ordered by the DLNR to vacate the area.  Hawaii News Now.

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No decisions yet about how UH-Hilo will address governor’s proposed $5.7M budget cut. While some short-term cost-saving measures have already been implemented, University of Hawaii at Hilo administrators say no decisions have been made about how the campus will address a $5.7 million budget cut proposed by Gov. David Ige. Tribune-Herald.

University of Hawaii vog forecast program reports on latest Kilauea eruption. If you’re wondering whether vog from Kilauea Volcano will be headed to your neighborhood in the next couple of days, or you want real-time air quality on Hawaii island, then the Vog Measurement and Prediction Project can help. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

State shuts down Little Beach over big, maskless parties. After social media posts showing 400 people without masks partying Sunday at Little Beach in Makena, the state decided to shut down the area, known for drum circles, nudity, illegal alcohol and other illicit substances. Maui News.

Pu‘u Ola‘i “Little Beach” at Mākena State Park to Close Temporarily. State officials are implementing an immediate closure of Puʻu Olaʻi “Little Beach,” at Mākena State Park on Maui following reports on Sunday of beach parties with drum circles, nudity, illegal alcohol and other illicit substances, coupled with hundreds of mask-less people in close contact with one another. Maui Now.

State officials shut down Puu Olai Beach, also known as Little Beach, at Makena State Park due to large crowds with maskless dancers, blatant nudity. Officials said that social media posts from last Sunday show an estimated 400 people on the beach, dancing and participating in drum circles without masks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Closes Beach On Maui After Large Mask-Less Parties. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said the parties at Puu Olai beach included nude people dancing in drum circles. Civil Beat.

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Mayor’s office employee has COVID-19, county says. The employee is asymptomatic and last worked in the Kalana O Maui county building Thursday. Maui News.

Maui mayor not exposed to COVID-19 after employee in his office tests positive. An employee in the Maui mayor’s office has tested positive for COVID-19, but officials said Tuesday the mayor was not exposed. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County staff member tests positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. One of Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino's staff members tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. KITV4.

Kauai

Kawakami shares 2021 goals, pandemic thoughts. Mayor Derek Kawakami sat down with The Garden Island to discuss reopening, economic recovery, and 2021 goals for his administration. Garden Island.

Marriott changing ownership, 457 laid off. Essex House Condominium Corporation, which operates as the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort &Beach Club, will cease operations in March. Garden Island.

New produce program launched. A Kaua‘i nonprofit, The MonkeyPod, launched their Kauai CSA (community-supported agriculture) Initiative box pick-up location in the middle of last month, at The Local Beet in Koloa. Garden Island.

Tax hikes loom as state awaits Georgia election outcome, Los Angeles travel ban could hurt Hawaii tourism, COVID vaccinations lag, activists take over Hilo park near Kamehameha statue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State Budget and Finance Director Craig Hirai, (l) and Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz discuss state budget Jan. 4, 2021. PC:Senate You Tube channel

Higher state taxes under consideration. Gov. David Ige’s administration is considering unspecified tax increases and “revenue enhancements” to help plug a projected $1.4 billion shortfall, members of the state Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means were told Monday. Star-Advertiser.

State Budget Director: It’s Too Soon To Tell If Tax Increases Are Coming. It is 16 days before the Legislature opens, but Gov. David Ige is still mulling the options. Civil Beat.

Georgia’s run-offs could play a role in the decision to raise Hawaii’s taxes (or not). Senate run-offs in Georgia happening Tuesday could impact Hawaii’s financial situation. The state finance director said the run-offs could result in local lawmakers either raising taxes or not. The logic being: If the democrats win and control the U.S. Senate, it’s more likely that federal funds will head to the state, thus allowing leaders to balance the budget. Hawaii News Now.

Los Angeles County hospitalization surge, travel quarantine could impact Hawaii’s tourism. Los Angeles County is implementing new travel restrictions — including not allowing tourism into L.A. and requiring residents to quarantine for 10 days if arriving from outside of Southern California. As Hawaii’s biggest domestic visitor market, the new restrictions have an impact on the recovering economy. KHON2.

The latest federal relief package will allow some struggling Hawaii businesses, including Hawaiian Airlines, to return some involuntarily laid-off or furloughed workers to their jobs. Sherry Menor-McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, said in addition to providing the Payroll Support Program to airlines, which are a critical component of Hawaii’s economy, the most recent federal stimulus package also provides additional payroll protection program funds. Star-Advertiser.

Economic forecast: Visitor numbers could hit 6M this year. State economists believe travel to the state could nearly return to 2019 levels by the end of this year, but a complete recovery will take more than three years. Tribune-Herald.

