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Caldwell Admin Official Sued for Child Molestation
HNN: … The director of the Department of Enterprise Services for the City and County of Honolulu has been put on administrative leave pending the outcome an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior, Honolulu’s mayor said Wednesday.
Guy Kaulukukui, who was selected by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to lead the department back in 2015, was sued last week by a former student alleging they had an inappropriate relationship dating back to the 1980s.
The suit alleges that the inappropriate relationship occurred during a period of time when Kaulukui was a teacher and girls track coach at Kamehameha Schools.
The victim, who is listed only as Jane Doe on the lawsuit, was a minor at the time, according to the lawsuit….
SA: Honolulu city official Guy Kaulukukui on paid leave after being named in child sex-abuse lawsuit
read … City official on paid leave amidst investigation into inappropriate behavior
Alleged Child Molester Hired by DoE, Taught Second Grade
CB: … A former Punahou School assistant girls’ basketball coach accused by three women of sexual assault went on to coach and teach at other Hawaii schools until 2018, even though Punahou allegedly knew about his behavior as early as 2003.
One of the women, a minor at the time, filed a restraining order against Dwayne Yuen in 2006.
But the allegations didn’t stop him from getting jobs at Moanalua High, Kamehameha Schools and Momilani Elementary schools. Civil Beat research shows that he taught second grade and coached basketball at Momilani, and coached at Moanalua and Kamehameha.
The women say in their lawsuits that they reported him to Punahou School when they were in their teens, but the school did nothing to protect them.
read … Another HSTA Member
Ige Reopens Realtors, Car Dealers, Professional Services
SA: …Ige also announced that Payroll Protection Program (PPP) payments to businesses will not be subject to the state general excise tax (GET). He said this will help small businesses maintain their payrolls and cover some operational expenses….
Additionally, he said, the state Department of Taxation would be asking the Legislature to allow the state to exclude PPP loans from state income taxes. This is expected to provide some relief to the more than 11,000 small businesses that have received the emergency loans, he said.
The businesses being reopened with prescribed limitations include certain real estate services, new and used car and truck dealerships, automated service providers, mobile service providers, services provided on a one-on-one basis, and public and private golf courses….
Lt. Gov. Josh Green cautioned that while Hawaii has one of the lowest mortality rates in the U.S., the state may well experience more deaths because there are people still in the hospital fighting for their lives….
In addition, the state will use a new digital tool that will help enhance contact tracing investigations, helping to follow up with people who’ve had close contact with a positive case. People will be able to use the computer application to directly input information on their health status to the Health Department, Anderson said….
read … Gov. David Ige announces reopening of Hawaii’s economy in phases
Hawaii Officials Mull Further Restrictions On Tourists, But Data Show Most Virus Cases Are Residents
HPR: … health department numbers show that tourists account for a small fraction of Hawaii’s 600 confirmed cases of the virus. The governor confirmed that fact at a recent press conference.
“The overwhelming majority of COVID-19 cases are coming from residents who have traveled to the mainland or internationally to places that have had COVID-19,” Ige said.
But that has not stopped some officials from proposing stricter measures for visitors arriving during the pandemic.
Attorney General Claire Connors says her office is exploring the possibility of requiring visitors to wear an ankle monitor during their two-week quarantine. She discussed the idea with legislators at a recent state Senate hearing.
“There are a whole lot of things in the array of options available to us. Is it going to be ankle bracelets at certain hotels? Ankle bracelets at all hotels? We’re still trying to drill down on some of the issues that will increase enforcement,” Connors said.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office said in an email that the ankle monitors were just one of several ideas under consideration for tracking travelers during the pandemic, but that nothing is definitive yet.
Senators present at the hearing suggested ideas ranging from banning car rentals for non-residents to quarantining tourists on military bases. Kaneohe Sen. Jarret Keohokalole went so far as to suggest that visitors be quarantined on barges.
But non-partisan health experts like Dr. Mark Mugiishi say that singling out visitors misses the larger issue. “The public health risk to the state of Hawaii is from travelers,” the general surgeon said….
All arrivals since late March have been required to undergo the 14-day, self-quarantine. Multiple visitors have been arrested for violating the quarantine before waiting the full 14 days.
As of last week, state officials began verifying contact phone numbers and addresses where each airline passenger landing in the islands will be for their quarantine. Visitors are required to provide the name of their hotel, while residents must provide the address of their local residence.
When it comes to expanding those measures, there is now another complication. Earlier this week, Attorney General William Barr directed U.S. Attorneys around the country to be on the lookout for state and local rules that violate civil rights.
