Maui No-shows leave COVID-19 test gaps
March of Dimes: Hawaii Grade 'C' for Premature Births
Miske Defense Demands More Time to get to Witnesses
CB: … Lynn Panagakos, one of the attorneys leading Miske’s defense team, said in a court filing last week that the racketeering conspiracy charge against Miske and his associates “is the product of at least four FBI investigations, beginning in the 1990s,” as well as investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Environmental Protection Agency and “numerous other agencies.” ….
But after reviewing the more than 700,000 pages and about 128 gigabytes of digital data seized from cell phones, cloud storage and email accounts, Miske’s defense team says too many documents are missing, and too much information has been blacked out, or redacted, in the documents that were provided.
(Translation: They want help finding the witnesses. And time for fishing trips.)
These problems were cited during a Nov. 5 hearing as a reason to further delay the trial, which has now been pushed back to September 2022….
ILind: Alexander Silvert’s book on the Kealoha conspiracy case included three long paragraphs near the end of the book in which he described someone he saw as a menacing figure, “he whose name cannot be spoken.”
read … Miske Defense Says It Isn’t Getting Key Evidence Against Him
DoH Has Another Opportunity to Artificially Extend Crisis by Making Navy Wait
HNN: … In their daily update at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, officials said Monday that “significant progress” has been made in cleaning fuel from the system.
Flushing is finished at both Pearl City Peninsula and Aliamanu Military Reservation.
The next part of the process is filtering the water at individual homes, which can begin once lab results show the feeder system has been cleared of contamination.
Officials are hoping to start Wednesday with the 650 homes in the Pearl City Peninsula area ― as long as they get state Health Department and Environmental Protection Agency approval.
“Our intent is that as soon as those test results have come in, and the inter-agency partners have gotten together, and they’ve had time to review those and approve them and say that ‘yes the distribution system is clean and you can move forward with home flushing,’ another notification will be sent out to residents,” said Lt. Cmdr. Alex McCorkindale of the Interagency Drinking Water System Team.
The process is expected to take two hours per home and officials are requesting residents are present, sinks and bathtubs are empty, and access to the water heater is allowed.
The Navy will be providing updates throughout the week on the JBPHH Facebook page….
read … Navy says it’s making progress in huge effort to flush fuel from water system
Lets Play Make Believe: DoH Hearings officer says fake ‘order’ to drain Red Hill fuel tanks should stand
HNN: … The recommendation Monday afternoon came following a contested case hearing last week on the order. The state Health Department said the Navy has until Wednesday to file objections, which would be reviewed by a deputy director ― who will make a final decision.
The Navy, however, is likely to pursue its challenge to the order in the courts. (And the Navy will quickly and easily win because the states don’t have authority to order the military around.)
In a brief statement Monday afternoon, the Navy said it was “aware of the proposed decision” and had no further comment….
In his recommendation, hearings officer David Day wrote the Red Hill facility “poses an imminent threat to human health and safety or the environment”…
read … ‘A ticking time bomb’: Hearings officer says order to drain Red Hill fuel tanks should stand
BWS test (again) shows no petroleum in water at Pearl City and Aiea wells
KITV: … The Board of Water supply (BWS) announced Monday it did not detect petroleum products in a recent test taken at its Pearl City Shaft, Pearl City Wells I, Aiea Wells, and Aiea Gulch Wells.
BWS said in a statement it will continue to test the Aiea sites weekly and all test results will be posted to the BWS website at: boardofwatersupply.com….
CB: Ernie Lau: Oahu’s Future Water Supply Requires Everyone’s Cooperation
Dec 20, 2021: BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY TESTS SHOW NO PETROLEUM IN THEIR WATER SOURCES
read … BWS test show no petroleum in water at Pearl City and Aiea wells
Hawaii Lawmakers Scheme to Work Around Gut-n-Replace Ban
CB: … With a new session of the Legislature set to open in a few weeks, that court decision has leading lawmakers consulting with the state Attorney General’s office and their own lawyers to determine what changes they must make in the flow of legislation to comply with the court decision.
