Fake it to Make it: DoE Releases 'Return to Learn' Plan
COVID Count: 29 new cases out of 1,858 tests
Federal judge rules Hawaii’s quarantine is reasonable during coronavirus pandemic
AP: … A U.S. judge will not stop Hawaii from enforcing a quarantine on arriving travelers, saying in a ruling that the emergency mandate is reasonable during the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
A group of Hawaii, California and Nevada residents tried to stop the quarantine by filing a lawsuit alleging it is unfair and unnecessary. It violates the fundamental right to travel freely, they argued.
The quarantine mandate, which applies to out-of-state travelers and Hawaii residents, doesn’t prevent people from traveling and the plaintiffs “have elected not to travel — whether to or from Hawaii — because they do no want to be quarantined,” U.S. District Judge Jill Otake said in a ruling issued Thursday night denying a request for a temporary restraining order.….
PDF: 20200703 Judge's Order
IC: Federal Court Denies TRO: Hawaii Gov's Coronavirus Travel Quarantine Doesn't Stop Anyone From Coming To Hawaii
HNN: Jim Hochberg, the attorney for the four travelers seeking to overturn the quarantine, said his clients will consider appealing
CB: Judge Denies Request To Lift Hawaii’s Travel Quarantine
read … Federal judge rules Hawaii’s quarantine is reasonable during coronavirus pandemic
HB460: COVID Excuse to Clamp Down on TVRs -- ‘Place of stay declaration form’ draws concerns
WHT: … HB 460, on the other hand, gives counties authority, whether there is a health emergency or not, to require the traveler declaration forms, detailing where the traveler intends to stay and for how long for anyone touching down at state airports.
The bills now go to the full Senate, and then back to the House, which has never considered the bills in their new incarnations.
The wording in HB 460 reflects concerns about the spread of coronavirus during the pandemic, but the bill, which would take effect on approval, has no provisions to end when the pandemic does.
The intent of the bill is to clamp down on illegal vacation rentals in the state, which Mayor Harry Kim said he fully supports. The bill gives counties subpoena power to compel records from short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, HRBO and Homestay. And it authorizes counties to establish a registry, open to public inspection, of permitted transient vacation rentals, defined as stays of less than 30 days or a period defined by county ordinance, for compensation.
Kim recounted in an interview Thursday how his administration made licensing vacation rentals a priority after hearing many complaints from their neighbors, even before he took office.….
But a flurry of testimony in opposition, primarily from vacation rental owners and real estate professionals, has more recently been submitted.
“OMG! Is this real? serious? If I visit Hawaii and are required to register my whereabouts including the place I choose to stay in or move around, etc., then I wonder if I lived in the communist China’s Xinjiang that the government can watch me everywhere!!,” wrote Hawaii First Realty. “This is America! Not perfect, but we should not head our community toward the direction that both homeowners and visitors are being spied, watched upon by the government.”…
CB: Hawaii Legislature Advances Vaping Ban, Police Reforms, Vacation Rental Crackdown
read … ‘Place of stay declaration form’ draws concerns: Vacation rental bill clears last Senate committee
HB2501: Controversial pandemic powers bill moves forward
WHT: … A Big Island state senator was the lone dissenting vote in the Ways and Means Committee on a controversial measure that would give the state health director sweeping powers to declare a public health emergency and, with authorization of the governor, to screen, test and monitor travelers.
Sen. Kai Kahele of Hilo, a candidate for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, cast his no vote during a Thursday hearing, expressing “major concerns about the … sweeping powers that this bill will be giving to the state director of health and questions about privacy and civil liberties and constitutionality.”…
House Bill 2501, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1, is a gut-and-replace measure prepared for the current truncated legislative session. The bill mentions COVID-19 in its opening sentence, saying the pandemic “demonstrates the need for preparation, flexibility and quick action in the face of ongoing or new risks presented by outbreaks of communicable or dangerous diseases in the state or in other parts of the world.”
“I would like to hear from the governor, himself, why we need to pass this bill right now, without giving the public the full opportunity to testify on this in both chambers, and that he does have within his authority under (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 127A) the power to do everything this bill is asking him to do, and that we are doing right now,” Kahele said….
Kauai County Councilwoman Felicia Cowden wrote she supports “the need for legislation that provides a clear pathway for managing infectious diseases.” Cowden added she opposes granting “such unquestionable authority to a non-elected official, even with the governor’s approval, for such extensive and intrusive intervention into the health and well-being of the citizens.”
Cowden said the legislation’s “broad wording … creates the policy environment for intrusion on civil liberties.”
“This bill gives this director police powers to separate families, confinement against individual will for undetermined length and vaguely defined powers such as ‘take other actions’ and phrases live ‘wherever necessary,’” she wrote.
