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.

Hawaii opens travel to trans-Pacific flights, Japan flights coming soon; Ige popularity low in poll; $1B hole in Honolulu rail, more state and local news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines plane at airport ©2020 All Hawaii News

Airlines Predict A Long Slow Recovery Even As Tourism Returns. As Hawaii reopens to tourists with a plan that lets travelers sidestep the state’s 14-day quarantine for arrivals, few companies stand to gain more than Hawaiian Airlines. Then again, few have lost more because of the shutdown. Civil Beat.

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Japan may join Hawaii COVID-19 pre-travel testing once ‘trusted partners’ picked. Japanese visitors, the state’s top international market, won’t be among the first out-of-state travelers coming to Hawaii through a pre-arrivals testing program on Thursday. But they’ll likely be coming soon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Approves COVID Test For Japan Travelers. The Hawaii Department of Health is now working with Japanese medical institutions to find “trusted partners” to administer the tests. Civil Beat.

Visitors from Japan approved for state’s pre-travel testing program, too. Visitors from Japan will soon be able to avoid quarantining upon arrival in Hawaii by participating in the state’s pre-travel COVID-19 testing program, state officials said Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Green light for travelers from Japan. The executive director of the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau said the organization Hawaii Tourism Japan “has already got an initial marketing campaign set” for attracting Japanese visitors back to the islands. Tribune-Herald.

Pre-Travel Testing Approved For Japan. Mainlanders will begin returning to Hawai‘i tomorrow with the possibility of a quarantine exemption, and visitors from Japan won’t be far behind. Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i Approves Japan’s Procedure for Pre-Travel Testing Program. Proof of a negative test result from trusted testing partners in Japan will allow travelers from Japan to bypass the 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

Health Department approves Japan’s testing procedure for pre-travel testing program. The Department of Health has approved the COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test authorized by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. KITV4.

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State expects 7,000 incoming passengers on first day of traveler testing program. Lt. Gov. Josh Green confirmed the figure Wednesday night and said Hawaii is ready to welcome travelers back. He also asked for patience as the state works some kinks out of the system. Hawaii News Now.

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Voters Still Sour On Ige And Caldwell. And yet they also believe those very same leaders made the right call on stay-at-home and quarantine orders. Civil Beat.

Auditors find lack of planning, coordination in traveler quarantine program. As the state prepares to launch a traveler testing program Thursday to reboot tourism, a new audit is raising questions about the state’s oversight of its quarantine mandate and how it will be managed once federal funds run out in December. Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance testing for incoming passengers will start as pre-travel testing program launches. Thousands of passengers are expected to come in on Thursday, which is when the state’s pre-travel testing program launches. KHON2.

Here’s what travelers should know about the state’s pre-testing process. If you have not yet booked your flight to Hawaii and want to avoid quarantine, first step is going to HawaiiCOVID19 and check the trusted testing and travel partners page. Hawaii News Now.

Confused About Hawaii's Travel Tests? Hawaii plans to reopen to trans-Pacific travelers without quarantine starting Thursday if the passengers can show a negative COVID-19 test. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Up to 65% of Hawaii restaurants could close for good, industry leader warns. That estimate comes from a recent survey by the Hawaii Restaurant Association, which represents the roughly 3,600 restaurants across the state. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii prepares to welcome visitors back, 660 airport food service workers laid off. HMSHost, the company that manages the concessions and restaurants at airports, will permanently lay off more than 660 of its employees. That’s more than 80% of concessions staff. The decision impacts airport workers on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

More than 600 HMSHost airport workers to be laid off in Hawaii, union says. More than 660 Hawaii airport workers will be permanently laid off Thursday, the same day that the state is reopening to tourism with the launch of a pre-travel testing program after numerous delays, according to union representative UNITE HERE Local 5. Star-Advertiser.

Restaurant card also accepted at bakeries, catering services. Approximately 116,000 residents in Hawaii who filed for unemployment insurance benefits are expected to receive a $500 prepaid debit card beginning Friday to spend at local restaurants, bakeries and catering services. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige offers clarity to Restaurant Card Program. Gov. David Ige clarified eligibility for a $500 restaurant card and how the state came to that conclusion after the state found out there was much confusion on social media recently. Garden Island.

Qualified residents to begin receiving Hawai‘i restaurant card in the mail beginning October 16. KITV4.

Campaign Spending Commission: Ad Reporting Law Needs Changed. The Campaign Spending Commission levied over $6,900 worth of fines against 20 candidates at a meeting Wednesday. Almost all of the fines came because of a failure to comply with rules over advertising disclosures that many new candidates have found confusing. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 14: 101 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. The state said 18 cases were on the Big Island and one case was on Maui. One resident was diagnosed out of state. The remaining 81 cases were reported on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell wants post-travel test for those who don’t get one before arrival. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing an entirely different way to test travelers who want to avoid the state’s 14-day quarantine. He wants to make tests available to those arriving on Oahu if they couldn’t get one before travel. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell questions state’s surveillance testing program. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is questioning the effectiveness of a surveillance testing program meant to be a key safety net in the safe reopening of Hawaii tourism. Star-Advertiser.

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Keith Amemiya, Rick Blangiardi trade barbs in KHON debate. During a direct questioning period between the candidates, Blangiardi raised objections to a series of critical campaign ads Amemiya’s campaign has put out against him. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayoral Debate feat. Keith Amemiya and Rick Blangiardi. Honolulu’s next mayor will have the monumental task of handling the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the safety of nearly one million residents, all while figuring out how to revive Oahu’s economy. KHON2.

Honolulu City Council: Young Legislative Staffers Run To Represent Kalihi Area. The District 7 candidates’ backgrounds, résumés and values are similar. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu Rail’s New Budget Hole Estimated At More Than $1 Billion. Project leaders will likely struggle to secure more funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil Beat.

City’s exit from rail phase equated to a ‘divorce’. Honolulu Councilman Brandon Elefante on Wednesday put the city’s withdrawal from participating in building the final 4.16 miles of the troubled rail project in the terms of a divorce. Star-Advertiser.

Pandemic causes shortage of high-end Oahu rentals. Kailua is just one of the hot rental markets, so are high end neighborhoods like Lanikai and Kahala, according to Duke Kimhan, the owner of Hawaii Pacific Property Management. KITV4.

Waikiki retailers prep for anticipated bump in business. Businesses in the heart of Hawaii’s tourism hot spot are eagerly awaiting the anticipated bump in tourists come Thursday. It’s been seven months since tourism screeched to an abrupt halt in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu to get 5 new playgrounds; work starts next week in Waimanalo. City officials said construction for new playgrounds at five Oahu parks is underway, with work expected to begin next week at Waimanalo Beach Park. Star-Advertiser.

Mililani Middle to transition onto single-track calendar to address overcrowding. A new three-story building at Mililani Middle School will soon house 15 additional classrooms to help ease overcrowding issues at the nearly 2,000-student campus. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Ready, set, go: A reluctant Mayor Kim opens the island to trans-Pacific travelers. Mayor Harry Kim prefers not to open up the island at all today to trans-Pacific travelers without quarantine, but since he has no choice, he implemented the two-test procedure to reduce the coronavirus infection risk to residents and visitors. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Kim Questioned On Inter-Island Travel Status. Mayor Harry Kim went before the Hawaiʻi County Council on Wednesday to clear up confusion in regard to Thursday’s start of the pre-travel testing program in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Video News.

How post-arrival testing will be conducted at Hilo airport. Trans-Pacific travelers to Hilo should expect a relatively smooth arrival as the county implements post-flight COVID-19 tests at Hilo International Airport. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ready for influx; Improvements to park made during pandemic. With the state loosening travel restrictions for trans-Pacific travelers today, the Big Island’s most popular tourist destination is preparing for an increase of visitors. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Drop your ballot here. There are 12 drop-off boxes countywide, and voters may drop off their ballots through 7 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 3. Maui News.

Post-travel testing options are permitted by state. Maui County officials Tuesday afternoon branded their pre- and post-travel testing programs as “Arrive Healthy, Stay Healthy and Return Home Healthy” as the state prepares for an influx of travelers beginning Thursday. 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.

Kaua‘i starts its reopening on Tier 4.  Mayor Derek Kawakami is urging residents to wear masks as the state makes its long-awaited reopening to trans-Pacific travelers. Garden Island.

Molokai

Hawaiian Telcom Expands Fiber Broadband Service on Moloka‘i. Hawaiian Telcom has expanded its fiber broadband service to nearly 700 new homesteads in East and North Central Moloka‘i, according to the company’s news release. Maui Now.

Lanai

Lanai Oil Company agrees to $71K EPA fine for Clean Water Act violations. The Lanai Oil Company Inc. has agreed to pay a penalty of $71,166 as part of a settlement for Clean Water Act violations at its bulk oil storage facility on the island, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Star-Advertiser.

EPA Requires Lanai Oil Co. To Protect Hawaiian Waterways from Oil Spills in Proposed Settlement. Under the agreement, Lanai Oil is required to pay a penalty of $71,166. EPA believes the penalty will reduce the risk of oil spills from their Lanai Oilʻs terminal to Lanai’s Kaumalapau Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Maui Now.

Hawaii sets travel rules for Thursday reopening, state GDP drops 42%, PPP consumed at 'scary' rate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lt. Gov. Green explains travel COVID-19 testing

Island-by-island COVID-19 requirements and rules could confuse some visitors. Gov. David Ige signed a 66-page emergency order Tuesday that gives travelers coming into Hawaii from another U.S. destination the option to take a COVID-19 test and bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine. Star-Advertiser.

More Details Emerge On Hawaii’s Pre-Travel COVID Test Plan. A single test will be required for all travelers arriving in the islands, although counties have some leeway to tailor testing programs for their areas. Civil Beat.

Last minute changes to the pre-travel testing plan stir up new questions. Many of the state’s testing and travel partners have still not released full details about their testing process. Hawaii News Now.

All Counties to Partake in Pre-Travel Testing Program, Big Island Opts Out of Interisland Travel. All counties will participate in Hawai‘i’s pre-travel coronavirus testing program following negotiations between Gov. David Ige and the mayors of the state’s various counties. Big Island Now.

Gov. approves different travel rules for Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island. Be prepared to follow different rules when you travel to different neighbor islands. The governor has approved additional safeguards for Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. KHON2.

Gov. Ige Signs 14th Proclamation: Two Days to Go Until Launch of Hawai‘i’s Pre-Travel Testing. The new document extends the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers; however, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige extends COVID-19 emergency period through November. Gov. Ige signed his 14th supplementary emergency proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Nov. 30.  KHON2.

Inter-island travel to return for Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, while Hawaii County opts-out. The Counties of Maui and Kauai will accept travelers who get negative results of an accepted COVID-19 test 72-hours prior to inter-island travel, Hawaii Governor David Ige announced today. KHON2.

Maui, Kauai to allow inter-island airline passengers take pre-travel tests. Travelers flying between Oahu, Kauai and Maui County who are looking to avoid quarantining upon arrival will soon be able to participate in the same pre-travel COVID-19 testing program available to trans-Pacific passengers, Gov. Ige announced Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

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As visitor relaunch nears, Hawaii’s economy continues to bottom out. According to Carl Bonham, the executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, Hawaii experienced a 42% drop in GDP, which measures economic growth. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii steps up spending for coronavirus tests and tracing ahead of tourism’s return. Hawaii is spending $30 million in federal Cares Act money to purchase “hundreds of thousands” of additional COVID-19 tests and equipment as the state cautiously reopens tourism and the local economy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii using protective equipment for coronavirus at ‘scary’ rate. Here’s another measure of the unexpected toll and cost to Hawaii of the COVID-19 pandemic: the high burn rate for personal protection equipment, known as PPE. Star-Advertiser.

State, county, local groups prepare to catch quarantine breakers after pre-travel testing program launches. On Thursday, officials say they expect about 2,000 to 3,000 visitor arrivals per day. KHON2.

Where to get tested for travel. CVS Healthhttps://www.cvs.com/selfpaytesting Starting on Oct. 10, travelers will be able to register online to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations. KITV4.

The state releases its list of 'Trusted Testing and Travel Partners'. The state of Hawaii will accept test results only from Trusted Testing and Travel Partners listed here: AFC Urgent Care, Bartell Drugs, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Color, CVS Health, Discovery Health MD, Kaiser Permanente, Quest Diagnostics, Vault Health and Walgreens. KITV4.

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State to issue restaurant debit cards with $500 prepaid to qualified recipients starting Friday. A new program will soon launch to provide struggling Hawaii residents with $500 prepaid debit cards to use at local eateries and restaurants across the state. Star-Advertiser.