“We’re just trying to figure it out, but because it wasn’t a more blanket (decision), there is some room for what the interpretation is,” said Senate President Ron Kouchi. “We’ve got to be sure that we’re pretty confident that we’ve got something that meets the test.”…
the court ruling in the case apparently reaches beyond that narrow gut-and-replace tactic. It potentially affects any bill that lawmakers amend late in the session to include material that is “non-germane” to the content of the earlier drafts of the bill.
With the 2022 session of the Legislature set to begin in a few weeks, lawmakers are still sorting through the implications of the decision, said House Democratic Majority Leader Della Au Belatti.
“Is there going to be wholesale change? I don’t know because I think the process that we had previously for the normal course of bills accommodates and meets the constitutional requirements,” she said….
The court’s decision hinges on a requirement that dates back to the 1894 constitution of the Republic of Hawaii that every bill must be approved in three “readings” or votes in both the House and the Senate to become law….
“In order to effectuate this intent, a bill must retain some common attributes between readings,” the court ruled in a 66-page opinion. And therein was the problem with the gut-and-replace tactic, which removes and replaces the entire contents of a measure before the three votes in each chamber are completed.
“Rather than encouraging public participation in the legislative process, gut and replace discourages public confidence and participation,” the court opined.
“Accordingly, we conclude that a meaningful interpretation of the constitutional three readings provision requires that the three readings begin anew after a non-germane amendment changes the object or subject of a bill so that it is no longer related to the original bill as introduced,” the court decided.
The court acknowledged its decision was introducing a “new rule,” and therefore declared its ruling will apply only to the specific bill that was challenged in the lawsuit, and to future bills that are passed by the Legislature….
read … Hawaii Lawmakers Grapple With Ruling That Bars Last-Minute Bill Changes
Redistricting May be Kalihi’s only Chance to Replace Mizuno
KITV: … One group is concerned about Kalihi being split down Likelike Highway.
“You just can’t do that. We are a blue collar working district. They just can’t cut us in half,” said state Rep. John Mizuno, who represents Kalihi and Kalihi Valley….
But reapportionment commissioner Dylan Nonaka is defending the plan.
He said the concerns in Kalihi and other areas have been fixed, but acknowledges the geographic separation in East Honolulu remains because much of Oahu’s population over the past 10 years has moved west.
“The east side of Oahu lost a House district and it shifted out to the west side because there were districts out there with 10,000-plus more people than there should be and so it’s an adjustment that has to happen every 10 years,” said Nonaka.
The commission expects to make a final decision on Feb. 6….
read … Commissioner defends redrawn voter maps, saying changes reflect new demographics
Brian Taniguchi To Retire From Legislature After 42 Years
CB: … State Sen. Brian Taniguchi is telling friends, family and supporters that he will not run for re-election to his District 11 seat (Manoa, Makiki, Punchbowl, Papakolea)….
Taniguchi, 70, was first elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1980, and to the Senate in 1994.
He currently serves as chairman of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts; vice chair of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism; and is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means….
Related: Manoa Rep Dale Kobayashi Speaks at Antivaxxer Rallies
read … Brian Taniguchi To Retire From Legislature After 42 Years
Chairperson resigns as Maui County Charter Commission wraps up review
MN: … Maui County Charter Commission Chairperson Lance Collins announced his resignation effective at the end of the meeting on Dec. 16, citing a conflict between his service on the commission and the new role he had accepted as a per diem judge.
Collins was appointed as a District Court judge for the Second Circuit Court of Hawaii later that day and was sworn in on Dec. 20….
Vice Chairperson Grant Chun is the acting chairperson for the Charter Commission as it continues its once-a-decade review of the County Charter.
The meeting on Dec. 16 also concluded its hearings on more than 130 proposed charter amendments, with votes taken on Theme J, “miscellaneous and new items,” four newly submitted proposals and various commissioner motions to modify language in certain previously adopted proposals….
Details on the commission’s decisions are available at www.mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/Index/5153.
A preliminary report detailing all proposed charter amendments will be available to the public in mid-January.
The commission will conduct meetings Jan. 26 and 27 for the public to provide testimony. It has until Feb. 18 to submit its list of proposed amendments to the County Council for review.
For more information, visit the Charter Commission website at www.mauicounty.gov/CharterCommission….