DHHL: Oahu casino would add $30M to coffers. DHHL Deputy Chair Tyler Gomes said in a Honolulu Star-Advertiser Facebook Live stream the integrated resort and casino would add a “conservative estimate” of $30 million a year to the coffers of the department, which has a lengthy list of Native Hawaiians waiting for homesteads on about 203,000 acres of DHHL land statewide. Tribune-Herald.

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Lt. Governor Josh Green Wants More Resources Dedicated to Vaccination Effort. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green said as of Tuesday morning, the state will have received 91,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines. KITV4.

Late deliveries, holiday season behind slow speed of state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout. Health officials blame the delay on two factors. First, not all of the expected doses of the vaccine arrived on time ― the state was expecting 81,000 doses in December, but only got about 60,000. And second, the holiday season also presented a challenge, limiting the number of immunization clinics that the state was able to utilize. Hawaii News Now.

Vaccination efforts to ramp up following the holidays in Hawaii. The state expects to receive 17,675 doses on Monday and Tuesday. The Health Department says as of Thursday about 25,000 people have been vaccinated. KHON2.

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State Sent Out Hundreds Of Ineffective Masks In Pandemic Chaos. The masks with valves were removed from the inventory of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency but somehow got back in. Civil Beat.

People are motivated to wear a mask when others wear one, study finds. The study found the motivation for wearing a mask is a combination of whether others around you are wearing one and whether others think you should be wearing one. Jack Barile, interim director of the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Social Sciences, was lead author of the study examining the motivators behind an individual’s choice to wear or not wear a face covering in public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Restaurant Card gave a nice boost, but $5M never spent. The Hawaii Restaurant Card Program gave a significant boost to the local economy but the state says $5 million went unused. KHON2.

Will Hawaii Legislature Reverse Ige’s Suspension Of The Public Records Law? The governor’s order has been in effect since March, but it’s unclear if lawmakers will do anything about it next session despite their opposition to it. Civil Beat.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Jan. 4: 89 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 89 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Monday, including 62 on Oahu, nine on Maui, four on the Big Island, and 14 Hawaii residents diagnosed out of state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Legislators aim to fix flaw in New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District bill. Legislators say they plan to introduce a new measure this month to repair a flaw in earlier legislation that has slowed the progress of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.

Judge dismisses obstruction case against Kealoha conspiracy victim. Ransen Taito became entangled in the conspiracy involving former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha when he was just 11 years old. After Taito and his sister were awarded nearly $84,000 as part of a medical malpractice settlement, Kealoha was appointed by the state to oversee trust accounts that were established for both of them. Hawaii News Now.

Commissioning event eyed for USS Daniel Inouye. The long-delayed guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye is tentatively scheduled to be commissioned at Pearl Harbor in the fall with a big pier-side ceremony attended by thousands — if COVID-19 is under control. Star-Advertiser.

Matson to welcome new vessel to Honolulu. A bigger and faster Matsonia cargo ship is due to arrive in Honolulu Harbor this morning on its maiden commercial voyage for Hawaii’s largest ocean cargo transportation firm, Matson Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Activists occupy part of Wailoa state park. A group claiming the authority of the Hawaiian Kingdom has again set up camp in Hilo’s Wailoa State Recreation Area and planted taro and fruit trees it describes as a “kanaka garden” on the lawn near the statue of Kamehameha the Great. Tribune-Herald.

$77M in bonds will cover old debts, finance new projects. The county has sold $77.1 million in general obligation bonds to retire old debt and free up money to pay for new capital projects, Finance Director Deanna Sako said in a report to the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

New management in place at veterans home. On Jan. 1, the governing board and leadership of Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawaii Region assumed management of the Hilo veterans home from Avalon Health Care, which had managed the HHSC facility since it opened in 2007. Tribune-Herald.

Lawsuit: DOE Failed To Help Hilo Student Who Was Harassed And Bullied. The federal lawsuit is directed against the Hawaii department and board of education for failing to intervene and stop the nearly yearlong bullying. Civil Beat.

Maui

Lee to lead council with public health and budget as priorities. Public health and safety, balancing the county budget and creating a county Department of Agriculture are some of the top issues the new Maui County Council will tackle this year, its leader said Sunday. Maui News.

Maui County on verge of return to ‘safer at home’ order, mayor says. Maui County is seeing a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, according to officials. More than two dozen cases were reported on both Thursday and Friday, with nearly 50 more cases on Saturday and 30 more on Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Harbor Lights COVID-19 Cluster Rises to 68. The COVID-19 case count at the Harbor Lights condominium complex in Kahului has risen to 68 confirmed, according to an update provided by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino. Maui Now.

