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COVID vaccine passport “could very well be devastating to businesses”
KHON: … The Hawaii Restaurant Association has been involved in discussions with the New York City Restaurant Association.
“We’ve been able to talk to lawmakers there as well and find out what’s working and what’s not working and some of the things that are not working is that when you have a vaccination mandate, and if you do it blanket, and there’s no testing option, you can create a lot of pushback,” explained Hawaii Restaurant Association vice-chair Ryan Tanaka.
He said many restaurants opted out of the NYC vaccination pilot program because some staff were being met with belligerent customers and could face fines up to $5,000 if restaurants do not check for vaccine status.
“The great thing about mayor is he’s been calling he’s been listening, he’s really trying to understand how is it going to impact the community, and he’s trying to take more of a velvet hammer approach because something has to be done, we’re in a humanitarian crisis, right, we’re seeing record high case counts, and that is currently what’s in front of us,” Tanaka added. “At the same time, we have to balance that with an economic recovery. And so how do we find that delicate balance?”
Mayor Blangiardi said he does not want to do a lockdown when the minority of residents are unvaccinated.
The Hawaii Restaurant Association polled about 120 restaurants. Some were in favor of a vaccine passport but restaurants in zip codes with low vaccination rates were very concerned.
“If the vast majority of your customers are unvaccinated, what if they decide not to do takeout? You’re going to lose all that business,” Tanaka said.
One area that could be impacted is Oahu’s North Shore, which is less than 45% vaccinated.
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce manager, Roxana Jimenez, wanted to speak as a North Shore resident but said Haleiwa businesses could take a hit.
“It could very well be devastating to businesses,” she said. Jimenez is not vaccinated for medical reasons and believes the State is not on the same page and should not be mandating vaccinations
“I believe that the people of this state are not in agreement with what’s happening, it’s robbing us of our freedoms,” she said.
The retail sector hopes they will not be included in the vaccine passport and said their industry has kept COVID cases to a bare minimum.
read … COVID vaccine passport announcement expected Monday, Honolulu business leaders weigh in
Former first lady Vicky Cayetano makes run for governor in Hawaii
SA: … Cayetano…recently co-chair of the successful 2020 campaign of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, another business executive and first-time politician. ….
Her campaign is simply dubbed “Vicky for Governor,” emphasizing to voters she’s the only female candidate of the major contenders who so far include Lt. Gov. Josh Green and former mayor Kirk Caldwell. It also tells voters she’s not running on the name of her husband, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, now 81, who served two terms from 1994 to 2002….
While she helped chair the campaign of Blangiardi, who leans conservative, Cayetano said her politics are decidedly Democrat.
“My values absolutely align with the Democratic Party, always have been: pro-choice, minimum wage (increases), death with dignity,” she said….
“I’m fiscally conservative,” Cayetano said. “I believe in accountability and living within what we’ve committed to the taxpayers.”
Politicians don’t always realize the effects of tax increases that come “on the backs of working people,” she said….
Cayetano already has led a busy life. She was chairwoman of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, successfully lobbied for a bill banning the sale of shark fins and in 2009, with her husband, founded The Cayetano Foundation Scholarship that helps 20 financially struggling students attend college each year….
Details of her plans on a wide range of issues are scheduled to be released Monday on her campaign website, vickyforgovernor.com.
She declined to critique the performance of Gov. David Ige, especially his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that sent her business spiraling to a 75% drop….
ILind: A look at Vicky Cayetano’s past campaign contributions
CB: Vicky Cayetano Offers A ‘Humble Spirit’ In Run For Hawaii Governor
read … Former first lady Vicky Cayetano makes run for governor in Hawaii
Lorrin Pang: Street Corner Crackpot has been giving Specious Advice for Years
Borreca: … Soon he was questioning whether Hawaii was doing enough to survey the state for the possibility that depleted uranium from military munitions fired in the 1960s was a serious health hazard. Later his concern about genetically modified plants led to him joining the Maui-based Shaka movement in passing a later-overturned, voter-approved moratorium on genetically engineered crops in Maui County.
While serving as the state Health Department’s medical representative on Maui, Pang joined Shaka as a private citizen and was on the board of directors that sued in federal court.
Pang was moving from someone whom former Gov. Ben Cayetano praised as the leader of the state team that eradicated dengue, to someone leading the opposition to state policy. For instance, while contesting the GMO (genetically modified organism) issue, it was Pang who argued with federal Environmental Protection Agency officials when they said eating GMOs such as Rainbow papaya “is the same as eating papaya with a virus, which is a common occurrence.” ….
Pang now has grown beyond being a public policy contrarian into someone passing along specious medical advice.
Pang now is warning, as co-founder of the community group, Pono Coalition for Informed Consent, that “if you are under 65, the vaccine is more likely to kill you than save your life,” and the promotion of the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment options.
As of press time, Gov. David Ige had not commented but the state Legislature reacted with a little-seen joint House-Senate letter condemning Pang’s thinking and urging that he be tossed out of state government.
“Dr. Pang has undermined the state’s critical public health message and public trust.
“Accordingly, after consultation with the Maui legislative delegation, we request that you immediately remove Dr. Pang from his position with the Department of Health,” legislative leaders said.
