COVID-19

... Hawaii is home to some 70,410 renters who owe their landlords rent, and an estimated 19.1% of them reported being either somewhat likely or very likely to face eviction in the coming months - the fourth smallest share among states ....

... Senator Kidani Education Committee Chair, announced bill 2125 will be deferred, sighting a "fracturing of relationships between DOE and our special education families and community" ....

... Kanuha Awarded Meritorious Torch of Light Award; San Buenaventura and Others Earn Lava Tube Dishonor ....

... Leader of Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay More Than $350k in Restitution ....

... The HING JTF has been on orders assisting the state since April 6, 2020 ....

"...We submitted a Recovery Plan to the FTA, proposing to amend the Full Funding Grant Agreement to the following scope: 18.75 miles/19 stations through Downtown, to the Civic Center Station, which is 1.25 miles and 2 stations short of Ala Moana Center...."

... Honolulu ‘ethics’ function--covering up for the big sharks while spearfishing manini to make it look like they are doing something ....

... Case counts and vaccination updates will be published on the DOH COVID-19 dashboard every Wednesday beginning March 16 ....

... Russian bots spread anti-vaccination messages across the social media ....

“We continue to recommend masks be worn in classrooms, at least for the time being. We are no longer recommending quarantine for students who are exposed to COVID-19 at school."

... Optimistic UHERO forecast with Omicron end, expected return of international visitors ....

... one month after the arrest of English and Cullen, all state facilities managed by DAGS will reopen to the general public ....

... Rapid Rehousing provides short-term rental assistance and supportive services to assist people in obtaining housing quickly ....

... Visitor arrivals are projected to increase to 9.7 million in 2023, 10.0 million in 2024, and 10.4 million in 2025 ....

... Incoming passengers will no longer be required to create a Safe Travels account or provide travelers information and trip details ....

... The online survey asked community members to rank eight priorities for the use of the City’s multi-million dollar share of the Fiscal Recovery Fund ....

... The in-person services are available Monday through Friday (except holidays), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ....

... The decision not to extend the emergency order means the Safe Access O‘ahu program, which required businesses such as restaurants, fitness centers, and events that served food, to verify employees and customers were fully vaccinated or had a negative COVID-19 test, will no longer be a government mandate ....

... Total COVID-19 deaths in Hawaii: 91 per 100,000 people ....

... House Minority Whip Val Okimoto is asking Hawaii Gov. David Ige to rescind the state's mask mandate in light of new guidelines released by the US CDC ....

... In August 2021, nine teachers were absent from their classrooms, but the school could only secure four substitute teachers. So the principal, Thomas Swan, texted academic coaches and other non-classroom teachers to fill the remaining openings ....

... The repeal is only for county rules, the state’s Safe Travels Program and the statewide requirement to wear masks indoors will remain in effect, subject to Gov. David Ige’s proclamation ....

... Former Executive Director of the Hawaii Commission Sentenced To 46 Months in Prison for Embezzling from AmeriCorps And Offering a Bribe in Return for CARES Act Grants ....

... where employers are struggling the most in hiring ....

... analysts looked at the latest information on vaccine hesitancy to find the main reasons why parents don’t want to vaccinate their children ....

... University of Hawaiʻi campuses across the state achieved record highs in important graduation and retention metrics for the academic year 2020–21, the first full academic year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic ....

... Maui County’s indoor mask requirement must be lifted by the governor ....

... SB2916 would prohibit the governor or mayor from suspending requests for public records or vital statistics during a declared state of emergency ....

... The House is re-opening the State Capitol to the public beginning March 7, 2022. House members, House staff, and the public will be required to adhere to the state vaccination policy to enter the State Capitol ....

... SB3089 would amend the state’s emergency-management statute ....

... booster shots will not be required for “up-to-date” vaccination status for individuals traveling to Hawai‘i ....

... 16,000 people in Hawaii quit their jobs in November 2021, the most recent month of available data - a 45.5% increase from one year earlier ....

... you can't let your guard down when our esteemed legislators get together ....

... OHA’s Ka Wailele Emergency Financial Assistance Program is being administered by Hawaiʻi Community Lending ....

... HB1585 needs greater clarity about the role of the Legislature and stronger statements about protecting transparency and individual rights ....

... States Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most ....

... The Kokua Fund Bill Credit Program will automatically provide a one-time credit of $90 to past-due balances for about 22,000 residential and business customers by Jan. 31 ....

... The revised rules require proof of a booster shot to confirm patrons are “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccinations if they want to dine indoors at a restaurant or bar, or exercise inside of a gym ....

... This revision results in the current percentage of the population that has received a booster dose increasing from 31.4% last Friday to 33.1% today ....

... The word now is that leaders are reconsidering ....

... on the Opening Day of the 30th Session of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, Kahele implores state leaders to act decisively and execute a multi-year statewide strategy to mitigate the pandemic and save lives ....

... 60 percent of businesses have been devastated by the pandemic ....

... Ige today said the State of Hawaiʻi allocated all the $1.6 billion received last May ....

... Insights From Fiscal 50’s Key Measures of State Fiscal Health ....

... The HSTA hears that others were being told by the DOH that adults can return after five days “to sustain the workforce” ....

... the trade-off in temporary losses during the adjustment period is met with significant gains in public health ....

... The study showed a statistically significant correlation between how severe state governmental actions were in shutting down their economies and negative impacts on employment more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began ....

... The incentive is in addition to the $50 inmates can receive if they are fully vaccinated ....

... caps large indoor gatherings of more than 1,000 people at 50% capacity ....

... the State of Hawaii will be requiring participation in the State’s Safe Travels digital platform to upload proof of vaccination or negative test results for cruise lines arriving in Hawaii from outside the state ....