COVID-19

...DBEDT estimates that Hawaii’s real GDP fell by approximately 7.5 percent in 2020, a smaller decline than the 11.7 percent contraction forecast in the previous quarter....

... If policymakers wish to avoid imposing taxes on these small business lifelines  they need to act quickly, as tax deadlines are fast approaching ....

... In January, a total of 171,976 visitors traveled to Hawaii by air service, compared to 862,574 ....

"...allow additional flexibility for our schools beyond virtual options in bringing our graduates together for this momentous occasion...."

... In December, Hawaii had the highest unemployment rate among the states at 9.3%, followed by Nevada at an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Both of these rates are higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.7%....

... Only a little more than half of Honolulu residents surveyed consider the city and county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to be effective ....

... Archaic Protectionism Is Set to Sink Alaska Cruises ....

... statewide RevPAR decreased to $58 ....

... Federated States of Micronesia is one of the most advanced countries on Earth ....

... The Department of Health will announce when sites are prepared to accept registration for this new age group ....

... The governor’s continued exercise of extended unilateral power also has called into question the legality of the state’s emergency powers law ....

... Laissez les bon temps rouler! ....

... DLIR announced that it has completed system updates for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program that was extended by the Continued Assistance Act ....

... increasing Hawaii's tax burden at a time when its economy is in its worst depression ever ....

... COVID-19 is affecting the mental health of all Hawai‘i residents, but especially for young adults and those whose household income is less than $50,000 ....

... According to the survey commissioned by the Hawai‘i Department of Health, 55% plan to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible and 36% will wait before receiving their vaccinations ....

... It is naturally hard to say no to an ex-tweeker who, at Bishop Estate, achieved the kind of things most Honolulu politicians can only dream of ....

... Ige must sign a bill into law before March in order to prevent automatic assessment increases from being triggered ....

... Under the freshly funded relief program, the Department has partnered with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) as its administrator ....

... During a follow-up revisit of Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home on Jan. 6, 2021, inspectors found the facility to be in compliance, avoiding a mandatory termination of the facility on April 16, 2021 ....

"...By requiring legislative approval for the extension of an emergency past a 60-day time limit, the bill would take a positive step toward protecting the balance of powers and the public trust...."

... but not so much with Corona Virus rates ....

... After nearly a year of the governor exercising unilateral power, it is clear the people need a greater voice in dealing with emergencies ....

... surveyed visitors from the U.S. mainland who visited Hawaii in the first two weeks of December 2020, to gauge their experience with Hawaii’s Safe Travels program ....

... Our unemployment system, as of January 8, 2021, has paid out $3.4 billion in unemployment benefits ....

... activists were determined to get their way ignoring all of the evidence while creating lots of fake “evidence” ....

... “Lockdowns Versus Liberty,” -- civil liberties in the time of an emergency ....

... Institutions in Hawaii have only spent 40 percent of total allocated funds ....

... Research shows that half of Hawaii’s population wants the vaccine and another quarter are still deciding ....

... "Recent analysis by the Hawai'i Budget & Policy Center finds that this statewide program got out more housing assistance to help renters per capita than any other state effort across the country" ....

... I was fortunate to get an appointment the very next day I called at my local Kaiser Clinic ....

... domestic violence and sexual exploitation – have likely intensified ....

... all Legislative employees working in the Hawaiʻi State Capitol will be able to be vaccinated as members of its prioritized vaccination system's Phase 1b (i.e., individuals essential for government operations), on January 28, 2021 ....

... The deaths occurred in August through December, 2020 with 51 deaths reported on O‘ahu, six on Hawai‘i, and three on Maui ....

... House speaker calls Ige’s State of the State address ‘risk averse’ ....

... a perpetual emergency status ....

... UHERO second quarterly survey of rental property owners and managers ....

... Hawaii vs Alaska Safest COVID States ....

... In December 2020, Hawai‘i hotels statewide reported substantial declines in revenue per available room ....

... As a service to our readers we are providing a line-by-line debunk of HSTA's argument in parenthesis below ....

... Hawaii's Legislature needs to step in to prevent the extensive exercise of unchecked unilateral power, says the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii ....

... Approximately 800 American Samoan residents are anticipated to transit through Honolulu, be tested for COVID-19, and quarantine en route to their previously shuttered island home ....

... 2020 STARTED OUT like any other year, but ....

... that $2 billion in “savings” is going to end up costing the taxpayers almost four times as much in the long term ....

... VIDEO: The Knights of Aloha protesting at the Hawaii State Capitol Friday January 15, 2021 ....

... sign up here ....

... Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital, Kona Community Hospital, and Hilo Medical Center now scheduling vaccinations for those 75 years of age and older, as well as essential workers ....

... Efforts to save money now will cost taxpayers more later while putting government employees and retirees at risk, says Grassroot Institute of Hawaii ....

... The U.S. Supreme Court granted 14 cases Friday night, adding an additional 12 hours of argument to its calendar ....