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Maui parents blindsided after distance learning is extended an extra month. Students in the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui complex were set to return to some form of in-person learning on Tuesday, but instead will have to learn from home until at least Feb. 1 after the Complex-Area Superintendent Kathleen Dimino sent a letter home to families Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

Surging COVID-19 Cases Trigger Last-Minute Delay To Start Blended Learning at Most Maui Public Schools. Just one day before the 20 public schools of the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui complex area were set to reopen after the winter break, a letter was sent to staff, parents and guardians stating the scheduled shift to blended learning would be delayed until Feb. 1. Maui Now.

Public schools to resume this week. As Maui County public school students head back to class this week to begin the second semester, many will be entering blended learning schedules where students will receive both in-person learning as well as virtual learning. Maui News.

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Hale Pilina Family Affordable Rental Housing Project Proposed for Development Next to Kahului Post Office on Maui. A Draft Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact was published for the Hale Pilina Family Affordable Rental Housing project in Kahului, Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Kawakami says COVID-19 infections were limited on Kaua'i, many small businesses able to stay open. Kaua'i is currently in the least restrictive Tier Four of its recovery plan with a seven-day average one case per day, and a positivity rate of just 1%. KITV4.

Inter-island travel returns, new resort bubble program starts. Tuesday marks the county’s return to kama‘aina travel and starts renewed options for those staying at a resort bubble property. Garden Island.

Kaua'i hotels see uptick in reservations ahead of changes to travel rules. Gary Moore, manager of Timbers Kaua'i Ocean Club & Residences, said things are looking up--bookings rose 15 percent since Gov. David Ige approved new "resort bubble" regulations last week. KITV4.

Kaua‘i students go back to school. Thousands of public school students return to the classrooms following the Winter Break, and the Teacher Workday, Monday. Garden Island.

COVID cases rise; weekend ceremonies bring in new congressman, Honolulu mayor, council members; Mauna Kea management plan critiqued, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele displays Hilo painting in his congressional office PC:Kahele Facebook page

Kai Kahele sworn in as U.S. representative, becomes the 2nd Native Hawaiian to serve in Congress. Kahele said that for his swearing-in ceremony, he used the Bible of the first Native Hawaiian congressman, the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka. Star-Advertiser.

Kahele becomes second Native Hawaiian sworn into U.S. Congress.  U.S. Congressman Kaiali'i Kahele (HI-02) was sworn in Sunday as a Member of the 117th Congress to become Hawai'i’s newest elected official in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kahele is Hawai'i’s first member of Congress from the Island of Hawai'i. KITV4.

Hawaii delegates sworn in for 117th Congress. U.S. Congressman Kaialii Kahele was sworn in on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 as a member of the 117th Congress. KHON2.

Hawai‘i’s Ed Case and Kai Kahele Sworn in to 117th Congress. US Congressman Ed Case (D-HI/First District) and Kai Kahele on Sunday joined colleagues in the United States House of Representatives in taking their oath of office to serve in the 117th Congress (2021-2023).  Maui Now.

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COVID infection rate on the rise. Hawaii’s rising infection rate now has it listed as the fourth-worst state for spread after Maine, Iowa and New York. Star-Advertiser.

Report shows coronavirus pandemic increases the need for doctors in Hawaii. The Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment Project Report for 2020 shows that out of 989 doctors offices interviewed about 44% said that the coronavirus pandemic altered the way they do things including more telehealth, early retirement and seeing fewer patients. KHON2.

Hawaii’s ‘Complicated’ COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Will Be Slow To Start. The state received a total of 65,250 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in 2020, down from the 81,825 doses it expected to get. The rest of the vaccine doses will arrive on a delayed schedule sometime after Jan. 1. Civil Beat.

While COVID cases are on the rise, the flu isn’t surging in Hawaii. Cold and flu season normally runs from November to May. And the state Department of Health reports that so far, there have been only five confirmed cases of influenza-A in Hawaii and no flu-related deaths. Hawaii News Now.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Jan. 3: 149 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 149 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Sunday, including 88 on Oahu, 30 in Maui County, two on the Big Island, two on Kauai and 27 residents who were diagnosed out of the state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and five newly elected City Council members are sworn in. The page was turned to a new chapter at Honolulu Hale on Saturday when veteran businessman Rick Blangiardi was sworn in as mayor and five Honolulu City Council members took their seats for the first time. Star-Advertiser.

New Honolulu Mayor Warns Road Ahead ‘Is Not Going To Be Easy’. Rick Blangiardi was sworn in Saturday as the chief executive officer of the City and County of Honolulu. Civil Beat.

After taking oath of office as mayor, Blangiardi warns road ahead won’t be easy. Hawaii News Now.

New year, new mayor: Blangiardi inducted into Honolulu's highest office. During his induction ceremony on Saturday, former television executive and first-time politician Rick Blangiardi said he is committed to leading with integrity. KITV4.

