Known to be a fearless warrior, a wise diplomat, and a highly respected leader, King Kamehameha I is credited with uniting the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. His war tactics have been studied by the Pentagon and his likeness appears in the National Statuary Hall, a chamber in the U.S. Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. Kamehameha Day is the only holiday that was established by royal proclamation that is still officially observed by the State of Hawaii.
Celebrating Kamehameha Day
View private ceremonies honoring King Kamehameha on Olelo TV channel 53 for both Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom on the following dates:
City Holiday Schedule for King Kamehameha Day
City and County of Honolulu offices will be closed on Friday, June 11, to observe the King Kamehameha Day holiday.The holiday schedule for the City and County of Honolulu operations is as follows:
Emergency medical services, fire, lifeguard, medical examiner and police services will be available.
TheBus will operate on a state holiday schedule. Click here for route and schedule info.
Refuse will be collected and transfer stations, convenience centers, H-POWER and the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill are open. Click here for more information.
Parks and botanical gardens, municipal golf courses and the Honolulu Zoo remain open.
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center box office will be closed, and the People’s Open Markets will not be held.
All public libraries will be closed.
All satellite city halls and driver licensing centers will be closed.
The following traffic and parking regulations will be in effect:
Traffic lanes will not be coned for contraflow.
On-street parking will be free, except for the meters on Kalākaua Avenue along Queen Kapiolani Park, metered parking lots and meters on specific Waikiki streets. For a full list of the affected Waikiki streets click here.
HOUSING RELIEF & OPPORTUNITIES
Governor Extends Ban on Evictions in Hawaii
Isle residents who are past due on rent and mortgages will have another two months before Gov. David Ige plans to lift the state’s ban on evictions in early August. View his latest proclamation here.
City to Open Section 8 Housing Applications Next Week
Applications for Section 8 Housing vouchers on Oahu will be available Monday morning, June 14. The City is opening the online waitlist to eligible households at 7:45 am. Applications will be accepted through next Friday. The window closes at 4:30 p.m. Only pre-applications online will be accepted. From the pool, 2,000 submissions will be chosen at random to be placed on the waitlist. Click here to apply. Click here for a sheet with additional information on income requirements.
City Offers Interest-Free Down Payment Home Loans
“Interest-free” is quite a lovely term, especially when it applies to loans. If you’re a first-time homebuyer and are in a low to moderate-income household on Oahu, you can now apply for an interest-free down payment loan to assist with the purchase of a new home. The Department of Community Services (DCS) is offering applicants up to $40,000 in home funds. Qualified households are those earning 80% of the area median income or below, which is $77,350 for a family of two or $96,650 for a family of four. Apply for this city loan through a mortgage lender. The application is free. To qualify, applicants must provide 5% of the purchase price as a down payment and complete an approved homeownership course. Loans will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more info., contact the DCS Loan Branch at (808) 768-7076 or visit their website here.
RED LIGHTS, VACCINE INCENTIVES & JOB TRAINING
Virtual Public Hearing for System Catching Motorists Running Red Light
It’s hard to keep it cool when that motorist next to you runs that red light. The state transportation department is holding a virtual public hearing on Thursday, June 17, 9am to 11am, regarding proposed rules for a new law that aims to capture the moment motorists fail to stop at a red light. The hearing for the “Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems” will focus on providing guidance to ensure proper implementation of the new regulation. Find a link to the public hearing here. Attendees are encouraged to present their views on the proposed rules at the public hearing, or by e-mail to DriverRecords.hwy@hawaii.gov Written comments will be accepted through Thursday, June 17, and can be sent to the following address: Hawaii Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Safety Office, 98-339 Ponohana Place Aiea, HI 96701.
Win Prizes Just for Getting Vaccinated
What if you won a trip to Las Vegas, free Zippy’s for a year, or a thousand dollars in L&L Hawaiian Barbecue—just for getting vaccinated? No joke! You still have time to sign up for the state’s vaccine incentive program called the “HI Got Vaccinated” giveaway. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm on 6/30/2021. There are close to 50 deals and discounts available. Find out more here.
Free Training for Recession-Resistant Jobs
Still out of work or underemployed? Hana Career Pathways is offering up to $2,000 in tuition aid to help Hawaii residents shift into stable careers in health care, technology, and the skilled trades. The program offers short-term training at University of Hawaii community colleges for a variety of jobs in those recession-resistant fields. High school and college graduates who have not yet landed a job are also eligible. Along with tuition assistance, the program offers career training, job search help and other financial support to help overcome hurdles, such as Wi-Fi access and transportation. Many of the Hana Career Pathway courses are in-person and online. To learn more and apply, click here.
DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
Waikiki Aquarium Is Celebrating World Ocean Month; Aims to Reopen in July
After being closed for nearly a year due to the pandemic, the Waikiki Aquarium aims to reopen to the public next month. Staff anticipates loosening restrictions if the state vaccination rate continues to rise. In the meantime, the Waikiki Aquarium is celebrating World Ocean Month and is offering a variety of activities and events throughout the month of June. They can be found here. The aquarium is the second oldest still-operating public aquarium in the United States (after the New York Aquarium) and is home to more than 3,500 organisms of 490 species of marine plants and animals.
Liliha Bakery Will Open in Waikiki at the International Market Place
Coco puffs, hot cakes and neon red jelly—a few of many Liliha Bakery delectables–will be seducing some Waikiki pallets soon. Its fourth location is set to be 9,000 square feet and employ 80 to 100 workers. The new bakery will be located inside the International Market Place, ideal for tourists and residents who work in the area.