It was a moment of legislative sanity that gives hope that in a time of phony medical advice from internet charlatans, Hawaii citizens in the face of a pandemic will trust medical advice, get vaccinated, use a mask and listen to their doctors — and not the corner crackpot.
read … In these dire times of COVID-19, health guidance from officials must be sound, not specious
Vegan Surfrider Activist sickened by COVID-19 finally decides to get vaccinated
SA: … Doorae Shin (Surfrider Oahu director) is 29 years old and healthy. She exercises regularly, is vegan and eats organic foods, and doesn’t drink alcohol. So when she got very sick with COVID-19 for 10 days this month, she says it was a shock.
It started with her legs being sore to the bone, followed by a 102-degree fever and chills. Shin had searing headaches and body pain in random places, followed by a bad sore throat and cough. She broke out in itchy hives that covered her face, legs, torso and arms, and her skin was so sensitive for a couple of days that her shirt rubbed uncomfortably when she walked.
Shin felt tired, weak and nauseous, and like many suffering from the virus, she lost her sense of taste and smell.
She was also unvaccinated, a decision she now regrets.
Shin is among the 33% of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 in Hawaii who have declined to get vaccinated….
Shin has been sharing her story because she wants to encourage more people to get vaccinated, particularly young people like herself who think their age and health largely protects them from serious illness.
“I think that is where I went wrong,” said Shin….
On Friday, Maui Memorial Medical Center said it was caring for 34 COVID-19 patients, with six in intensive care and two on ventilators. More than 70% of the patients are under the age of 60, an increase from 10 days ago when younger patients made up 50% of those hospitalized….
UKDM: COVID gave Hawaii vegan, 29, super-itchy hives all over her body after she avoided vaccine because she thought healthy lifestyle would protect her from virus
read … Young Oahu resident sickened by COVID-19 advises others to get vaccinated
Hawaii burns with pandemic fever and combustible politics
Shapiro: … >> Infectious disease expert Tim Brown said leaders are too reactive on COVID-19 instead of thinking about “where do we want to be two to three weeks from now.” Funny how they can never think a few weeks ahead, but they can always think a few elections ahead.
>> Protesters against vaccines and masks, including some who harassed Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s condo neighbors with bullhorns and strobe lights, portrayed themselves as defenders of liberty. The virus thanks them for defending its liberty to infect freely.
>> Green, who keeps a second job as an emergency room physician, said he doesn’t care if people are irritated when he preens around as LG in his hospital scrubs. It’s just his way of saying, “I’m a doctor and you’re not.”
>> Daniel Gluck was voted down by the Hawaii Senate for the state appeals court, but he might get a footnote in the record books. He was the first judicial nominee openly rejected for the offense of being a haole….
read … Hawaii burns with pandemic fever and combustible politics
Surge ‘frustrating’ for COVID testers
HTH: … “The need for testing has just multiplied by infinity,” said David Buck, Premier Medical’s Big Island COVID-19 operations manager. “At this point, with the case numbers where they are, there is no such thing as testing too much.”…
A calendar of county testing by Premier, KTA and S&G Labs can be found at bit.ly/HawaiiCOVIDtesting.
read … Surge ‘frustrating’ for COVID testers
Leading city agencies in Honolulu all lack top officials
SA: … As Hawaii battles a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overrun hospitals and health care workers, three of Honolulu’s four first-responder agencies lack permanent leaders, and the acting chiefs are coordinating Oahu’s response to a global public health crisis while lobbying to keep their jobs.
The chiefs of the Honolulu Police and Fire departments and the Emergency Medical Services Division are all serving in an acting capacity.
Acting HPD Chief Rade K. Vanic has run the department since June 30, while acting Fire Chief Lionel E. Camara Jr. has been at the helm since Feb. 28. Acting EMS Chief Christopher Sloman has managed his division since March. Only the city’s Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division chief, John K. Titchen, is not serving in an acting role…
read … Leading city agencies in Honolulu all lack top officials
Hanalei businesses can’t find employees
TGI: … Signs of the labor shortage in Hanalei are everywhere.
In just about every shopping center, the doors to several businesses are closed. “New operating hours” and “Help Wanted” notifications are posted up and down the street. Restaurants with long lines are having to turn would-be customers away.
“This is the most challenging time for hiring, harder than it ever has been,” Katie Krieger, front-of-house manager at Bar Acuda restaurant, said.
The Kuhio Highway’s closure limiting access to and from Hanalei has been exacerbating the effects of a workforce shortage that is being felt across Hawai‘i and the nation. Businesses have had to adjust operating hours to the times when employees can get through the convoy, and it has been hard to recruit new workers.
“We need that road to open,” said Aaron Irons, owner of Hanalei Bread Company.….
Employers try to fill jobs at second day of Kauai County-sponsored fair
read … Hanalei businesses have extra hills to climb
Retaliation lawsuit filed against KPD Chief Todd Raybuck
TGI: … Paul Applegate, who is of Japanese descent, alleges past and ongoing racial discrimination, retaliation, violation of the state’s Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, intentional inflection of emotional distress and negligent hiring and supervision within KPD.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu Friday….
Applegate, a 21-year employee with KPD and current Investigative Services Bureau captain, made an internal complaint last September, which prompted a Police Commission investigation that found Raybuck guilty of violating discrimination ethics on two occasions.
In a November 2019 incident, Raybuck met with command staff and told a story about an Asian customer in a fast-food restaurant, making facial gestures and using an accent….
read … Retaliation lawsuit filed against KPD Chief Todd Raybuck
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