LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The 2021 Legislative Session is well underway. As newly appointed Chair of the Committee on Government Operations (GVO), Senator Moriwaki is working to move forward legislation that increases government efficiency and effectiveness during these financially challenging times. To see a list of legislation referred to GVO, click here. Senator Moriwaki is also the Senate Co-convener of the Kupuna Caucus which put forth legislation that will protect and help our seniors. She additionally introduced several bills that are meant to keep our neighborhoods safe and our facilities well maintained among other things. The submission of testimony on these bills at capitol.hawaii.gov is highly encouraged.
HAWAII’S NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE: SUPERBOWL SUNDAY 2021
Shouting, cheering, masks flying off in a rage or in victorious laughter, finger foods galore. Officials worry that watch parties this weekend could lead to another coronavirus spike. With 7 days of stable COVID-19 numbers, City leaders are considering easing the rules on team sports but caution that won’t happen if cases rise. Mayor Blangiardi is in talks with the sports community to reduce some restrictions, but only after seeing if the Super Bowl brings a surge of new cases. Enjoy the game with caution!
MORE VACCINES ON THE WAY: LONGS DRUGS STORE TO START FEB. 11
Seven CVS or Long’s Drugs statewide will start giving out the shots on Thursday, Feb. 11. Longs is not able to say exactly which stores will be giving out the COVID vaccine, but doses will be available in all four counties. Only those 75 years and older can get the shots. People can start making appointments on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Walk-ins will not be allowed.
CVS says the initial rollout is 4,400 doses and additional locations will be added when more vaccines arrive. To make an appointment at CVS, call (800)-746-7287, or click here.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: UPDATE
OPTIONS FOR THOSE SEEKING EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Claimants who exhausted their funds from the regular state UI program and from their original 13-week PEUC program (PEUC13) are facing delays in enrollment for PEUC11, an 11-week PEUC extension, approved under the last COVID relief bill. For those who filed for extended benefits between Dec. 15-28, DLIR stopped auto-processing EB20 applications so that claimants could instead apply for PEUC11, as the preferred progression is from UI to PEUC to EB, a timeline that maximizes the number of weeks a claimant can receive benefits. Claimants can choose between EB20 or PEUC11. If you apply for EB20, you will receive payments within 2 business days after approval. EB20 is retroactive to date of your last benefit payment. PEUC11 is retroactive to the week ending January 2, and expires in March; after these benefits expire, you can apply for EB20 which will run until June. Any benefits delayed will be paid retroactively if necessary and claimants will be made whole. To choose your program option, log on to your DLIR web account and click on “Extended Benefits Survey” which is available Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
IS HAWAII THE ONLY STATE HAVING UI PAYMENT DELAYS DUE TO “ANTIQUATED MAINFRAME” ISSUES? No, other states are also having to update their antiquated UI systems to accept federal funds from the new legislation. To view a video on what to do with your benefits extension, click here.
WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR ANSWERS TO YOUR UI QUESTIONS?
The “Hawaii Unemployment Updates & Support Group” on Facebook has become a de-facto resource. Administrators compile research and members’ experiences to help some of its 25,000 members, with issues like UI extensions. To join, click here. The DLIR makes announcements on its website, news releases, in the unemployment insurance portal, and at https://twitter.com/HI_DLIR . It includes information on its implementation of provisions of the COVID-19 relief bill. For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit the FAQs at https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/
WAIKIKI DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
CENTENNIAL PARK WAIKIKI: THE PARK IS OPEN AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL! What was once an undeveloped parcel of City property used as a staging area for construction vehicles is now a beautifully landscaped park for the entire community to enjoy. At 425 Royal Hawaiian Avenue, monkeypod and palm trees, smaller plants like pōhinahina, ti, ginger, and spider lilies adorn the area. As the vision of former resident Bill Sweatt, the dream carried forward by the Rotary Club of Honolulu with more than $1.5 million in donations and 4,000 hours of volunteer work. The Rotary Club plans to improve the park’s fencing, install seating and add lighting. The park open hours will be from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more info, visit https://centennialparkwaikiki.org/
WAIKIKI SAND REPLENISHMENT PROJECT: Update. Sand is returning to Waikiki Beach, beginning this past Tuesday morning with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. The Waikiki Beach Maintenance Project is intended to restore and maintain the beach between the Kuhio Beach Ewa Groin and the Royal Hawaiian Beach areas. The $4 million project will close parts of Kuhio Beach until at least the end of April, with normal beach operation to resume by June. Offshore dredging and pumping of sand will occur weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During the three- to four-month project, the Kuhio Beach/Diamond Head swim basin will be partially closed for receiving and dewatering pumped sand, and the Kuhio Beach/Ewa swim basins and Royal Hawaiian beach will have daily intermittent, partial closures between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to allow heavy-equipment movement. The proposed Waikiki Beach Improvement and Maintenance Program foresees adding more sand to Waikiki Beach and constructing three T-head groins from the Halekulani hotel to the L-shaped Royal Hawaiian groin, which was rebuilt in August and would effectively be converted to a fourth T-head groin under the plan. For more info, call (808) 956-9780 or email WaikikiBeachSIDA@gmail.com . For project details, click here.
