Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Find resources with Alzheimer’s Association, Hawaii Chapter, or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Speaker Scott Saiki and I invite you to join us at another townhall meeting to learn about plans for Kakaako Mauka. Hear from HCDA Executive Director Deepak Neupane about its plans for Kakaako Mauka and from Howard Hughes Corp. (HHC) on its Ward Village updates. We will have ample time for you to get your questions answered on HHC’s current work and future plans. Click here to register.
Senate Committee on Health joint Informational Briefing with the House Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness
On Wednesday, Nov 11, the Senate committee on Health conducted a joint informational briefing with the House Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness to discuss vaccinations for children 5-11 years old, booster shots, testing updates, how to celebrate safely during the upcoming holidays, and other health-related topics. For a recorded stream of the briefing, visit the Senate YouTube Page here.
Vaccine location information website
The hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine website has an interactive map to find a vaccination site in your community. Parents and guardians of children 5-11 should contact the provider ahead of time to ensure that vaccines are available. Please note that all sites may not be included on the map. Visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine and scroll down to “Step #2 Locate a vaccination site” to access the map. If you can’t find a location, visit Honolulu’s OneOahu.org website or use the CDC Vaccine Finder to locate a pharmacy or retail location in your neighborhood. You may also text your ZIP code to 438829.
Latest Department of Health COVID Updates
Here are the highlights of the most recent updates from Nov. 1 – Nov. 7. The DOH response to the pandemic continues to evolve as new information becomes available daily. DOH hopes you find these online updates useful, and encourage you to share information with your family, friends, and coworkers.
Keiki age 5 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, see how easy the process is for one of our best tools at preventing COVID-19: hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine
Catch up on all the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s latest COVID-19 news releases and updates at hawaiicovid19.com/news.
International travel questions can be found at hawaiicovid19.com/travel/faqs with answers for questions such as ”What are the new CDC requirements?” and ”What travel category do I fall into?”
State launches savings program for qualifying disabled individuals
Governor Ige announced the launch of the Hawaii ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Savings Program, which allows eligible individuals with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing their federal or state disability benefits. ABLE accounts are federally established and managed at the state level. For the full press release from the Governor, click here. For more information including program eligibility and benefits, visit the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program website here.
Motorists reminded to move over for responders during crash responder safety week, Nov. 8-14
The Hawaii Department of Transportation and its federal, state, county and community partners remind Hawaii motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles during Crash Responders Safety Week, Nov. 8-14. The first initiative to raise awareness of the need to give responders space to safety work on the side of the road was declared by the Federal Highway Administration in 2016. More information on National Crash Responder Safety Week can be found here. A PSA YouTube video that can be shared to spread the word can be found here.
Hawaii administrative rules changed to allow electric vehicles to use HOV lanes
The Hawaii Department of Transportation announces that Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) 19-108-7 has been amended to allow Elective Vehicles (EVs) with EV license plates affixed to them to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of people in the vehicle. Full text of the rule can be found here. EV use of HOV lanes is supported because of the reduction in transportation related pollution and reduction in fossil fuel dependency. In general, HOV lanes are designated to remove vehicles from normal lanes by incentivizing carpooling or use of public transportation. A list of HOV lanes on state highways can be found here.
City Council Bill 43 relating to amplified sound in Waikiki advances
The purpose of Bill 43 (2021) is to preserve the tranquility of Waikiki against noise disturbances by regulating amplified sound from public property in that area. This bill was introduced Nov. 3 by Council Chair Tommy Waters. It passed first reading on Wednesday and will next be heard by the Committee on Transportation, Sustainability, and Health. The bill’s status page is here. To see the full bill, click here.
REAL ID preparation for Oahu drivers
An estimated 84 percent of Oahu motorists now have a travel-compliant REAL ID driver’s license to board a domestic flight—indicated by a small star inside a gold circle in the upper right-hand corner of your driver license. Only about 16 percent of driver’s licenses on Oahu are not ready for the full implementation of the Real ID Act, set to take effect at U.S. airports on May 3, 2023, when every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport security checkpoints. Appointments for obtaining a Real ID-compliant driver’s license can be scheduled at www.AlohaQ.org. For more information, click here.
City adds Saturday hours for renewing driver’s licenses and state IDs
The two largest driver licensing centers in Honolulu will open on Saturdays for the rest of the year, starting Nov 6. The Kapalama Driver Licensing Center and the Kapolei Driver Licensing Center will take customers with appointments or on standby for all services – except a road test- from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday. To make an appointment, go to AlohaQ.org. Stand-by service is offered to offset customer cancellations and an estimated 30 percent no-show rate. For more information, click here.
New Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Website
In conjunction with the start of the new Ala Wai Flood Risk Management General Reevaluation study, the City has launched a new website to provide regular project updates. The project website will contain the most up-to-date, timely, and accurate information for the project. Go to www.honolulu.gov/AlaWai.