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a conservative think-tank, expressed “grave concerns,” calling the “powers contemplated in this bill … so sweeping and broad as to raise significant questions about privacy, civil liberties and constitutionality.”
“Of particular concern is the bill’s broad permissions regarding screening/tracking technology and how collection, sharing and disclosure of personal information will be handled.”…
CNN: Tech companies are still helping police scan your face
read … Controversial pandemic powers bill moves forward
The Real Plan for Fall Semester—School 2 Days per Week, Teachers Get Paid for 5 days
CB: … Kapolei Middle School, home to about 1,100 students, has already chosen an instructional model that divides its students into two groups. Each group will come to campus twice a week, with teachers reporting to campus all five days of the week.
(CLUE: This is going to be the plan for all non-Elementary schools statewide.)
There will still be five days of instruction, said Principal Richard Fajardo, since the kids who are not in the physical classroom will be learning from home. It won’t be live, face to face instruction, he said, but teachers will issue pre-planned assignments and expect their students to complete them by the end of day.
The school’s most vulnerable students will come to campus more frequently, he said….
One lingering question is what working parents will do when their kids are not physically in school and they have to provide child care….
HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said the union unsuccessfully fought for a clause in the reopening contract that would have allowed teachers’ kids to report to campus five days a week, under the same priority as vulnerable students….
SA: It will be a tall order to meet annual academic achievement goals
KITV: HSTA expresses dissatisfaction with social distancing guidelines set forth by DOE
VIDEO: HSTA Objects To Hawaii DOE Guideline For Social Distancing
HNN: Teachers union isn’t on the same page as DOE on what ‘social distancing’ means
read … Here’s How Hawaii Plans To Bring Kids Back To School This Fall
Virus Shifts Kekaha ES to 100% Online
TGI: … Kekaha Elementary School’s summer school program has gone back online because an individual associated with the school is among the existing COVID-19 cases on Kaua‘i.
Yesterday, (DOE) Department of Education confirmed the existence of the individual with COVID-19, but couldn’t provide further information due to identity-protection laws.
The entity confirmed Thursday the school is not closed; instead, it has shifted to online learning.
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health has already notified those who may be potentially impacted by the case …
read … Virus sends Summer school online in Kekaha
Hilo HS: Teachers voting on their preference
HTH: … Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area Superintendent Chad Keone Farias said he likes the DOE’s guidelines….
As of Thursday, schools in the complex area had not made any decisions in regard to learning models they plan to implement. Principals were meeting with teachers Thursday, Farias said.
A decision on what model the Hilo High School will adopt for the school year had not been made as of Thursday, but Principal Jasmine Urasaki said teachers were voting on their preference. However, Urasaki said she suggested the model and schedule the school decides on be conducive at all levels of COVID-19’s community impact.…
read … Learning curve; Lessons from pandemic help shape DOE guidelines for 2020-21 school year
COVID Retaliation Behind Senate rejection of Ige Tax Director?
CB: … Rona Suzuki, the governor’s pick to head the state Department of Taxation, was set to go through a confirmation hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee but asked that her name be withdrawn from consideration Thursday morning after learning that the committee would not support her confirmation.
In response, Ige wrote a letter to the Senate, asking that the senators reconsider and rebuking them for “putting political considerations ahead of the public good.”
“It is irresponsible and shameful,” Ige wrote. “Our ability to recruit capable leaders will be frustrated by Senators’ treatment of nominees.”
The committee didn’t actually take a vote on Suzuki’s nomination on Thursday. It adjourned without making a decision.
The committee is expected to take up Suzuki’s nomination at a hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday.
Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, responded in a letter to Ige that the Senate will welcome the opportunity to vet Suzuki’s qualifications.
“The Nominee was given the opportunity to make opening comments,” Dela Cruz wrote. “She surprised members when she announced she was requesting her nomination be withdrawn.”
Ige wrote in his letter that the Senate’s criticism stems from work Suzuki had done outside her role as head of the tax department. Earlier this year, Ige tapped Suzuki to coordinate the use of federal relief funds….
Suzuki, along with other cabinet members, have been heavily criticized by a special Senate COVID-19 panel that has scrutinized the Ige administrations response to the pandemic.
Several members of that panel are also on the Senate Ways and Means Committee….
read … More Discord Between Hawaii Gov And Senate Over Tax Director
SR159: Senate Committee Rejects Special Rights for Sovereignty Activists
FH: … On Tuesday by a vote of 0 to 5, Senate Resolution 159 was killed in the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee….