Boutique Hotel Planned for Waikiki
The owners of a small public parking lot near the Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach are planning to build a boutique hotel or apartment building on the site. Waikiki Bazaar Inc. has owned the 5,355-square-foot lot at 2154 Lauula Street for more than 35 years and has operated a 13-stall surface parking lot there for more than 20 years. The $7 million Hale Lauula project involves construction of a six-story building that would have 16 hotel or apartment units on the top four floors. The first floor will have a lobby, parking, bicycle racks, loading and landscaping, while the second level will have a prep kitchen, indoor and outdoor seating, lounge area, mailboxes, front desk and a rest room.
Waikiki Food Hall at Royal Hawaiian Center is Hiring
Located on the third level of the Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki Food Hall has openings for both full-time and part-time positions: Chef, Assistant Chef, Cashier, Busser, and Janitor. In this popular tourist complex, there are eight unique restaurants that serve Hawaiian dishes using local ingredients. Interested applicants should email yuimaruhawaii@outlook.com or call 808-376-0435. Waikiki Food Hall may also arrange for applicants to speak with someone about the jobs. Click here for more info: https://waikikifoodhall.com/
YMCA Honolulu Offers Free Summer Membership for Teens
It’s the Y’s first-ever free teen summer membership program. The offer runs through July and applies to teens entering grades 9 through 12. Also known as the Opio Summer Program, it provides full access to six YMCA locations. Current teen members or teens who had a membership within the past 60 days are not eligible. The program will offer a safe space for teens to make new friends, get healthy, gain leadership and service-learning opportunities–and for those interested–explore a pathway to part-time jobs at the YMCA. Teens can register here or stop by any YMCA of Honolulu facility. Teens under 18-years-old will need a parent or legal guardian’s electronic or in-person signature on their registration form. For more information, call the YMCA Call Center at 808-678-4296 or visit the website.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
City Council Info Briefings on Housing Program & Police Department: June 15
10:30am: Update on Oahu Housing Now Program (CARES Act – Emergency Solution Grants, Rapid Re-Housing). Click here for agenda. Speakers include:
Sarah Allen, Director, City Department of Community Services
Laura Thielen, Executive Director, Partners in Care homeless assistance agency
1:00pm: Update on the Honolulu Police Department (HPD). Click here for agenda. Speakers include:
Transportation Improvement Program; Call for Public Comment: Deadline June 22
The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO) is releasing the public draft of the FFYs 2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for public and intergovernmental review. The public draft may be viewed here. OahuMPO’s TIP is a four-year programming document that identifies highway, transit, arterial and local street, pedestrian, bicycle, and alternative transportation projects that will receive federal transportation funds in the short-term. Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
Mail: OahuMPO, 707 Richards Street, Suite 200, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
City Needs Your Input on How to Improve Public Transportation: Deadline June 30
Do you think public transportation could be better? The city transportation department (DTS) is seeking input from older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with low income in order to better understand their transportation needs. Feedback gathered through this survey will help assess current transportation needs and gaps and identify opportunities to improve transportation on Oahu for these residents through better coordination of transportation services and more efficient use of available resources. To access the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hstcp2021 DTS asks the public to share this survey link with relevant parties. The survey will close on Wednesday, June 30. Anyone with questions, or require multi-lingual or hard copy surveys can send an email to ccullison@pbrhawaii.com.
WEEKEND WAYSIDES
Waikiki Sunrise Outdoor Yoga: June 11 – June 14
Covid stressors got you down? Perhaps Yoga teacher Kathy Chu can help. Passionate about health, wellness and humanity, she’s been teaching outdoor yoga classes since July 2020, specializing in mind and body alignment and deep meditation. Complete safety protocols are adhered to for all attendees. Classes are limited to 15 people. Bring a mat, mask and water. Hand sanitizer is provided! Cost is $11. Buy your tickets here.
Swim Clinic at Ala Moana Beach Park: June 12, 10am-11:30am
If swimming was never your strong suit or if your keiki need to start learning, check out the swim clinic this Saturday. It’s a one-day group class for freestyle swim training, 1.5hours long, with an individualized approach in a group setting. Beginners & non beginners are welcome. Contact coach Emily with questions at emily@ontrackfitness.net or call her at 808-628-8108. Cost is $15. Register here.
Scavenger Hunt at Aloha Tower: June 13, 10am-10pm
Scavenging was always fun—but did you learn anything new? Puzzling Adventures™ brings out your competitive edge while educating you with a cross between a scavenger hunt, an adventure race, and an informative self-guided tour. Each adventure consists of a series of locations where you are asked to answer questions or solve puzzles to receive your next instruction. All you need is your own mobile device and an Internet connection. Cost is $20. Buy your tickets here.
(Virtual) Ukulele Festival Hawaii 2021: June 13, 9am-2:30pm
Although this event will not be in-person this year, nothing can stop our adoration for this enchanting instrument. Local artists and players from around the world will perform for you via a free, livestreamed event. At the scheduled time, click on this Youtube channel link here. If you would like to be notified when this video is Live Streamed, click on the same link above and click on the red “subscribe” button. A notification will be sent to you automatically! For more info., call 808-436-5972, email huyqvo@gmail.com or visit the website.