5 new Honolulu Council members take office; Tommy Waters elected chairman. Five new members of the Honolulu City Council took their oaths of office today, signaling a new era at Honolulu Hale where new Mayor Rick Blangiardi was also scheduled to take his office a short time later. Star-Advertiser.

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Steve Alm looks to restore trust as Honolulu’s top prosecutor. Retired U.S. Attorney and Circuit Court Judge Steve Alm was sworn in as Honolulu prosecuting attorney on Saturday, along with dozens of deputy prosecutors who were already working in the city’s Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Star-Advertiser.

Steve Alm sworn in as Honolulu prosecutor. Steve Alm began his tenure as Honolulu’s new prosecuting attorney after being sworn in at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. KHON2.

Steve Alm sworn in as Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney. Honolulu's new prosecutor Steve Alm was sworn in on Saturday in a scaled down ceremony at the Blaisdell Center. KITV4.

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Former radio, TV reporter Garett H. Kamemoto was a leader in the community. Kamemoto, 54, died Dec. 6 at Pali Momi Medical Center after a brief illness. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

9 Roth appointees face council confirmation. Nine appointees to Mayor Mitch Roth’s Cabinet are scheduled to appear Tuesday before County Council committees, the first step in the approval process before council confirmation. West Hawaii Today.

Council panel in search of an auditor. The county has been without its legislative auditor for two months following Bonnie Nims’ resignation, and the County Council has launched a search for a new one. West Hawaii Today.

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DLNR Completes Review Of UH Maunakea CMP Implementation. The State DLNR says while the university has made progress, it has failed to implement the CMP in major process areas. Big Island Video News.

DLNR review of Maunakea management cites successes, failures. An independent assessment of the University of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan found success in some areas and failure in others. Tribune-Herald.

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Public works: Fissure 8 road doesn’t need permit. A newly graded road up the side of Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates is not in violation of any permit requirements, a county agency has determined. Tribune-Herald.

Pohoiki boat ramp unlikely to reopen until fall. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will attempt to expedite the reopening of Pohoiki boat ramp later this month, but the landlocked structure likely will remain unusable until at least the fall. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Alice Lee elected chair of Maui County Council. Also back as vice chairwoman is Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and member Tasha Kama remains as presiding officer pro tempore. Both members were in the same positions last term. Maui News.

Maui Council Approves Leadership and Committees for New 2021-2023 Term. Maui Council leadership remains unchanged as members voted on Saturday to keep the council chair, vice chair and presiding officer pro tempore in place for the new 2021-2023 term. Maui Now.

Harbor Lights Professional Sanitation Takes Place Tonight; County Says they Believe the Cluster Began with Holiday Choir Practice. The Harbor Lights condominium complex in Kahului will undergo professional sanitation this evening (on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021) in response to a COVID-19 cluster that was first reported on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Maui Now.

Kauai

Property-tax deadline extended. The county has extended the deadline to pay the second installment of property taxes from Feb. 20 to April 23, to lessen the hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Garden Island.

Economic recovery for Kauai likely to be slow going. A monthlong shutdown of Kauai tourism ends Tuesday, but it’s still too early to tell whether the changes are enough to make a difference for the Garden Island or the rest of the state, which is grappling with additional tourism challenges. Star-Advertiser.

‘Green’ light at Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Charter School. With the school currently on winter break, the green level means all of the school’s learners report to campus Tuesday, Jan. 5. Garden Island.

Hawaii ushers out 2020, looks to a better 2021; Maui plans to tighten restrictions amid coronavirus surge; Kauai loosens travel requirements, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rainbow over Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Should Soon See At Least $1.7 Billion In New Federal Pandemic Relief Funds. But a new deal to help Americans get through the financial turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic falls far short of expectations for Hawaii’s political leaders. Civil Beat.

Approximately 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered in Hawaii. The State continues to order large quantities of the vaccine from the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed. The Department of Health counted on approximately 80,000 doses to arrive before the end of 2020 but has only received 61,450 as of Wednesday, Dec. 30. KHON2.

Hawai'i DOH provides update on COVID-19 vaccine shipment. According to the Hawai'i Department of Health about 20,000 shots have been administered so far. KITV4.

Come January, kupuna 75 and older may start to receive COVID-19 vaccines. According to Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, kupuna ages 75 years old and older could begin to receive vaccines as early mid-January. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Restaurant Card recipients spent roughly $70M. Approximately $5 million left over from unused balances on Hawaii Restaurant Cards has been added to the state unemployment insurance loan. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy last week gave the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine to some Pearl Harbor fast-attack submarine crews — an indication of the priority given to keeping subsea sailors healthy aboard the warships that are critical to national security but notorious for their close quarters. Star-Advertiser.

After ‘Egregious’ Delay, Education Nonprofit Scores DOE Finance Data. A Hawaii education advocacy group managed to wrangle detailed budgetary information from the state Department of Education — but it took two-and-a-half years and a lawsuit to get records the group’s attorneys say are now outdated. Civil Beat.

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From the coronavirus pandemic to the troubled rail line, 2020 is a year to forget. Star-Advertiser.

Good riddance, 2020: A look back at the year of COVID-19. Tribune-Herald.

More attention-grabbing Hawaii stories from 2020. Star-Advertiser.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Dec. 30: 108 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 108 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Wednesday, including 86 on Oahu, 17 in Maui County, two on the Big Island, one on Kauai and two residents who were diagnosed out of the state. There were no new fatalities reported. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Policing Hawaii’s Illegal Vacation Rentals. Honolulu’s weak law makes it hard to crack down on illegal vacation rentals, but a new law is in the works. Other jurisdictions – in Hawaii and on the Mainland – have tougher laws and more success with enforcement. Hawaii Business magazine.

River of Life Mission to shutter Chinatown food program, relocate. River of Life Mission, often maligned by Chinatown residents and merchants as a magnet for homelessness in Honolulu’s oldest neighborhood, will relocate to Iwilei and provide up to 700 meals per day in the city’s latest effort to reduce homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

City taps River of Life Mission to run part of new homeless resource center. Honolulu’s mayor said Wednesday that the River of Life Mission will operate a new resource center for the homeless in Iwilei. Hawaii News Now.

New resource center to open in Iwilei, serving 700 meals per day. Construction of a $17 million complex in Iwilei to help house and feed the homeless is now more than 50% complete. KITV4.

Hawaii’s Longest Serving Convict, Dead At 84, Outlived His Notoriety. George Shimabuku was convicted of three killings, including a shooting inside the Oahu prison in 1967. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Ige’s budget includes $5.7M reduction for UH-Hilo. The University of Hawaii is facing budget cuts totaling more than $78 million as part of Gov. David Ige’s proposed biennium budget, which was unveiled Dec. 21. Tribune-Herald.

Matthew McConaughey buys new home in Kona gated community. The 51-year-old Texan, whose performance in “Dallas Buyers Club” won him the 2014 Academy Award for Best Actor, paid $7.8 million for the newly built six-bedroom home in the Ka‘upulehu section of the Kukio Beach and Golf Club gated community in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Nine significant non-COVID stories that happened in 2020. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New Rules Proposed for Maui Would Reduce Gatherings to 5; Further Limit Occupancy and Require 10 p.m. Closing Time at Restaurants and Bars. New Emergency Rules for Maui County are proposed to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2021. Maui Now.

Cluster confirmed at Harbor Lights on Maui; testing to begin. Double digit case counts in Maui County on Wednesday have officials cracking down on gathering sizes and trying to control a coronavirus outbreak at a condominium complex in Kahului. Hawaii News Now.

New $25 Million Maui Service Center Opens to Customers on Jan. 19, 2021. A blessing event for the new, two-story building was held on Tuesday as employees of the Department of Finance prepare to move from their current office space at the Maui Mall to the new facility. Maui Now.

New native plant discovered. A new native flower was discovered in a remote location in West Maui last week, and it’s the only known plant of its kind to exist so far. Maui News.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige approves Kauai’s request to rejoin state’s Safe Travels program for inter-island travelers. Gov. David Ige has approved a request by Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami to rejoin the state’s Safe Travels program, allowing inter-island travelers that test negative for COVID-19 to bypass the island’s mandatory 10-day quarantine as of Jan. 5. Star-Advertiser.

Kaua‘i to reinstate inter-island Safe Travels program. Those traveling from a neighbor island to Kaua‘i will soon be able to bypass the quarantine by using the state’s Safe Travels program beginning Tuesday, Jan. 5. Garden Island.

Gov. Ige Approves Kaua‘i “Resort Bubble” Post-Travel Testing Program. Gov. David Ige has approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to implement a pre- and post-travel testing program for visitors who stay in “resort bubble” hotels, effective Jan. 5, 2021. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige approves Kauai’s ‘resort bubble’ testing program. Gov. David Ige has approved Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to implement a pre- and post-travel testing program for visitors who stay in “resort bubble” hotels. KHON2.

Kaua‘i first responders receive Moderna vaccine. On Tuesday, the Kaua‘i District Health Office opened up its COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Kaua‘i Memorial Convention Hall for first responders at 8 a.m. to a line. Garden Island.

Fewer Cases Means More In-Person Learning on Kauai. Kauai County District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman told KITV4 she expects in-person learning to increase on Kauai in the second semester due to low case rates. KITV4.

