Hawaii's economy after the lockdowns
COVID Count 64 new cases
Politically Incorrect: DoE Dumps Acellus
‘No Brainers’ -- Hawaii Politicians Can’t Figure out if we Have a Mask Mandate or Not
SA: … House Speaker Scott Saiki, co-chairman of the House Select Committee on COVID- 19 Economic and Financial Preparedness, told committee members Monday that he and state Senate President Ron Kouchi have asked Ige to specify through an emergency proclamation that wearing masks is mandatory across all islands and that enforcement is up to each county.
Ige’s office said in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the governor’s proclamations already make it clear that “A statewide mandate on masks already exists. … With the governor’s approval, each county has issued its own specific guidelines unique to its community with minor variations. Violations are misdemeanors, and counties handle the enforcement.”
Ige’s 13th and 14th emergency proclamations on COVID-19 — his most recent — both include a chart that says “wash, mask, and distance” are among “recommended Safe Practices.”
But members of the House COVID-19 committee Monday said clearer language is needed to require everyone to wear masks.
Mufi Hannemann, chief executive officer and president of the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, told Saiki that the visitor industry would like the Legislature to convene a special session to draft a bill requiring mandatory mask wearing or take up the issue during the upcoming regular session.
“The need for more strengthened rules and requirements and even a law to get people to comply with wearing a mask is a no-brainer for us,” Hanne-mann said….
Lt. Gov. Josh Green told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday that he would like the Legislature to mandate the wearing of masks.
But Saiki told Hanne-mann on Monday that it would be “unwieldy” for lawmakers to require masks statewide through a bill — and simpler for Ige to order the requirement through a supplemental emergency proclamation, which Ige’s office said he has already done….
House COVID-19 panel hears presentations about state’s economic recovery, worries about another spike in cases…
(Clue: The rules are so detailed and change so much that even the lawmakers can’t figure out what they are anymore.)
Hawaii’s lead economist calls statewide mask mandate a “no-brainer”
State mask policy doesn’t go far enough, lawmakers and economists agree
read … Pressure builds for stronger mask mandate
As Usual, Hawaii Elections Produce Fake ‘Firsts’ for National Media
(Another Bogus ‘First’) Adrian Tam defeats local Proud Boys leader, becomes 1st gay Asian American in Hawaii House (Not! Blake Oshiro, and others….)
(Another Bogus ‘First’) Kahele becomes 2nd Native Hawaiian ever elected to Congress (Not! Prince Kuhio was 2nd. Robert Wilcox was first.)
Kahele to Push Federal ‘Reparations’ for Hawaiians
AP: … Kahele, who became the second Native Hawaiian after Akaka elected to Congress since statehood, has said he will champion Indigenous voices and push for things like housing assistance, the protection of natural resources and for the federal government to right the wrongs committed against Indigenous Hawaiians.
Hawaii was an independent kingdom until 1893, when American businessmen backed by U.S. Marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. The U.S. annexed Hawaii five years later, making it a territory. It gained statehood in 1959.
While the U.S. apologized in 1993, Kahele said “that was the first step in what needs to be a process of healing and reparations.”
Native Hawaiians are not among the more than 570 federally recognized Native American tribes. They share common struggles in land loss, health care and lack of economic prosperity and have access to some of the same federal funding and preference for bidding on federal contracts as tribes.
Kahele said he’s already reached out to his Native colleagues in the House.
“If we work together, we can achieve so much more,” Kahele said. “And there are a lot out there who want us to fight, to compete against each other for the same federal resources.” …
read … Hawaii’s Kai Kahele joins Indigenous members of Congress, giving hope for change
Indian Affairs Again: Hawaii’s Senators See New Hope For Hawaiian Issues In Washington
CB: … Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz is poised to hold one of the top two positions on the Indian Affairs Committee, depending on the results of two runoff elections in Georgia that will determine which party holds the majority in the chamber….
If Democrats win, Schatz will be committee chairman, following in the footsteps of Hawaii’s longtime senators, Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.
Should Republicans retain control, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski — a well-known ally of Hawaii’s federal delegation — will be the chair with Schatz as the ranking Democrat….
Any legislation they pursue, whether it’s expanding broadband or addressing the impact of climate change on Native communities, will have a much better shot of getting funded. The change also bodes well for efforts to increase funding for Native Hawaiian health care, housing and education.
Schatz said he didn’t yet have any specific plans or legislation to share….
Andy Winer is Schatz’s former chief of staff and a lobbyist, whose client list includes the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.
He said the importance of having Murkowski and Schatz at the head of Indian Affairs cannot be understated, especially given the fact they both sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“That becomes an extremely powerful combination of committee assignments,” Winer said. “It’s a big deal. It’s going to mean that there’s an opportunity to really put a focus on Native Hawaiian issues in a way that has been more difficult over the last few Congresses.”….