Keeaumoku All-Way Pedestrian Crossing
You may have noticed that one of our busy Honolulu intersections has some new features. The intersection at Keeaumoku and Makaloa Streets is now a “Barnes Dance”! These type of crosswalks, also known as pedestrian scrambles, allow people to cross the street in any direction, including diagonally. They also separate pedestrian and vehicular movements, so there are no conflicts. The installation will enhance pedestrian safety AND improve traffic flow. The Barnes Dance was funded, designed, and installed by the developers of the adjacent Azure Ala Moana condominium. Visit the Keeaumoku Complete Streets webpage to learn more about other upcoming safety improvement projects.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Nov 14 (1:00-1:30pm): Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu, is scheduled to hold a pair of virtual public workshops to gather input for the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Reevaluation Study. The goal of the study is to identify a plan that will minimize potential flooding to communities within the Ala Wai watershed in a cost effective, economically justifiable, technically sound, and environmentally acceptable manner. For more information and for the WebEx sign-in information, click here. For an overview and more information on the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management study, click here.
Nov 14 (5pm): McCully-Moiliili Citizens Patrol
Mahalo to McCully-Moiliili neighborhood board member, David Hioki, for leading in the formation of a Citizens Patrol for the McCully-Moiliili community. Please see his announcement regarding the first citizens patrol event below:
“My name is David and I am going to lead us in forming a Citizens’ Patrol for our neighborhood. It’s encouraging to see such good interest and it will be a great way to get some air and talk story. Let’s see who can walk our first patrol! Let’s meet at the CPB parking lot (McCully and King) at 5PM Sunday the 14th. To participate everyone will need to sign a waiver form for HPD (I’ll bring copies for everyone). Plan on having a short meeting/intro at 5 then 30-45 min walk around the area. Bring a flashlight and a water bottle!”
David posts McCully-Moiliili community updates on the NextDoor app/website. You can create an account with an email and password. If you have any questions about the upcoming patrol, please email David at davidhioki@yahoo.com.
Nov 16: Keeaumoku Complete Streets Virtual Meeting
The City’s Department of Transportation Services is hosting an online community meeting for the Keeaumoku Complete Streets Project on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Complete Streets is the City’s policy to design streets for all roadways users. Keeaumoku Street provides mauka-makai connections between Makiki, Ala Moana, and the future Honolulu Rail Transit station. The purpose of this project is to implement critical safety improvements along Keeaumoku Street to better serve everyone using the street, whether they are walking, using a wheelchair or stroller, on a bike, riding transit, in a car, young or old. The changes will be incorporated into an upcoming roadway rehabilitation and repaving project. The City requests those who live, work, play and travel along Keeaumoku Street to participate and provide input into what improvements are most important for this particular street and community. The meeting will be held virtually and those wishing to participate may register at https://rebrand.ly/Keeaumoku. Comments are also being solicited on the project website at here, and comments and questions can be sent via email to: completestreets@honolulu.gov.
Nov 25: Thanksgiving – Restaurant Menu Guide
Make reservations now if you’re planning to dine out. See this guide by Honolulu Magazine to dine-in and take take-out menus.
WEEKEND WAYSIDES
Nov 13: Malama Aina Community Clean Up & Environmental Fair
Clean Up – Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Our Kakaako, Waterfront Plaza, and Surfrider Foundation invites the Kakaako community to join in at the Malama Aina Community Clean Up and Environmental Fair to help keep our neighborhood clean. You will need to show your ID and proof of vaccination to participate. Additionally, volunteers must sign two waivers, one for Our Kakaako and one for the City and County of Honolulu, to participate. For more information and registration waivers, click here.
Nov 13: McCully Shopping Center Open Market 7:30am – 10:30am (Every Saturday)
To help local businesses and farmers McCully Shopping Center has created a small open market to support local businesses. Shop local, buy local. To read more about the open market, visit the McCully Shopping Center website here.
Nov 13-14: Made in Hawaii Festival, Sat: 10am-9pm / Sun: 10am-5pm The Made in Hawaii Festival showcases thousands of locally-made goods including art, clothing, jewelry, food and more. Over 300 vendors will converge at Ala Moana Center and are eager to greet and service customers in-person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Made in Hawaii Festival website.
Nov 13: AARP HI Giving Care, A Poet’s Caregiving Journey, featuring Frances Kakugawa (Zoom)
Frances Kakugawa, an award-winning author/poet of 16 books, will be sharing her poetry and experiences about how she rose above the burden of caregiving and found meaning and dignity in caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. There will also be an optional online writing workshop with the guidance of Frances. To register and receive the Zoom link, click here.
Nov 14: Royal Hawaiian Center Crafters’ Market
Every 2nd and 4th Sundays in the Royal Hawaiian Centers Royal Grove, 35+ of the island finest curated vendors pop up with their best products made in Hawaii, the latest trends, direct sellers and great omiyage to bring back home. Validated 3 hour parking with any $10 purchase (Kamaaina and Military).