Related: 9/11 Conspiracy Theorist to Rewrite Maui County Charter?
read … Chairperson resigns as Charter Commission wraps up review
COVID Hospitalizations Triple: Officials to discuss reducing healthcare workers quarantine, isolation period amid staffing shortages
KHON: … hospitals are putting up the tents as a precaution, because hospitalizations soared quickly during the delta surge over the summer. Raethel said it’s to make more room for covid patients.
Queen’s said the tent will hopefully be up and running towards the end of the week, and that it will help provide better separation between COVID and non-COVID patients.
Raethel said medical officers statewide will discuss the CDC’s recommendation made last week that adjusted guidelines for healthcare workers, which recommended that vaccinated healthcare workers not quarantined if they are exposed to the virus, and workers who test positive and are asymptomatic can return to work after seven days with a negative COVID test.
The CDC went further to say the isolation time can be cut for asymptomatic workers if there are staffing shortages, and that healthcare workers who received all recommended vaccines and a booster, do not need to quarantine following high-risk exposure….
read … Officials to discuss reducing healthcare workers quarantine, isolation period amid staffing shortages
Hawaii's Contact Tracing System Put to the Test
HNN: … "The volume of cases is so tremendously high. We have over 14 thousand active COVID cases right now and our contact tracers are not gonna be able to get in touch with everyone," Baehr said. 240 of those tracers are in Oahu.
The Department of Health says 25% of those they attempt to contact do not respond.
"If you are COVID positive, don't wait for our contact tracers to call you, take appropriate steps," Baehr added.
Physicians say those steps include self-isolation and taking pro-active tracing measures into your own hands.
"If you are infected, think back 48 hours before. Those members of your friends and family that have been with you 48 hours before your symptoms start- should be contacted," Dr. Alan Wu of Doctors of Waikiki told KITV 4….
read … Hawaii's Contact Tracing System Put to the Test
Health care group: It’s time to close nightclubs
HNN: … Healthcare Association of Hawaii President Hilton Raethel is calling on state leader to reinstate other restrictions.
“We are concerned about large events. We are concerned about the nightclubs,” he said.
“We don’t want to shut down the economy, but we know there are some high-risk activities that are going on right now during this surge absolutely. And we believe they should be curtailed.” ….
read … Health care group: It’s time to bring back some restrictions, rein in ‘high-risk activities’
It Begins: Hawaii airports see flight cancellations, scores of travel delays
SA: … While Hawaii has experienced fewer staffing-related flight cancellations than many destinations this holiday season, Monday brought at least 17 cancellations, and more than 100 delays.
At Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, there were seven cancellations within, into, or out of the United States, according to tracking by FlightAware.com. Also, as many as 68 flights headed to or from Honolulu were delayed.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole had four flights canceled within, into, or out of the U.S., and 23 delays. Hilo International had three delays and no cancellations.
On Maui, four flights were canceled headed to or out of Kahului Airport, and 47 delayed. And on Kauai, two flights headed to or out of Lihue were canceled, and 12 were delayed….
read … Hawaii airports see flight cancellations, scores of travel delays
COVID Retirements and Leaving State Account for 75% of Reduction in Labor Force
KHON: … Bonham said, “We’ve seen a significant outflow of population, about half of the reduction in the labor force are people who have left the state and probably another quarter are people who’ve retired.”…
HPR: Local economist says this is how the latest COVID surge may put a damper on economic recovery
read … Omicron poses challenges to state’s economic recovery
City working on enforcement for new North Shore beach commercial activity ban
SA: … A law that bans commercial activity at North Shore city beach parks has gone into effect, and the city is working on sending out notices to businesses about compliance.
The new ordinance particularly affects surf schools, wedding photographers, tour buses and videographers, but exempts the film industry from the rule.
The beach parks that no longer allow commercial activity are Waiale‘e Beach Park, Sunset Beach Park, Ehukai Beach Park, Pupukea Beach Park, Waimea Bay Beach Park, Haleiwa Alii Beach Park, Kaiaka Bay Beach Park and the undeveloped parts of Haleiwa Beach Park next to Puaena Point. Since the area is so geographically large, city Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson Nathan Serota said the city would like to enlist the help of the community with reporting illegal commercial activity….
read … City working on enforcement for new North Shore beach commercial activity ban
Corona Virus News:
QUICK HITS: