Happy New Year! On Wednesday, the 2021 Session of the Hawaii State Legislature opened and our 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, was inaugurated. As we come through a covid-ridden year, we face the looming expiration of UI benefits, the debut of the vaccine; President Biden’s inaugural-day signage of executive orders of relief for renters, students, and the unemployed; with hope for a better tomorrow.
NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT WIELDS EXECUTIVE POWERS
Just hours after the inauguration this past Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed executive orders, memorandums, and agency directives. Below are some you should know:
Mask Requirement: Masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors, in airports and planes, and on all public transportation.
Negative test before U.S. Entry: All travelers, including US citizens, required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before entering the United States from abroad.
Housing Foreclosures: Housing foreclosures and evictions delayed until at least March 31, 2021. The order is longer than the state’s moratorium, which is set to expire on February 14th. So far, Governor David Ige hasn’t said if he’ll extend that date.
Rent Relief: $200 million in emergency rental aid for Hawaii. U.S. Senator Schatz lists eligibility requirements here.
Student Loan Payments: U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan payments extended to October 1.
TOUGH DECISIONS COMING UP IN THE LEGISLATURE
As we open the 31st Legislature, we face a most difficult year, with much work to do in tackling challenging issues both epic and minor–all vital to addressing our “new normal”:
The state had to borrow $700 million last year to pay unemployment benefits and might have to borrow another one billion this year. Because the State of Hawaii is heavily dependent on tourism, we have the worst unemployment record nationwide. We need to work through financing state programs through government efficiencies, loans, seeking new revenues and cutting or consolidating programs and services.
Handling pandemic-related emergency order violations through fines.
Legalizing gambling and other ways to increase revenues to make up for the budget shortfall caused in large part by the severe drop in visitor arrivals.
VACCINE & COVID SCREENING
The Flu Shot and the Covid Vaccine: Don’t Take Them at the Same Time
The COVID-19 vaccine series should be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after getting other vaccines. This is a precautionary CDC recommendation because we lack data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. For more info, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/ Look for a link for vaccination registration and click on it.
New Hawaiian Airlines Program Allows Travelers to Skip Covid Screening Lines
Those traveling to Hawai’i on Hawaiian Airlines can be pre-cleared from screening at certain destinations on the continent if you upload your negative COVID-19 test results and other supporting documents before boarding the plane, you can skip airport screening lines in Hawaii.
UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Status of New Benefits And Extensions Approved by Congress Ending Last Year – Benefits and extensions are continuing but…
PEUC: This federally funded program added 13 weeks of benefits for UI claimants who exhausted their 26 weeks of standard state UI benefits. Late last month Congress and the President approved an additional 11-week extension (for a total of 24 weeks of benefits). But the extension has not yet launched in Hawaii so only people who have not exhausted their initial 13 weeks can receive PEUC by applying and certifying their claims. If you have exhausted your initial round of PEUC you cannot; you can wait for the 11-week extension or apply for Extended Benefits, known as EB20 (more on that below). The DLIR hopes to launch the extension before the end of January.
EB20: The DLIR is not automatically processing EB20 applications submitted after Dec. 13, but claimants can call the DLIR Call Center toll free at 833-901-2272 or 833-901-2275 to ask that their application for Extended Benefits be processed if that is their preference. The DLIR stopped auto-processing EB20 applications so that claimants could instead claim the PEUC extension. This makes sense for claimants who have enough money to tide them over, as the preferred progression is from UI to PEUC to EB, a timeline that maximizes the number of weeks a claimant receives benefits. However, it also means the claimant would receive no payments while waiting for the PEUC extension.
Standard UI: Benefits for claimants who have not exhausted their 26 weeks of standard state UI are flowing normally.
PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Compensation): Benefits for the self-employed and others not eligible for standard UI are flowing normally, with the $300 weekly plus-up. One new rule: PUA claimants must document that they are self-employed (previously they could self-certify).
MEUC (Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation): Hawaii will participate in this federally funded program, which will pay an extra $100 a week to eligible claimants who earned too much from an employer to be eligible for PUA but too little to get much in standard UI. This likely will be the last of the new benefits to be paid and may arrive as a lump sum. DLIR has no implementation timetable currently.
FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) Claimants receiving PUA, UI, PEUC or EB20 are eligible for the $300 weekly plus-up. But due to difficulties in reprogramming the DLIR mainframe for the new programs, the FPUC currently is being paid only to PUA claimants. Known as “Plus Up Payments” FPUC in Hawaii is flowing only to PUA recipients at this point, because PUA claims are not processed on Hawaii’s aging mainframe computer. This means that all other claimants eligible for the $300 weekly plus-up benefit, including those on standard Unemployment Insurance (UI), initial Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), or Extended Benefits (EB20) are not yet receiving payment. The department hopes to finalize the programming of FPUC payments for those claimants within the next week. Payments will be made retroactively as necessary.
STIMULUS DEBIT CARD SCAMMERS
Scammers are looking for your stimulus debit card too. Here’s what to watch out for:
Scammers may send you a text, “You are due an economic impact payment and you need to provide your personal financial information to us in order to receive it.” The IRS will not text, call, email or contact people via social media.
Beware of fake websites and social media that lures you in by a fake ad and emails
The Better Business Bureau found that 35-to-54-year olds were the most susceptible to COVID-19 related scams. See the BBB’s COVID-19 scam report here.
UPCOMING EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS
MONDAY JANUARY 25
Queens to Offer Vaccines to 75 Years of Age and Older. The Queen’s Health Systems has vaccines for seniors 75 years old and over starting on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 at the Neil Blaisdell Concert Hall by appointment. To schedule an appointment, you can call 808-691-2222 Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. You can also register online at http://covid.queens.org/vaccination LOCATION: Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall DAYS: Starting Monday, Jan. 25 Sundays-Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, Closed on Tuesdays TIMES: 8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. PARKING: Neal Blaisdell Center parking structure (enter from King Street). Free parking compliments of Elite parking. INSTRUCTIONS:
Bring a government-issued ID and your insurance card.
Avoid wearing long-sleeved clothing.
All patients will be expected to return 28 days later for a second dose.
The process includes a 15–30-minute observation period to ensure there are no severe adverse reactions.
Attend no earlier than 10 min. before your vaccination appointment
Everyone entering the vaccination clinic must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing requirements.
If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
New Waikiki Beach Maintenance Project Starts.This project is intended to restore beach conditions and shoreline and enhance recreational opportunities; and sand replenishment will facilitate lateral access along the shore and provide erosion mitigation to Waikiki beaches. Below see what the project will do:
Hydraulic dredging and pumping will move up to 20,000 cubic yards of marine sand from offshore Waikiki to Waikiki Beach.
Partial Closure of The Kūhiō Beach/Diamond Head swim basin as it will be the receiving and dewatering area for pumped sand. The Kūhiō Beach/Ewa swim basins and Royal Hawaiian beach areas will have daily intermittent, partial closures to allow heavy equipment movement.
Sand maintenance is expected to last three to four months with offshore dredging and pumping of sand occurring weekdays 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
Gov. Ige to Deliver ‘State of the State Address’. Governor David Ige is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address to the public. He will lay out his plan for the year and share where we stand against the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s hope he has a strong plan! You can watch his speech live starting at 10 a.m. Monday. Click here to watch: https://www.kitv.com/
TUESDAY JANUARY 26
Meeting to Discuss How Kupuna Without Computers and Email May Not Get Vaccine
Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center is working with several groups in hopes of finding solutions. Some staff can do robocalls to large numbers of people, to support the state’s efforts to vaccinate everyone. The Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center is hosting a Zoom meeting and Conference call on the vaccine Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. For an invitation, call 847-1322.
Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, 6:30pm JOIN: Via videoconference or by phone. Click on agenda below for logon info. TESTIMONY: Must be received by the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the board at the meeting. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 or Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov Below are some of the items on the agenda that might interest you. See the AGENDA here
Straub Medical Center Redevelopment – City Council hearing will be held within 60 days. Links to the application materials are available on the agenda above.
McKinley High School Athletic Complex – The state education department has published an environmental assessment (EA), the link of which can be found on the agenda. A 30-day comment period will end on February 8, 2021. Comments should be sent to mitch.tamayori@k12.hi.us and kawikam@g70.design.
Ala Moana Boulevard Elevated Pedestrian Walkway – The state transportation department has published a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document, the link of which can be found on the agenda. The 30-day comment period on this determination will end on February 8, 2021. Comments should be sent to DOT.HWY-AlaMoanaPed@hawaii.gov
Keeaumoku Complete Streets Project – Complete Streets are streets that work for all of us, safely moving people while balancing the needs of all roadway users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists.
Kaiāulu o Kaka‘ako Master Plan Update – Kamehameha Schools’ KKMP plan calls for the development of a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood featuring a range of housing options for owners and renters – from low-rise residences to high-rise towers – inviting green spaces, walking paths, and unique retail and dining experiences.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27
Full City Council to Convene WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, 10am JOIN: Via videoconference or by phone. Click on agenda below for logon info. TESTIMONY: May be transmitted via the internet at here for distribution at the meeting. Written testimonies, including the testifier’s address, email address and phone number, will be available to the public on the City Council’s website. Written testimony will not be accepted in person at the meeting. Should you have any questions, please call 768-3814 or send an email to jyamane1@honolulu.gov AGENDA: here
Some items that may interest you:
PAUOA AREA SEWER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: Providing for the acquisition of easements for public use, and determining and declaring the necessity for eminent domain. Link to Resolution 20-255.
ALA WAI FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT: Urging the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the City Administration to involve the community in preparing supplemental environmental impact reviews for the Ala Wai Flood Control Project. Link to Resolution 21-19, CD1.
THURSDAY JANUARY 28
Condominium Owner Rights Webinar – Join a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 28, 12:00-1:30pm to hear about the ABC’s of condominium ownership: the do’s and don’ts of construction contracts, insurance contractors, meeting blunders to avoid. Click here to register now.
FRIDAY JANUARY 30
Sign Up for Free-Vaccination Town Hall Meeting: Guest Speakers Lt. Gov & State Epidemiologist
Lt. Governor Josh Green and Dr. Sarah Kemble will talk about the COVID-19 vaccination roll out for Hawaii; the safety and benefits of the vaccination; and how to sign up for vaccination appointments. Hosted by AARP, the telephone forum will be on Jan. 30 at 9am as they answer questions and provide an update about the State’s vaccination plan. Sign up to receive a call or livestream here: https://vekeo.com/aarphawaii/# (Under the word “Events,” click on the 1st tile)