In a written memo Barr said, “We do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local officials to protect the public. But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis.”
“We must therefore be vigilant to ensure its protections are preserved,” he added.
In a written statement, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji Price said: “State and local leaders in Hawaii and elsewhere are appropriately taking actions to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19. This is a tough task, and one that must be performed responsibly, mindful of the civil liberties enshrined in the U.S. Constitution that define who we are as a community and a country.”
Price also added: “It is my duty to protect the public and enforce the law, which means ensuring that, during times like these, restrictions imposed to protect the public are both reasonable and temporary.”
read … Hawaii Officials Mull Further Restrictions On Tourists, But Data Show Most Virus Cases Are Residents
Kauai Curfew and County-Organized Homeless Tent Cities Still in Effect
TGI: … The first two Emergency Rules will continue, Kawakami said; Emergency Rule 1, which dedicates Kauai County campgrounds “to be used exclusively by our homeless community to shelter in place” and Emergency Rule 2, which is the nightly 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew….
read … Restructuring the emergency rules
60% of Unemployment Claims Not Yet Acted on
SA: … During the April 1 to April 28 benefit period, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations still had 180,129 claims in process out of 225,394 filings. But DLIR did manage to improve its payout ratio to 40%, or 72,813 claims. That’s up from less than a third of filings, some 65,252, paid between March 1 and and April 26 ….
read … Complaints over Hawaii unemployment claims persist despite progress
DLIR Finally Ready for Self-Employed to Apply for Unemployment
KHON: … Usually, folks who fall into those categories don’t qualify for unemployment so the state didn’t have the system set up for them to file.
But now they do.
Officials are calling it the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA. This system allows people to apply online ….
To apply, click here
SA Editorial: Gig workers need PUA benefits badly
SA: Hawaii Labor Department accepting applications for federal pandemic unemployment assistance.
read … Gov. announces new PUA set up, a way for the self-employed to file for unemployment
Dental and eye care offices plan to open-up appointments slowly
KHON: … Many dentists and optometrists limited their appointments to emergencies under recommendation by the CDC, but as more safety guidelines come-out, some practices will begin to see more patients.
In mid-March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested to suspend routine medical visits to preserve personal protective equipment in preparedness for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients.
Optometrist Dr. Linda Arakaki said her practice began to meet patients virtually, but on May 1, patients could return with new safety measures after the CDC lifted its request….
read … Dental and eye care offices plan to open-up appointments slowly
Aussies Already Planning Hawaii Vacations
DM: … Australians are starting to plan their next holiday destination despite the international and state borders remaining closed due to the coronavirus, and the areas they've decided on might surprise you.
Online travel company Expedia has calculated the regions people have been searching for in the month of April for check-in dates between October 1 and December 31, 2020, and January 1 to February 28, 2021.
With Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirming that he can't see international travel being made available to citizens for a 'long time', it's more likely trips will be planned interstate.
So, as a result, the Gold Coast, Queensland, came in as the number one most researched spot, followed by Bali, Indonesia. …
Oahu in Hawaii, known for its surfing and laid-back lifestyle, also made the list for both time frames, pointing to the way we're looking for a quick flight - Hawaii is only nine hours away - rather than a lengthy European stint.
In the Asia Pacific region searches for Singapore; Phuket, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan, were high on the charts, possibly because they are faring slightly better against COVID-19 ….
read … Aussies Already Planning Hawaii Vacations
Another 35-MW wind farm is proposed in Ulupalakua
MN: … Auwahi Wind is seeking to build another wind farm with up to seven turbines and a generating capacity of 35 megawatts adjacent to its existing facility on Ulupalakua Ranch land on the leeward slopes of Haleakala.
According to an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice, Auwahi 2 Wind Farm Project also will include an energy storage system, a substation and 34.5-kilovolt generator tie lines, all located next to the existing wind project infrastructure.
Auwahi’s current wind farm, which went online in December 2012, has eight turbines and a generating capacity of 21 MW.
The new Auwahi 2 project is proceeding with preliminary permitting to meet deadlines if the project is selected by Hawaiian Electric in its latest round of request for proposals for renewable energy issued in August….
Related: The Environmental Notice 20200423
read … 35-MW wind farm is proposed in Ulupalakua
Telemedicine: Abortion by Mail in Hawaii
VICE: … Candace would’ve had to fly to the neighboring island to get an abortion, but she got sent pills instead….
read … What It's Like to Get an Abortion in Hawaii
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