Restaurant card program launches website for beneficiaries. On Tuesday, the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism announced a website for the unemployed to check to see if they are eligible to receive the $500 restaurant debit card issued by the state as part of the Economic Relief Program. Garden Island.

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Akina Spends More Than $150K To Keep Souza From OHA Seat. The nonpartisan race to be an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee pits Democratic supporters against a conservative incumbent. Civil Beat.

First humpback of season spotted. The first humpback whale of the 2020-21 season was spotted at 9:10 a.m. Thursday in the waters between Molokini and Maui, the Pacific Whale Foundation announced Monday. Maui News.

Nonprofit to sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife for not protecting Hawaiian honeycreeper. The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat and develop a recovery plan for the iiwi, a native forest bird in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Conservation Group Pushes Feds To Set Habitat For Hawaii’s Endangered Iiwi Bird. The species, like many of Hawaii’s other remaining forest birds, has been decimated by mosquito-borne diseases. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 13: 62 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii And 4 Deaths. Among the new infections documented Tuesday, 21 cases were on the Big Island and 11 cases were on Maui. The remaining cases were reported on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: For Prosecutor, More Voters Prefer Alm Over Kau. They also strongly favor term limits for prosecutor just like the ones for Honolulu mayor and City Council. Civil Beat.

Oahu election turnout already at 16%. City election officials reported they have already collected 76,520 general election ballot envelopes from Oahu voters as of Tuesday afternoon, or more than 16% of those on the city’s voter rolls. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has asked the governor to allow a post-arrival test to be done at the airport for those who don't take pre-travel test. For those passengers who don't take a pre-travel test, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has asked the Governor to allow a post-arrival test to be done at the airport. KITV4.

Honolulu consumer prices rise amid coronavirus pandemic. A federal agency has new, unpleasant data for many Hawaii consumers already suffering financially amid the state’s badly damaged economy: Prices have risen for most goods and services on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

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$10M city program to help arts community. Oahu businesses and nonprofits involved in culture and the arts that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for reimbursable grants from the city through a $10 million Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund announced Tuesday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Launches $10 Million Arts And Cultures Grant Fund. The City and County of Honolulu is using $10 million of its federal CARES Act dollars on a new Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund. Civil Beat.

City begins grant programs to support O'ahu’s culture and arts. O‘ahu businesses and nonprofits in culture and arts can now apply for reimbursable grants from the City and County of Honolulu’s $10 million Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund. KITV4.

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Ex-Honolulu police officer gets 14 days in jail for sex assault of minor during traffic stop. Former Honolulu police officer Kramer Aoki was sentenced today to 14 days in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage girl he stopped for speeding while on duty in 2014. Star-Advertiser.

Officer who pleaded no contest to groping teen girl during traffic stop sentenced. Kramer Aoki pleaded no contest to a charge of 4th degree sex assault, and was sentenced to two weeks in prison. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Post-arrival antigen tests for out-of-state travelers to be available at all 3 of the island’s commercial airports. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday that out-of-state travelers to the Big Island who’ve tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure to Hawaii will be able to take a rapid-response antigen test at any of the Big Island’s three commercial airports to avoid a 14-day quarantine. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Approved For Second Travel Test, But No Inter-Island Plan. Out of state arrivals to Hawaiʻi Island seeking to bypass the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine by using a pre-travel test will be required to take a second COVID-19 test upon arrival to the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Council calls emergency meeting for Wednesday: Legislative body seeks travel testing update from mayor. County Council Chairman Aaron Chung has called an emergency council meeting for 1 p.m. today to get a briefing from Mayor Harry Kim about how interisland and trans-Pacific travel will work come Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Mail stoppage alarms Kailua-Kona residents: Temporary delivery halt coincides with ballot mail-out. Three Kailua-Kona apartment buildings had their mail stopped, apparently without notice, shortly after ballots went out last week. West Hawaii Today.

Public has 2 more weeks to comment on proposed UH Hilo teaching telescope. The public has two more weeks to participate in a virtual open house by University of Hawai?i at Hilo to learn about the university’s proposed 28-inch educational telescope at Halepohaku, the mid-level facility on Maunakea. KITV4.

‘We need your help’: Hawaii Rainbow Rangers provides update on animal control contract. Hawaii Rainbow Rangers will provide all animal control services starting Nov. 1 as the nonprofit works toward full staffing and sheltering capabilities, the organization’s leaders recently told Hawaii County Council members. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui’s protocols for interisland flights to mirror trans-Pacific plan. Also, county may lift quarantine for travel among Maui, Lanai, Molokai. Maui News.

Anonymous $1 Million Donation to Support Maui Trails Program. An anonymous donor is providing more than $1 million in funding to the Nā Ala Hele Trails and Access Program on Maui. Most of the funding will support planning, design, and construction of hiking trails in the recently acquired Kamehamenui Forest in upcountry Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Meet the Candidates: Mike Dandurand. Kaua‘i County Council candidate Mike Dandurand, 58, is a business owner of Kustom Sounds Kaua‘i, a mobile DJ company for weddings, luaus, and graduation parties for over 33 years. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i, Maui opt into pre-travel interisland test. The state officially reopens tomorrow, and Gov. Ige has approved Mayor Derek Kawakami’s four-tier program as well as a pre-travel testing option for interisland travelers. Garden Island.

Gov. Ige approves Kaua'i emergency rules allowing interisland travelers who pass pre-test to be exempt from quarantine. Emergency Rule 19 provides a four-tiered system to define allowable businesses and activities, based on the current disease outlook on Kaua‘i at that time. KITV4.

Airlines, hotels gear up for opening. Hawaiian Airlines and two major hotels on Kaua‘i gear up for the reopening of trans-Pacific travel on Oct. 15, while one hotel expects an uptick, another has seen a decrease in bookings. 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.

Possible data breach in travel software, racial data missing in state COVID-19 counts, tech billionaire donates 1M masks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian family in an ocean pond ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii COVID-19 Data For Race And Ethnicity Is Missing. Leaders across many Pacific Islander communities have been working to prevent COVID-19 infections from increasing. Civil Beat.

Advocates worry immigrant, working families struggling to get by amid pandemic woes. A new advocacy group said that the backlog in unemployment claims is hitting immigrant and working-class families hard. Hawaii News Now.

Potential data breach exposed in state’s travel exemption request system. The state is investigating a potential breach of data within one of their systems tied to the Attorney General’s office. Nearly 150 individuals who applied for a travel exemption through the state Attorney General’s website were notified Friday about the potential breach. Hawaii News Now.

Uncertainty around traveler testing program has many taking ‘wait-and-see’ approach. Visitors will face testing requirements that still aren’t finalized, with different rules on every island. Hawaii News Now.

What to expect at the airport when the pre-travel testing program begins. Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program will begin on Thursday, Oct. 15. KHON2.

Kauai, Maui mayors wait for Gov. Ige's approval of pre-travel testing proposals. Pretravel testing plans differ for other counties. KITV4.

Will Hawaii Finally Be Able To Break Its Dependence On Tourism? The state is about to reopen its tourism industry, the heart of Hawaii’s economic engine. Is it time to find another way forward? Civil Beat.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings continue to tick downward. Hawaii bankruptcies continue to decrease even as individuals and businesses struggle to make ends meet in the slowing economy. Star-Advertiser.

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QAnon Conspiracies, Proud Boys And The Future of Hawaii’s GOP. The party has struggled for the past decade to gain a meaningful foothold in the islands. The rise of Donald Trump and the radical right has only made the situation more dire. Civil Beat.

Election officials run tests of ballot machines ahead of the general. Official observers tested voting machines on Oahu Saturday morning. Neighbor island machines were tested this past week. Hawaii News Now.

Voting machines tested ahead of general election, helps to ensure election integrity. With the general election less than four weeks away, the state Office of Elections is busy gearing up for the big day. KHON2.

Connie Chun / 1928-2020: She was the first nurse and Filipina to serve in state House. Connie Chun, the first Filipina and first nurse elected to the state House of Representatives, was also a lawyer, philanthropist, marathon runner and matriarch of the “Hunky Bunch.” Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaiian Airlines Cuts Service To Lanai and Molokai. Hawaiian said it is committed to resuming the service but didn’t say when. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines to suspend ‘Ohana service. The airline announced Friday that starting Nov. 1, it would temporarily suspend passenger flights between Honolulu and Molokai and Lanai, as well as cargo-only service within the Hawaiian islands. Maui News.

