Ala Moana shoreline safety, elevated pedestrian walkway, COVID resources
October 10, 2020
Aloha Neighbor,
If you haven’t had the chance yet, please take our online community survey. It will take no more than 5 minutes and will help us to understand what is important to you. We will be closing the survey next week Wednesday and will send the results to you in a future message. We will use the results to craft legislative proposals for the 2021 legislative session.
There is a lot going on and you should make your voices heard. It is important. Talk to your neighbors and get involved. Also sharing some important happenings and advisories.
SENATE CONFIRMS EIGHT JUDGES
The Senate met on Tuesday to advise and consent on eight judicial nominees: one judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals and seven to the district court: First Circuit Court Judge Karen Nakasone to the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA); Karin Holma, Tracy Fukui, Bryant Zane and Andrew Park to the District Court of the First Circuit; and Courtney Naso, Elizabeth Paek-Harris and Thomas Haia to the District Family Court of the First Circuit.
ALA MOANA BEACH SHORELINE: Safety for All
With the closure of our parks, fish that were scarce previously have returned. Fishers have followed the fish and created conflicts with the swimmers and other recreation activities at Ala Moana Beach Park. Ala Moana Beach is for all users and thanks to the joint effort of the State Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), in particular the division of aquatic resources; and the City Departments of Emergency Services/Ocean Safety Division and Parks & Recreation have collaborated to come up with a possible solution to address the public use, historical and cultural interests as well as safety of park users. Join in the briefing and discussion on the DLNR’s proposed draft management plan here.
We invite you to attend a zoom meeting to discuss the options and give us your feedback on: Monday October 12 from 10:30-11:45 am. Join us via zoom at https://zoom.us/j/91240426522
ALA MOANA ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY: DOT Call for Comments
Kakaako saw the tragic accident and death of pedestrians waiting to cross Ala Moana Blvd. The Department of Transportation (HDOT) in collaboration with Howard Hughes Corp obtained federal funds to build an elevated walkway over Ala Moana Blvd. between Ward Ave. and Kamakee St. for pedestrians and bicyclists. You can see the proposed project details here and give your input:
When: Thursday, Oct.15, 6:00-7:30pm ( via Phone at” 877-853-5257 (Toll-free) or via Zoom: www.rebrand.ly/AlaMoana | Meeting ID: 876 2476 8446 | Passcode 539066
WHAT TO EXPECT ON TRANS-PAC TRAVEL: PRE-TRAVEL TESTING IN LIEU OF 14-DAY QUARANTINE: Starts Oct 15
While the state does not expect an immediate flood of travelers, Oct. 15 is set as a deadline to bring pre-testing and contact tracing protocols to ready Hawaii to allow travelers to avoid the 14-day quarantine if the pass the certified pre-test for covid. Many of the partners that are involved with the pre-travel testing program – government, airlines, hospitality industry and businesses – are also using this start date as a deadline to ensure all safety measures, operations and information for residents and visitors are ready.
The following partners that are certified to provide the pre-test for travelers are: AFC Urgent Care, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Color, CVS Health, Hawaiian Airlines, Kaiser Permanente (members only), Quest Diagnostics, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Vault Health, Walgreens. Registration instructions and costs can be found at the partners’ websites here.
HOUSE COVID MEETING MONDAY: OCT. 12, 10:00AM
Find out more on the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation on pre-travel testing and the UHERO survey on the impact of covid on Hawaii’s rental properties. The informational briefing will be available for live viewing on Olelo Cable Television Channel 49 on Oahu. It will also be livestreamed via www.olelo.org. View agenda here.
OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST:
UPDATES ON UNEMPLOYMENT
EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS VIA PEUC PROGRAM
Those who are still not called back to work can continue to receive extended benefits by applying for the State DLIR’s Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PUEC) program, which is funded by the federal CARES Act to provide 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. Click here to apply. Those applying will need to be patient as this is not the regular UI program so UI staff must manually input the information into the state system. Processing will take about 21 days. Claimants should continue to file certifications. In the meantime, those needing rent or mortgage assistance through December 28, 2020, should visit Catholic Charities here. For instructions on how to apply for PEUC, click here.
WEBINAR ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS
You can hear an update on unemployment and workforce development on October 12 at noon. Presenters for the October 12 webinar are: Anne Perreira-Eustaquio, Director, Department of Labor & Industrial Relations and Leinaʻala Nakamura, Administrator, City Department of Community Services – Work Hawaii Division. To register for this webinar, click here. Other topics are covered every Monday at 12 noon. A list of weekly webinar topics can be found here.
KAKAAKO FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION: October 2020 ScheduleIn partnership with Aloha Harvest, Help is on the Way, and Ham Produce & Seafood Inc., Na Kupuna Makamae Center (NKMC) will again provide free food to the community! A BIG MAHALO to NKMC for all you do!
DATES: Saturdays, Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31.
LOCATION: 653 Ala Moana Blvd. Corner of Keawe St. & Ala Moana Blvd. (old pump station)
FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE: Onsite pick-up only, walk-in only. No drive-thru.