Molokai

Dead deer causing health, safety issues for Molokai residents. Recent drought conditions have caused problems for farmers statewide, but on the island of Molokai the drought is killing deer and that is creating even more issues for residents. KHON2.

Wildlife Surveys Suggest Severe Drought Conditions on Moloka‘i Leading to Animal Starvation. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife came to the conclusion following surveys and investigations after receiving reports earlier this month of deer being found both on roadways and on private lands in West Moloka‘i.  Maui Now.

A drought is causing Molokai deer to starve, and carcasses are piling up. The state said that a severe drought on Molokai this year has led to the starvation of deer on the island. Hawaii News Now.

Lanai

Rental project proposed for Lanai. Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, through his company Pulama Lana’i, is proposing to develop 150 rental homes for Lanai — with 49 percent slated for market rates and the other 51 percent scheduled for affordable rents under a state fast-track process for affordable housing. Maui News.

Hawaii residents not staying home much, COVID-19 vaccinations not delivered equally, Maui promises vaccines for everybody by Labor Day, Blangiardi picks Cabinet, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii mobility map PC:UHERO

People in Hawaii have stopped staying home as much following the surge in COVID-19 cases this summer, and have started going back to restaurants and shops, new mobility data shows. Civil Beat.

UHERO mobility dashboard details can be found here.

The number of residents leaving Hawai'i doubles in 2020. 2020 has taken a toll on many across the globe, including those in the Aloha State. The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii says the state say the highest rates of population decline in the country. KITV4.

Some healthcare workers not associated with hospitals are still waiting for vaccine. Medical professionals are in group 1-A, the first group designated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But many are still waiting for their first dose. That’s even though the state Department of Health has already started vaccinating people in group 1-B. Hawaii News Now.

This New Ad Campaign Aims To Win Over Hawaii’s COVID-19 Vaccine Skeptics. Persuading enough residents to roll up a sleeve for the vaccine for the state to achieve herd immunity is expected to be a challenge. Civil Beat.

Hawaii heiress Abigail Kawananankoa got $142,000 federal bailout loan. Her attorney Bruce Voss said the 94-year-old Kawananakoa needed the Paycheck Protection Program loan because the three-year legal battle over her $215 million fortune had drained her bank accounts. Hawaii News Now.

Plenty of ahi available for New Year’s Eve celebrations during a challenging year. There should be plenty of ahi available for New Year’s Eve at a reasonable price, according to purveyors, as a year besieged by pandemic-related challenges winds down to a close. Star-Advertiser.

King's Hawaiian Rolls not made in Hawaii, class action lawsuit filed. The company has been hit with a class action lawsuit after a New York resident claimed fraudulent marketing misleads shoppers by hiding where the products is really made. KITV4.

Saving Hawaii’s Koa Industry — And The Environment. The private sector and state are coming together to ensure an abundance of koa far into the future. Civil Beat.

Ige delays furloughs until ‘at least July 1’. Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he is delaying the implementation of furloughs for state employees through at least July 1, 2021. West Hawaii Today.

The start of state worker furloughs has been postponed, but remains on the minds of many. Federal funding has pushed back the start date of the furloughs, but they still could happen in 2021. Hawaii News Now.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Dec. 29: 76 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 76 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Tuesday, including 55 on Oahu, 10 in Maui County, seven on the Big Island and four residents who were diagnosed out of the state. There were no new fatalities reported. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor-elect Rick Blangiardi’s transition team announces Cabinet selections. The longtime leader of the company that runs TheBus, a former state senator and the one-time head of the pro-development think-tank Land Use Research Foundation are among a slate of nominees to Mayor-elect Rick Blangiardi’s Cabinet that his transition team announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor-Elect Blangiardi Announces Key Appointments. They include Laura Thielen for Parks and Recreation and Dean Uchida for Planning and Permitting. Civil Beat.

Blangiardi announces key cabinet appointments ahead of January inauguration. Mayor-elect Rick Blangiardi has released his list of cabinet members ahead of his inauguration next month. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says coronavirus response was too slow. In a reflection of the city’s handling of its COVID-19 outbreak, outgoing Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he would have responded to the virus earlier and done more to properly inform the public if he had the chance. Star-Advertiser.

Essential workers traveling to Oahu now subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing. Essential workers traveling to Oahu who get exemptions to the state’s quarantine rules will now be subject to new testing requirements. The new rules were included in an emergency proclamation, approved by the governor Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Card usage is extended through Jan. 31. Those several thousand people receiving or scheduled to receive $500 debit cards from the city now have until Jan. 31 to spend the money to pay for food and other necessities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, city officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

New HART CEO taking on rail at high-stakes stage for lower pay. Honolulu Rapid Rail Authority (HART) has a new CEO, Lori Kahikina, taking the helm at a crossroads for the final leg of the project. She has just one year to prove whether she can turn the troubled agency around. KHON2.