Kahele, who is of Native Hawaiian descent, has said that he intends to make Native Hawaiian issues a top priority….
Congressman-elect Kahele prepares to move from sleepy Hilo to a divided DC
‘Hilo Boyz’ Ed Case And Kai Kahele Prepare For 2021
"Proud Hilo boys" plan to push for more federal COVID relief on Capitol Hill
Case, Kahele discuss priorities as they prep for 117th Congress
read … Hawaii’s Senators See New Hope For Hawaiian Issues In Washington
Traditional Veterans Day events canceled, but some virtual stand-ins planned
HNN: … Rather than the normal ceremony, staff at the cemetery will conduct a private wreath laying ceremony that will be posted to the cemetery’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
Additionally, the Oahu Veterans Council will air a virtual ceremony to mark Veterans Day that will air at 11 a.m. Wednesday on Olelo and the Hawaii Veterans Day Ceremony 2020 YouTube page.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific notes that they are open for visitors on Wednesday, but asks that attendees "continues to adhere to CDC and local guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19″ by limiting the number of individuals at each grave site to five.
And the Battleship Missouri Memorial will also hold a virtual event featuring keynote speaker Congressman-elect Kai Kahele.
The event will be livestreamed on the Battleship Missouri Memorial’s Facebook page….
KHON: The Oahu Veterans Council will air a virtual Veterans Day ceremony
read … Traditional Veterans Day events canceled, but some virtual stand-ins planned
Tourism Grows to 20% of Last Year
KHON: …the state is starting to see some gain from visitor numbers.
Hawaii’s largest industry, tourism, just had one of its busiest weekends during the pandemic.
University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) Executive Director Carl Bonham said the first week of November was met with an approximate 20 percent increase toward economic recovery from last year.
“We actually saw over the weekend the largest number of daily visitors since we began the pre-travel testing program,” Bonham said. “You can see the relatively higher amount for Oahu.” …
TI: FAMILY TURNED AWAY FROM HAWAII DESPITE HAVING NEGATIVE COVID-19 TESTS
read … Deadline to spend coronavirus funds approaches
Feds pick up the tab for county workers
HTH: … The federal government picked up $3.7 million for salaries, wages and overtime of county employees during the first seven months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released by the county Department of Finance in response to a West Hawaii Today public records request.
As expected, the bulk of the reimbursements, $2.5 million, were for emergency responders and workers in the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments, tasked with sanitizing public facilities. The Fire Department, which includes lifeguards, emergency medical services and ambulances cut by the state, alone accounted for almost $1.4 million of that….
HNN: Despite significant need, Hawaii has spent just 30% of its $1.2B in federal COVID-19 aid
read … Feds pick up the tab for county workers
Sierra Club, Rich Enviro Snobs Pushing to Reduce Parking Spaces for Condos used by the Little People
CB: … Sierra Club, filed a complaint with the city ethics commission Friday highlighting Arakawa’s failure to register to lobby.
The filing comes ahead of the Honolulu City Council’s Tuesday hearing on Bill 2, which aims to make the city’s rules on off-street parking and building design more flexible and environmentally friendly.
Lawmakers have recently softened language in the measure to ease developers’ concerns. Specifically, developers have pushed back against the proposed mandatory “unbundling” of future parking spaces from residential units, as well as proposed distances for building setbacks. …
(The rest of the article is just petty harassment of the lobbyist working against this anti working class scam)
SA: Contentious parking bill advances on 2nd read
SA Editorial: Don’t gut bill that would improve city
HNN: Will putting in fewer parking spaces mean fewer cars on the road? The city hopes so.
SA: Snobby Enviros Peddle their Scheme to downsize your life
read … Cars are only for Rich Environmentalists
Response to Gary Hooser
TGI: …Mr. Gary Hooser in response to your opinion editorial “Policy and Politics” and to all other Democratic Socialist Progressives, your ideology is far Left of Center and is truly not considered Centrist. Your unique attempt to move your “Goal Posts” further Left is admirable and a failure….
Background: Chemophobia Monger Gary Hooser Calls Himself a ‘Centrist’ LOL!
read … Response to Gary Hooser
Honolulu Police Arrest Miske Witness On Gun And Drug Charges
CB: … A government witness who says alleged crime boss Michael Miske and his associates tried to kill him at Kualoa Ranch after he refused to murder Jonathan Fraser was arrested by Honolulu police officers Monday on unrelated gun and drug charges….
Link: Police Blotter (See pg 16)
read … Honolulu Police Arrest Miske Witness On Gun And Drug Charges
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