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Hawaii school board chief Catherine Payne urges dropping Acellus online curriculum. Board of Education Chairwoman Catherine Payne wants Hawaii’s schools to stop using the Acellus distance-learning program by the end of the academic year and allow parents to opt out immediately. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Ed Board Chair Expects Acellus To ‘Drop Dead’ By End Of School Year. The online curriculum, which some principals have rejected for racist content, is likely on its way out. Civil Beat.

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Hundreds of Hawaii’s shelter animals to be relocated to the mainland. Hundreds of shelter animals are getting a second chance at adoption. On Oct. 29, the group Wings of Rescue plans to airlift some 600 animals from around the pacific to the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 11: 103 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. In the last week, an average of 92 cases a day were identified in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Ballot Questions Could Bolster Ethics Watchdog’s Staffing And Spending. Oahu voters are being asked to make changes to the Honolulu Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council: A Veteran Lawmaker Vs. A Comedian. The candidates running to replace Councilman Ron Menor in Honolulu’s District 9 have vastly different agendas and experience. Civil Beat.

Neglected Varona Village plantation community in Ewa awaits redevelopment plans. Today, 46 homes remain, including several that are boarded up after being ravaged by time and poor city upkeep after Oahu Sugar shut down in 1995. Star-Advertiser.

Community unites to restore and clean Waianae Japanese Cemetery. The Waianae community pulled together, and on Oct. 4 well over 50 people — from keiki to kupuna — showed up, armed with weed whackers, chainsaws, rakes and trash cans to clean up the old cemetery. Star-Advertiser.

Plans moving forward on new Oahu jail despite economic woes. Since at least 1964, none of the efforts to build a new site for the Oahu Community Correctional Center has gotten this far. Star-Advertiser.

Kailua brewing company ordered to shutdown calls for more transparency from liquor commission. Lanikai Brewing Company was ordered to shut down for 24 hours by the liquor commission Friday evening for violating the mayor’s emergency order and failing to operate as a restaurant. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

2nd test tentatively approved for travelers to the Big Island. Hawaii Island Mayor Harry Kim said Friday that out-of-state passengers arriving on the Big Island will be taking a second COVID-19 test to supplement the state’s pre-travel testing program. Star-Advertiser.

1 million masks: Big Island benefits from Benioff connections. A San Francisco tech billionaire with a home on the Kona coast wants to make sure the Big Island doesn’t run out of masks. West Hawaii Today.

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Report: Hilo veterans home employee stayed on the job for 3 days after COVID-19 exposure. The coronavirus outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo may have begun with an employee who worked ― despite being linked to a large cluster. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Department of Health rescinds citation given to operator of Hilo veterans home. The Hawaii Department of Health on Thursday cited the private operator of a state veterans nursing home for deficiencies leading to a COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year in which 27 residents died. Star-Advertiser.

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Big Isle’s Na Leo TV resumes operations after FBI raid as board meets with CEO. The board of directors of Na Leo o Hawaii announced this weekend it met with Na Leo TV president and CEO Stacy K. Higa, who assured the board that management and staff are fully cooperating with an investigation being conducted by the FBI. Star-Advertiser.

Neighbors win a round: Board of Appeals overturns Walua Road vacation rental permit. Neighbors of a Kailua-Kona vacation rental won a round Friday, when the county Board of Appeals overturned the Planning Department and revoked the nonconforming use and vacation rental permits of a part-time resident who claimed a homeowner’s property tax exemption. West Hawaii Today.

Zoo renew pushed back: County targets February for reopening of Panawea animal park. The reopening of Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens has been delayed to early 2021. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui officer accused of soliciting sex from women he met on the job indicted. A U.S. Attorney has indicted a former Maui police accused of harassing women by sending them suggestive messages to solicit sex. Hawaii News Now.

Maui’s Struggling Tourism Industry Prepares For Return of Transpacific Travelers. All across Maui, hotels, vacation properties, car rental companies, restaurants, retail shops and other businesses that cater to the island’s 3 million or so annual travelers are preparing for the return of non-quarantining tourists, beginning Oct. 15. Maui Now.

County Council sends water plan back to committee. The Maui County Council voted unanimously Friday to send back to committee the Maui Island Water Use Development Plan, a dense blueprint for protection, management and use of water over a 20-year period. Maui News.

West Maui Taxpayers Association Hosting Candidates Night Webinar Oct. 15, 2020. The West Maui Taxpayers Association will host a virtual Candidates Night webinar on Oct. 15, 2020 at 5:30 pm with candidates for the following: State Representative District 10, Maui County Councilmember – all districts and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Maui Now.

Kauai

Charter amendments explained. The first side of the state general election ballot has federal, state and county office elections. The second side gives residents the opportunity to vote on proposed amendments to the Kaua‘i County Charter. Garden Island.

Felicia Cowden. As Cowden’s first term as a councilmember comes to an end, she shares what she learned from her radio career. Garden Island.

Volunteers continue work on Kalalau Trail. While the pandemic has lessened the number of volunteers helping to keep the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail clear for hikers, Mark Hubbard and a few other faithful Kaua‘i residents are still hard at work, clearing fallen branches and fortifying the trail on a regular basis. Garden Island.

FBI raids public access TV station, Hawaii imports more health-care workers as tourist reopening nears, ballots going out in the mail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FBI confers with Na Leo CEO Stacy Higa as agent holds back reporters ©2020 All Hawaii News

FBI Searches The Offices Of Cable Public Access Headquarters In Hilo. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant Thursday morning on the offices of Na Leo ‘O Hawaii public access television, which provides public access programming to Hawaii County cable television subscribers. Civil Beat.

FBI raids Na Leo offices in Hilo. Few details were available late Thursday following an FBI raid earlier in the day at Na Leo ‘O Hawaii’s TV studios and offices in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

FBI raids Hilo offices of Na Leo TV amidst ongoing investigation. The FBI raided the Hilo offices of public access broadcast station on Hawaii Island on Thursday, temporarily impacting business operations and forcing the postponement of a political forum. Hawaii News Now.

FBI Executes Search Warrant At Nā Leo TV Station. Nā Leo TV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serving as Hawai‘i Island’s public access TV station. Big Island Video News.

FBI Raid Nā Leo TV Station in Hilo. The FBI executed a search warrant at Nā Leo TV, located at 91 Mohouli St. in Hilo, this morning. Big Island Now.

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Green calls for a clear statewide mask mandate ... and a fine for violators. While masks have been proven to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, rules on when they should be worn are different depending which island you’re on. With the relaunch of tourism one week away, Lt. Gov. Josh Green is proposing a statewide mask mandate that makes the rules consistent across the board. Hawaii News Now.

Key players in Hawaii's fight against COVID-19 could be sidelined come 2021. Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of Healthcare Association of Hawaii tells KITV4 they have a contract with the state to bring in roughly 240 traveling healthcare workers to help bolster the state's hospital capacity. KITV4.

Contact tracers facing obstacles with contacting COVID-19 positive patients. Contact tracing is one of the tools that the state is using to help control COVID-19 spread. KHON2.

Group busting quarantine breakers prepares for visitor influx. In exactly a week the state will launch its pre-travel testing program allowing visitors to bypass the mandatory 14-day quarantine if they test negative within three days before departure. KITV4.

Tourism resumes next week but some say ‘we are not prepared’. The countdown has begun. On Oct. 15, the state will resume tourism with the new pre-travel testing program but there are concerns over enforcement for those who choose not to get tested. KHON2.

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27,000 Hawaii workers exhausted their state jobless benefits in September. The good news: A federally-funded program will pay up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, as long as they apply for it, and then a state extended benefit program will kick in. Hawaii News Now.

Matson projects an increase in third-quarter profit. Hawaii’s largest ocean cargo transportation firm announced Thursday that it expects its profit for the three months ended Sept. 30 will be between $67.2 million and $69.4 million. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Oct. 8: 101 New COVID-19 Cases And 2 Deaths In Hawaii. Of the new cases documented Thursday, Hawaii County reported 14, Maui reported one, and Oahu reported 86 cases. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell says Oahu could move to the next reopening level in two weeks. Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday said Oahu was on track to move to the next level of economic reopening in two weeks, but that residents need to remain vigilant to make it happen. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Caldwell says ‘Honolulu is two weeks away from entering Tier 2’. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said in a press conference on Oct. 8 that Oahu is just two weeks away from reaching Tier 2 of Oahu’s reopening process. KHON2.