Brigham Young University to Require Free Weekly COVID Tests for On-Campus Students and Faculty. Hawaii universities have been largely distance learning due to COVID-19. However, Brigham Young University-Hawaii hopes expanded testing will put the institution on the path to reopening. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

COVID-19 exposure notification app now available to residents of Hawaii County. AlohaSafe Alert, the state of Hawaii’s official COVID-19 exposure notification app, is now available to Hawaii County residents and is expected to launch statewide next week. Tribune-Herald.

Todd, 2 political newcomers to vie for Kahele’s seat. A state representative and two political newcomers made the cut Wednesday night from a list of seven Democrats vying for Gov. David Ige’s nomination to fill the remaining two years of the state Senate seat vacated by Congressman-elect Kai Kahele. West Hawaii Today.

Waipio Valley pedestrian ban booted. It’s back to the drawing board for a bill prohibiting pedestrian access to Waipio Valley, after County Council members Wednesday raised constitutionality issues and the effect closing hiking there would have on other valleys, such as Pololu Valley in North Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Council approves Kailua-Kona development. An agreement worked out by two council members negotiating with developers of a Kailua-Kona project was approved by the County Council last week and then sent to the mayor, despite three council members’ assurances that the public would have one more opportunity to comment at a council forum. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor to seek scaled back gatherings, other restrictions. Maui County is seeking to tighten up rules such as scaling back the number of people in gatherings and imposing other restrictions as Maui continues to see double digit positive cases daily. Maui News.

Operation Face Mask Results in 24-Hour Closure of Two Lahaina Bars. ask Force Officers from the Maui Police Department and the Department of Liquor Control conducted Operation Face Mask on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. Maui Now.

Maui District Health Office on Vaccine Rollout: Everybody Should Get a Dose if they want it by Labor Day. Health officials on Maui are asking the public to be patient by waiting their turn in the distribution timeline, and continue health care precautions as the state carries out its vaccination plan. Maui Now.

Push to get independent doctors, staff vaccinated. Dentists and staff included in Phase 1; more doses on the way. Maui News.

Kauai

County leaving single-use plastics in 2020. Starting Friday, a policy prohibiting county funds from being used for single-use, disposable plastics will go into effect. Garden Island.

Lihu‘e post office safe from closure. On Sunday night, the U.S. Congress passed the COVID Relief Bill, which among other things approved the transition of a $10 billion loan to the U.S. Postal Service in March and into a grant with conditions. Garden Island.

Ige opposes Kapolei casino, coronavirus hospitalizations up 38%, Kahikina named interim HART CEO, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach beauties ©2020 All Hawaii News

Tourism recovery not seen until summer, hotel execs say. Longtime Hawaii hotel industry executives don’t see any meaningful recovery in tourism until the summer even though the COVID-19 vaccines began getting dispersed throughout the United States this month. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor arrivals in November down 77% compared to last year. Most of the visitors were from the U.S West Coast. There were 524 visitors that came from Japan. KHON2.

Hawai‘i Visitor Numbers Down 77% in November. Tourism totals in Hawai‘i remain bleak, even as several mainland and international flight routes to island airports have reopened. Big Island Now.

Despite travel concerns, Hawaii saw big spike in trans-Pacific visitors for the holidays. More travelers came to Hawaii from the mainland in the week leading up to Christmas than in any other week since the launch of the state’s pre-travel testing program, data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority shows. From Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, the last date for which data is currently available, 89,050 trans-Pacific travelers were screened at airports across the state. Hawaii News Now.

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Gov. David Ige pans Hawaiian home lands casino plan. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands recently suggested that Gov. David Ige could include its proposal for “limited casino gaming” in his legislative packet for consideration in the next session, which begins Jan. 20. It now appears that isn’t going to happen. Star-Advertiser.

Ige opposes casino on Oahu DHHL land. Gov. David Ige said Monday he opposes a proposal approved last week by the Hawaiian Homes Commission to build a casino on a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands parcel in Kapolei, Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

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Federal Aid Means Hawaii Will Avoid State Worker Furloughs — For Now. The new round of federal relief could bring millions of dollars to Hawaii’s agencies and struggling residents. Civil Beat.

Ige unsure when furloughs for state workers will begin. Gov. David Ige on Monday was still unable to say when state workers, including educators, will see furloughs implemented as the state work’s to cut spending to plug a $1.4 billion budget hole. West Hawaii Today.

State to hold public hearings on water plan. A state water panel will hold virtual public hearings in January on an update to the State Water Projects Plan, the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Wednesday. Maui News.

