Author: admin

Aloha Neighbor,

Amid the rise in covid caes, I’ve heard from many of you and appreciate your concerns and suggestions.  Those not taking care to social distance and mask up are now affecting the entire island.  Once so close to reopening, we are backsliding to the point of limiting inter-island travel.   Even Honolulu Hale is closed with the City’s 49 positive cases.

These times have us looking to the Department of Health and its Disease Outbreak Control Division. They investigate positive cases and trace all contacts to control and contain the spread. The growing numbers have forced the Senate Covid Committee to focus its attention on contact tracing and Dr. Sarah Park, the state’s epidemiologist and division administrator. Our committee visited her offices to learn first-hand the challenges her program faces in meeting the growing caseload and in protecting our public’s health.  And the community is expressing concerns as in this column by Larry Geller and a Star-Advertiser Editorial on Tuesday.

We are not convinced that the division is acting quickly enough. Our committee will be meeting tomorrow to discuss how we can support their work. A move to the larger convention center to house the numbers needed to meet the demand would be a great step forward.

Meanwhile continue to follow social distancing rules and mask up.  If you witness any violations to the Governor’s mandates, call the Covid Enforcement Hotline at 723-3900 or email: hpdcovidenforce@honolulu.gov

DE-STRESS TOGETHER IN KAKAAKO
Here’s something that’s just what we need to cope in these uncertain times. Don’t miss an upcoming livestream featuring award-winning author Alice Inoue! Alice will share valuable insights and ideas on how to ‘Diminish Stress During Uncertain Times’. Help a friend or loved one by sending them this intro video link: https://saltatkakaako.com/event/salt-livestream-featuring-happiness-u/   Livestreaming will start on Friday, August 28 at 4 p.m. View it live here on facebook.
For more information, see:
E-mail: smile@YourHappinessU.com 
Phone: (808) 436-6444
Website: www.YourHappinessU.com

UPDATED HOURS FOR KAKAAKO SHOPPING CENTER MERCHANTS
Named after the salt ponds that once dotted the low-lying wetlands of the Kakaako area, SALT is Honolulu’s epicenter for local culture, food, shopping and innovative events. Updated information for this eclectic shopping center includes dedicating stalls 45-48 and 50-53 in the front parking lot for Curbside Delivery and Take Out Orders temporarily during this time. Parking at SALT is FREE for one hour. To view the new hours for SALT merchants, click here.

HART ROAD WORK & TRAFFIC UPDATES FOR KAKAAKO
View this week’s HART happenings by clicking here for the week beginning AUGUST 9.

Aloha Neighbor,

The continuing covid surge—still at triple digit 201! —is finally moving the Administration to act with urgency to add trained contact tracing staff to meet our exponentially growing numbers, impose more restrictions, and ramp up enforcement. Testing must be ramped up, too, and drive-through testing will be available in Kakaako, among other testing sites.  Meanwhile, the community should safely meet our civic duty: Primary Election on Saturday (if you did not send in your ballot) and completing the Census survey. And stay positive and calm…

“Act With Care Do Not Gather” and the new order, starting Saturday, August 8, at 12 a.m. through Sept. 5, was announced by the Governor, Mayor and Honolulu Police Chief. The new order, requires:

• Mandatory 14- day quarantine for interisland travel to travel to neighbor islands.
• Closure of all City beaches, parks, playgrounds, courts, fields, exercise equipment, dog parks, skateparks, the Koko Crater Tramway, People’s Open Markets, campgrounds, botanical gardens and hiking trails, city and private pools, including hotel pools, except to traverse to any water activity like fishing or diving and use restrooms and showers.
• Voting drop-off locations at parks will be open for the election.
• Suspension of team sports.
• Suspension of group-class activities at fitness centers but fitness centers will still be open otherwise.
• Closure of pool halls, arcades, bowling, and mini golf.
• Safety measures enforced at restaurants, hair salons, religious services, art galleries, and movies.

See this City news release for more details. These orders will be strictly enforced. HPD chief hired 160 more officers to patrol island-wide to enforce against violators with citations and arrests.  This is serious!!!  You can get information at the Covid Enforcement Hotline at 723-3900, effective this Sunday 10am. and via email: hpdcovidenforce@honolulu.gov

OAHU PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPENING AUGUST 17: SAFE OPENING
Governor Ige and Superintendent Kishimoto announced in a press conference Friday that public schools will open safely on August 17 with entirely online instruction.  Schools will be providing students in need with computers.  No in-person instruction will take place during this time.  During the first week, parents and students will be invited to come to schools for training and instruction on how to attend online classes.  The subsequent three weeks of instruction will be entirely online.  For students without the physical means to take online instruction, supervised spaces will be provided on school campuses for students to take their online classes.

KAKAAKO COVID TESTING THIS SUNDAY
Due to the covid surge, you can get tested at the Kakaako Waterfront Park drive-through COVID-19 site on Sunday, August 9, from 8am-2pm. The City is supporting Kakaako and other testing sites with volunteers and traffic control. If you don’t have insurance the test is free. You will be screened for symptoms and asked to provide personal information. QUESTIONS: call Premier Medical Group Hawaii at 304-8816 or 367-6020  See this article for more details.

DON’T LET HAWAII LOSE OUT: COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS SURVEY NOW
The US Census Bureau is cutting short its field collection –moving it up from October 30 to September 30.  As of August 4, 2020, 63% of all households in the nation have responded; but Hawaii is 4.8 points behind at 59%. About 238,320 Hawaii households have not yet responded. If they don’t fill out the form online, Census counters will be knocking on their doors. If we continue to undercount, Hawaii could possibly lose billions of dollars of federal funds in the next 10 years. So take a few minutes to complete the form to help Hawaii get it’s fair share of federal funds. Click here: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html

VOTE!  Be Counted
Primary Election Day is tomorrow. You have until tomorrow so if you haven’t sent in your ballot, you can still vote by physically taking it to one of the drop boxes Wherever you are on Oahu, here are the places to deposit.

TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE: THERE’S STILL TIME TO DROP OFF THAT BALLOT
In this year’s election, the translated language materials for Honolulu voters are only made available in Ilokano and Chinese upon request at the Honolulu City Clerk’s office. If you need help with understanding your voting ballot, these services are available:

ENJOY “WAIKIKI STYLE” SLACK KEY: FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of many annual events island residents enjoy. But not the 38th annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival “Waikiki Style.”  Its four-hour virtual concert goes live at 1 p.m. Saturday (8/8). Read more about the festival here. Watch on Facebook (facebook.com/Slackkeyfestivals) or YouTube (808ne.ws/SlackKeyFestival).

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020
Waikiki Community Center
310 Paokalani Ave.
6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
USE OF MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING MANDATORY AT THIS MEETING
Click here for agenda.