KAKAAKO DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
HONOLULU DEVELOPER VENTURES INTO COVID-LADEN HOUSING MARKET – Hopeful March sales for a 972-unit project, called The Park on Keeaumoku, will show to what degree buyer demand exists for new, largely moderate-price high-rise homes. Developer Nan Inc. designed to project to feature studios up to three-bedroom units with prices at $900,000 for a two-bedroom unit with 920 square feet of living space. Sales were previously slated to begin last summer but were put on hold because of COVID-19. For more info, click here.
OHA TRUSTEES LAUNCH NEW EFFORT TO DEVELOP KAKAAKO MAKAI PROPERTY – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Thursday took the first step toward kick-starting the stalled development of its waterfront holdings in Kakaako, valued at $200 million. Since taking control of the 30 acres in 2012, OHA has been looking to transform the property into huge profits to support its mission of improving conditions for Native Hawaiians. But the land has remained undeveloped despite several planning campaigns, development proposals and meetings held statewide to gather input from beneficiaries. In 2014 the state Legislature rejected a proposal to build two residential towers there. On Thursday the board established a Permitted Interaction Group, a subset of trustees who will examine further ways to develop the Kakaako Makai properties. For more info, click here.
JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF STATE AS OWNER OF KAKAAKO DISPUTED STREETS – Seven years after Kakaako business owners sued two brothers for towing cars and charging parking fees, litigation over private use of several Kakaako roads finally ended on Feb 2, with a judge ruling that the state owns the disputed streets. The two brothers began towing and charging since 2010 after decades of the roads being free and open for public use. The legal squabbling pitted Kakaako Land Co. owners Cedric and Calvert Chun against not only area business owners, but also Hawaii state leaders and the state attorney general’s office. The disputed streets include all or part of Ward Avenue and Queen, Cooke, Cummins, Ilaniwai, Hustace , Kawaiahao, Clayton, and Waimanu streets.
ALA MOANA DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
RENTAL APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR UPSCALE CONDO AT ALA MOANA
A chance to rent new apartments reserved for households with lower-moderate incomes is coming at a residential tower approaching completion near Ala Moana Center. The developer expects to hold a lottery in August to select tenants for 78 affordable rental units in the tower. Applications to enter the lottery became available Monday and will be accepted from March 1 to June 30. The lottery to randomly select qualified applicants for tenancy in August; and apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in October. Apartments in the tower are being referred to as “1518 Makaloa”. Rental applications are available here: https://1518makaloa.com/
SCHOOLS
MAHALO TO MCKINLEY HS TEENS: HELPING EATERY STAY AFLOAT DURING PANDEMIC – McKinley High students participating in the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders program decided to adopt local business, Teruya’s. During the pandemic, Teruya’s faced hardship and was forced to temporarily close. Sad to see one of their favorite restaurants close their doors, a group of McKinley high schoolers decided to take this matter into their own hands and raise money to help keep Teruya’s afloat. By selling snack bags at a socially distanced school-movie night, the team of teenagers were able to raise $500 and donate it to the restaurant. They are working to boost the restaurant’s social media presence to get more customers through the door.