As more COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive, Hawaii prepares to ramp up distribution. Another shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Hawaii on Monday — the second shipment of the Moderna brand. That puts the number of doses received so far in the islands at 49,750. And another shipment of the Pfizer version is expected Tuesday, which would push that number to 61,000. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii sees 38% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations; State receives 16.3K more vaccines. Hawaii has seen a 38% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past month as new case counts climbed over the holiday season. Star-Advertiser.

HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER — Dec. 28: 46 New COVID-19 Cases. Health officials reported 46 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Monday, including 30 on Oahu, 13 in Maui County, two on the Big Island and one on Kauai. There were no new fatalities reported. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Kirk Caldwell’s Legacy As Honolulu Mayor Is Marred By Rail And Homelessness. When Mayor Kirk Caldwell was running for mayor in 2012, he promised to help the homeless, “build rail better” and be a dependable leader for Honolulu. Eight years later, as the mayor eyes a run for governor, the island is in much the same place as it was when Caldwell took office, political observers say. Civil Beat.

Caldwell outlines improvements at Ala Moana Regional Park, including the Hawaiian Pond. The eroded, muddy banks of the Hawaiian Pond at Ala Moana Regional Park are being fixed and improved, according to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Moana Beach Park improvements nearing completion. Improvements to the Hawaiian Pond at the Diamond Head end of Ala Moana Beach Park are nearing completion. KITV4.

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Lori Kahikina, city environmental services director, is named interim chief of Honolulu rail project. The saga of Honolulu’s financially strapped rail project enters a new chapter Friday when veteran city engineering chief Lori Kahikina takes over as interim chief executive officer of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Lori Kahikina Pegged To Lead HART As Interim Director. The city’s outgoing environmental services director joins rail right as HART struggles with utility relocations along Dillingham. Civil Beat.

Lori Kahikina, city Environmental Services director, named interim CEO. Lori Kahikina, who has served as the city’s director of Environmental Services for eight years, was named Monday as the interim CEO of the problem-plagued rail project. Hawaii News Now.

HART announces new interim CEO. For the past eight years, the University of Hawaii graduate served as Director of the City's Department of Environmental Services. KITV4.

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Honolulu officials hope to extend ‘City Card’ until Jan. 31 with over 1.3K cards not yet activated. Honolulu officials are hoping to extend the deadline for the use of the $500 “City Card” for disadvantaged families through Jan. 31, pending the approval of COVID-19 related legislation. Star-Advertiser.

Officials working to extend deadline to January for City Card on Oahu. Officials say they’re working on having the City Card deadline to be extended to Jan. 31. KHON2.

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Police Fatally Shoot Windward Oahu Man. The male suspect was wanted in connection to an ongoing kidnapping case. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police fatally shoot man as officers try to serve him warrant. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said two officers feared for their lives Monday morning and had to jump out of the way of a Jeep driven by a 45-year-old man in Ahuimanu just before fatally shooting him. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Chief of Police confirms death of man shot by officer. An officer involved shooting at Hookipa Apartments on the Windward side of Oahu left one man dead, Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard confirms. KHON2.

Suspect in HPD officer involved shooting dies, HPD confirms. The suspect involved in the officer involved shooting in the Windward area has died, Chief Susan Ballard has confirmed. KITV4.

Year-long ban on fishing along a south Oahu shoreline to begin Friday. Rules to prevent over fishing in Waikiki will once again be in place at the start of the new year. Come Friday, the Shoreline Fisheries Management Area from Waikiki to Diamond Head will be closed for fishing. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

State Land Board To Decide On Dredging Of New Beach At Pohoiki. The state seeks a waiver to dredge a channel through black sand deposited by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Civil Beat.

Tee time: West Hawaii golf subsidy program returns. Waikoloa Village Golf Course in South Kohala and Makalei Golf Course in North Kona will both offer reduced rates for residents of Hawaii County for six months. West Hawaii Today.

Thousands flock to HVNP to see eruption. Because of the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has brought in additional staff to manage an influx of visitors. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds vaccinated at HMC. More than 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered at Hilo Medical Center since vaccination efforts began on Dec. 23. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

10 COVID-19 Cases at Harbor Lights on Maui, Cleaning Underway. Maui County officials confirmed a cluster of COVID-19 infections at the Harbor Lights condominium complex in Kahului. Maui Now.

Garbage on its way to ocean collected, bagged in Maalaea. Maui Nui Marine Resouce Council hosts gulch cleanup prior to rainy season. Maui News.

Kauai

Bus fares going up this week. The Kaua‘i Bus announced a fare increase effective Friday, Jan. 1, and a new design for its 2021 monthly bus passes. Garden Island.

Lane closures scheduled for portions of Hanapepe. The Department of Public Works is announcing that portions of Hanapepe will be closed Dec. 29 to allow Maui Kupono Builders to conduct road reconstruction work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting. Garden Island.