As tourism relaunch approaches, Oahu moves closer to second phase of reopening. As Oahu keeps its case count low, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city is moving toward the next phase of reopening. Hawaii News Now.

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Rail CEO: ‘We Can’t Quit’ On Final Construction Contract. Despite strong opposition from Honolulu’s mayor and other top city officials, rail’s executive director says he’ll still try to salvage a deal out of the latest effort to award the project’s last, major construction contract. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell tells HART to put heat on CEO Andrew Robbins. There was little aloha between the head of the city’s troubled rail project and Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday, with Caldwell calling on the rail project’s governing board “to step it up and put the heat on the CEO” on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Candidates Say They’d Finish Rail As Planned But Not How They’d Pay For It. But the situation with the more than $9 billion project is so fluid right now that both Amemiya and Blangiardi struggle to say how they’ll handle it. Civil Beat.

Mayor: bids for City Center leg of rail project way “out of the ballpark”. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the bids for the final and most expensive leg of the rail project came in too high. Hawaii News Now.

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City issues violation notice to Ko Olina Resort for parking closure. The months-long closure of public parking lots that provide access to the Ko Olina Resort’s lagoons is a violation of the resort’s Special Management Area Minor Permit and must be corrected immediately, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting said today. Star-Advertiser.

City works to contain COVID-19 outbreak at Kapolei Hale. The city is monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak at Kapolei Hale and the mayor says he’s looking to implement additional protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. Officials said four city workers at Kapolei Hale have tested positive for COVID-19. Hawaii News Now.

Nursery-grown corals find new home at Hanauma Bay. A team of divers from the state Division of Aquatic Resources today planted five, nursery-grown corals in the waters at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve as part of a pilot project to restore the reef. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County voter rolls swell by another 5,000: Ballots should show up in mailboxes today or Saturday. Interest is growing in the upcoming election. West Hawaii Today.

Kailua-Kona COVID-19 Outbreak Shakes Community's Sense Of Security. Kailua-Kona on the Big Island is seeing its largest spike in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kona hospital reports first COVID-19 death. A woman in her 40s is West Hawaii’s first coronavirus-related death, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County General Election Places of Deposit Open Oct. 8. Maui County’s Places of Deposit, except for those located at Voter Service Centers, will open on Oct. 8, County Clerk Kathy Kaohu announced. Maui Now.

Maui opens general election places of deposit for registered voters. Maui began mailing general election ballots Thursday morning as part of the county’s efforts to encourage mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. KHON2.

Paeahu Solar is OK’d by PUC. A South Maui solar and battery project that’s run into opposition from Maui Meadows neighbors has gotten the go-ahead from the state Public Utilities Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor proposes tier system. Mayor Derek Kawakami has proposed a four-tiered system outlining when businesses and activities can be operational based on coronavirus case counts, including a point at which Kaua‘i would opt out of the state’s pre-travel test program that begins next week. Garden Island.

Kauai’s mayor proposes tiered system for welcoming trans-Pacific travelers back. Kauai’s mayor is proposing a tiered system for welcoming trans-Pacific travelers back that would reinstate the full 14-day quarantine if cases spike on the island. Hawaii News Now.

Kaua'i Mayor proposes four tier system for reopening. Mayor Derek Kawakami proposed his own four tier system on Thursday. KITV4.

Kauai could opt out of pre-travel testing program under new proposal.  Hawaii is just a week away from partially reopening the economy and welcoming tourists back to the islands, but Hawaii Island and Kauai still have pending proposals that would add more safeguards. KHON2.

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KPD officer arrested. A Kaua‘i Police Department officer was arrested Wednesday afternoon for disorderly conduct and criminal property damage while off duty. Garden Island.

Kauai police officer arrested for disorderly conduct, property damage. Officials identified the officer as 38-year-old Officer Tyrus Contrades, of Hanamaulu. Hawaii News Now.

Meet the candidates: Ed Justus. Business at the Talk Story Bookstore dropped at least 70% since the start of lockdown, said Ed Justus, 37, of Kalaheo, bookstore owner and Kaua‘i County County candidate. Garden Island.

Molokai

Food Distributions to be Held Every Friday in October for Moloka‘i Residents. Food Distributions to be Held Every Friday in October for Moloka‘i Residents. Maui Now.