SPONSORS NEEDED FOR KEIKI SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is seeking sponsor organizations to help children in low-income communities obtain free meals during the summer months. The SFSP provides nutritious meals that help children to learn, play, and grow during the summer break when many schools are not in session. Schools, public agencies, churches and private nonprofit organizations may apply to be SFSP sponsors. Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to children and teenagers, 18 years and younger. In 2020, SFSP meals were served at 88 locations throughout the state. The Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs (HCNP) will conduct workshops for new and returning sponsors from March 22 to April 2. For more information about SFSP, contact Daniel Sutcharitkul at the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs at 808-587-3600 or via email at Daniel.Sutcharitkul@k12.hi.us
HAWAII SCHOOLS TO GET $56.5M IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. Hawaii public schools will receive nearly $57 million in federal funding to provide academic support for low-income students. Funds are to support teacher professional development, hire additional educators and implement more academic support programs. Funds will also benefit about 85,000 students enrolled in Title I schools, where a disproportionate number of students live in poverty. Schools are expected to receive the funds by July 1. This year’s funding is an increase of $2.3 million from the 2020-21 school year.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Plan, Plan, Plan – EARLY!
Fiesta Latina Zoom Online Valentine’s Day Dance Party – FEB.13
Spend your virtual Valentine’s Day dancing to DJ Trambo who will be spinning the best of all the Latin hits live from Toronto! Date: Feb 13th Start Time: 5:00pm HST (Hawaii Standard Time) Duration: 4 Hours Recommended Age: 19 and older
View Promotional Video here: Fiesta Latina with DJ Trambo
Click here for ticket ($10) purchase for zoom link.
10% of all proceeds support Children’s Mental Health Awareness.
A Valentine Rock-A-Hula Show – FEB.14
Enjoy gourmet food, a fabulous Waikiki hula show, and a rose for each lady. The $20 million Royal Hawaiian Theater® is the home of the nightly Rock-A-Hula® show six days a week in the heart of Waikiki featuring a 750-seat theater, state-of-the-art lighting, sound and multimedia technology.
Take a 360-degree virtual tour here.
Choose from three shows and buy your tickets here.
Click here for the show’s covid update.
Stars of Honolulu Valentine Sunset Cruise – Feb 14
Star of Honolulu® is the perfect setting for a unique and special Valentine’s Day dinner that’ll WOW your loved one! Choose from four different experiences including our Five Star, Romance, Three Star and Star Valentines Cruises. All four cruise options include a delicious gourmet dinner and premium live entertainment alongside breathtaking views of the sunset and city lights.
Location – Aloha Tower Marketplace
Time – 5:30 to 7:30pm
Cost – Adult: $115 / Child: $69
Buy your tickets here.
Dine-In and Takeout Menus in Honolulu for Valentine’s Day 2021
Whether it be a romantic dinner for two at a restaurant or a smorgasbord at home, there are a ton of options to choose from. Click here for 50 Valentine’s Day dine-in and takeout menus and dessert specials offered around Oahu. Some of these specials are available only on Sunday, Feb. 14, while others can be enjoyed through the weekend.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD – FEB. 9
WHERE: Via Webex from Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave.
TIME: 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. AGENDA
The board will be hearing a full slate of issues. Some of the topics on the agenda are: Convention Center Walkway Project; Kaimuki Microgrid; Legislative Updates on Crime, Senior Driver’s License Renewal, Noise, Homelessness, Condominiums, Transient Accommodations Hosting Platforms Policies, Abandoned Housing, Residential Real Property, Covid-19 Related, Coastal Zone Management, Fireworks, Transportation/Sidewalks, Law Enforcement Reform, Abandoned Vehicles, Helicopters, and Mopeds/Electric Scooter. Attend and weigh in on these or other concerns.
KAKAAKO FOOD DISTRIBUTION – FEB. 6, 13, 20, 27
WHEN: Every Saturday in February
TIME: 12 – 1:30pm *only while supplies last
WHERE: 653 Ala Moana Blvd. HI 96813. Corner of Keawe St. & Ala Moana Blvd. (old pump station) INFO: Walk-ins only. No drive-through. Parking in front of Na Kupuna Makamae Center and in front of the Sheriff’s office are tow-away zones. For more info: Call (808) 773-7047 or email carmenlee@pacificgatewaycenter.org.