Introduced by Senator Maile Shimabukuro, Senate Resolution 159 called for the State to convene a commission to find ways that Hawaiian Nationals who are currently being abused by institutional discrimination, can live in harmony within the Hawaiian Islands, currently being governed by the State of Hawaii…
What or who are Hawaiian Nationals? Like other nationalities, they are the body politic of a nation. They are those who identify with and maintain their first allegiance to a particular nation. Hawaiian Nationals are those whose first allegiance is to the Hawaiian Nation. Most of those who identify themselves as Hawaiian nationals are descended from subjects of the Hawaiian Kingdom….
SR159: Text, Status
read … Rejected
'Police Lives Matter' Honolulu Group rallies at Capitol
KITV: … Walter Kelekolio formed the group The Silent Ones in reaction to the national controversy over police, and the move to defund police departments.
This is the first day of the rally. He will do this once a week going forward.
The group meets Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. at Iolani Palace, marches up Bishop Street, then ends at the Capitol. The event lasts one hour….
read … 'Police Lives Matter': Group rallies to show support of law enforcement
Kauai police detective arrested in domestic abuse case
HNN: … Authorities on Kauai say a 19-year veteran of the Kauai Police Department was arrested Wednesday following an apparent dispute that left a 29-year-old woman injured.
A department spokesperson says Detective Barry DeBlake, a Lihue resident, was taken into custody on suspicion of abuse of a family or household member while on duty.
Police were called to a Lihue residence, the scene of the alleged incident, shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Authorities say the 51-year-old was taken into custody without incident and released after posting $1,000 bail.
He has been placed on administrative leave with pay, the department says….
TGI: On-duty officer arrested
read … Kauai police detective arrested in domestic abuse case
Efforts to combat unemployment fraud create new headaches for filers
HNN: … Residents seeking unemployment benefits or trying to file weekly certifications are encountering new headaches as the state scrambles to address fraudulent claims.
The first issue has to do with those trying to file weekly or bi-weekly certifications, which are required.
When someone tries to file them online, a pop-up appears asking for permission to verify that the claimant is in Hawaii. The person needs to click “allow.”
But many have instead chosen “block” which freezes the process.
And that’s a really big problem.
“Benefits are stopped when it appears claimants are filing outside of Hawaii so claimants should allow the system to detect their location when filing certifications,” acting Labor Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio told Hawaii News Now in an interview Thursday….
read … Efforts to combat unemployment fraud create new headaches for filers
Bankruptcy filings soar in Hawaii as economic fallout of pandemic widens
HNN: … Bankruptcy filings in Hawaii soared 21.8% in June as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreck havoc on the state’s economy.
A total of 151 residents and businesses filed for bankruptcy protection last month, according to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hawaii.
“This is just the beginning I fear ... this is the beginning of the wave. And I think we’re going to see into the next year many, many filings,” said Jean Christensen, a Maui bankruptcy lawyer….
read … Bankruptcy filings soar in Hawaii as economic fallout of pandemic widens
One after another after another, small businesses in Hawaii call it quits
HNN: … An arcade on wheels won’t be rolling around Honolulu anymore.
“We want to say mahalo for all the memories over the years,” said Mobile Gamer Guys owner Kalani Miller.
Miller and his friends built a mobile arcade out of his garage 12 years ago — decked out with TVs, Xboxes and a Nintendo Wii.
Miller told his customers on social media this week he won’t be resuming operations.
“With COVID, we lost business from March through June – project grads, graduation parties, birthday parties, end of school year. We started getting a lot of cancellations because of the pandemic. Social distancing and ‘stay at home’ played a role in it,” Miller said.
In Waikiki, more shops are boarded up.
Bikeadelic Hawaii on Kuhio Avenue was once thriving bike rental business run by a husband and wife….
read … One after another after another, small businesses in Hawaii call it quits
HONU: COVID Put an End to Plan to Move Homeless into Shelters
SA: … The Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) program was primarily created to increase the availability of overnight bed space when shelters are full or when a person wanted to go to a shelter outside of the normal intake hours. It gives patrol officers a shelter option when trying to help a homeless individual.
When the pandemic started, the HONU program was unable to quickly transition people because the shelters were adjusting their capacity to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines for social distancing. Also, some of the shelters were not comfortable taking in new clients without some sort of prior self-quarantine or testing. This made it difficult to make placements quickly, and HONU turned into an emergency shelter instead of a pass-through facility as originally conceived. Also, HONU does not have the ability to support the medical screenings necessary for COVID-19.
Thus the HONU program transitioned to a POST (Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage) model that notably has the resources for self-quarantine, social distancing and periodic medical screenings….
read … Mike Lambert: Police captain who spearheads HPD’s innovative approaches to helping the homeless adjusts to COVID-19 restrictions
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