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Summer is almost here but school’s out! Parents, your keiki can still thrive in this age of COVID. Nothing can contain their special curiosity to search, grow, and know!  For those with keiki at home today’s message is for you. Fun resources for our keiki begin here:

IMAGINE YOUR STORY: Join the State Library to Explore Creativity & Imagination
The Hawaii State Public Library launched yesterday its 2020 Virtual Summer Reading Program, running from June 15 to August 31, 2020. It’s an expanded online program for everyone — keiki to kupuna– to explore creativity and imagination using an easy mobile phone app.  Engage in virtual activities and take the challenge to read and log 1,000 minutes. For every 100 minutes, you’ll get a virtual badge and an automatic entry in the lucky prize drawing. The more you read, the better your chances to win the grand prize of 4 roundtrip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.  Mahalo to Alaska Airlines! If you don’t have a library card, just apply online here and register to participate in the Summer Reading Program here. 

ANNUAL SUMMER FUN IS FREE THIS YEAR: Starts July 1- 28
The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)’s annual Summer Fun is free this year but is modified to keep everyone safe and healthy under COVID guidelines.  The program meets every weekday (except Friday July 3) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Wednesday July 1 through Tuesday July 28.  Lunch will be provided. Children must be six years old before Aug. 1, 2020 and not older than 13 years old by July 28, 2020. For more details on eligibility and program modifications click here. Because of the new guidelines there will be fewer spaces so sign up as soon as registration opens.  Online Registration begins this Saturday, June 20 at 9 a.m. for our district parks:  Ala Wai Community Park and Makiki District Park. Online registration, called PROS, works best using the Google Chrome web browser. Create an HNL.Info account and a PROS profile ahead of registration here.  An online tutorial is available to assist the public with creating their account and profile.  If you don’t have a computer or internet access, call the summer fun sites for assistance at (808) 768-8944. For general program inquiries, call (808) 768-3003, email honolulu.gov?subject=parks@honolulu.gov” target=”_blank” style=”mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #007C89;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;”>parks@honolulu.gov or visit the summer fun website.

MORE RESOURCES: Here Are More Summer Programs

• Summer programs for our keiki, courtesy of Honolulu Magazine – Family: 2020 Summer Programs Guide.
• The Child Care Connection Hawaii (CCCH) and The Preschool Open Doors (POD) program: state subsidy programs that help low-income families pay for childcare.
• Low to no-cost Pre-Kindergarten programs, courtesy of the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL). 
• Search for child care, food, health, screening sites near you at the Hawaii Children’s Action Network COVID-19 resources page with map.
• Kamaaina Kids Preschool offers child care from infancy through preschool. Click here to check availability.  Sites near the district include Honolulu Preschool, King Street Preschool, and St. Mark’s Preschool.

COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 HEARING: Coming Thursday (6/18)
The Senate Special Committee meets this Thursday, June 18, at 1:00 pm.  Join the committee to hear updates on COVID testing from Drs. Bruce Anderson, DOH Director and Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist, and Attorney General Clare Connors.  You can watch the hearing live on Olelo Channel 49 or on olelo.org.

LIVE AT THE LEGISLATURE: Meet Your Legislators
Live at the Legislature is a half hour weekly program every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., with senators and representatives discussing emerging issues and topics.  It’s usually filmed live at the capitol, but due to COVID, it’s broadcast remotely. Today Representatives Bertrand Kobayashi and Tina Wildberger each had a segment.  I discussed the interisland quarantine that lifted today, the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19, District 12 and Waikiki’s “Open Street Sundays.  You can see the program here.

READY, SET, GO….INTERISLAND TRAVEL: Starts Tomorrow
June 16 – at 12:01 a.m.– starts the opening of interisland travel.  That means the 14-day quarantine is lifted, but travel will be different. For more details see: https://health.hawaii.gov/travel/. For our own protection, travelers will go through thermal screening at the airport and anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to board.  Passengers must also complete a mandatory travel and health form, which may be filled out online here.  Let’s support our airlines and local businesses across the state — and do our part in making travel safe by physical distancing and wearing our face masks.

We’re not yet there on lifting the quarantine for out-of-state travelers—it continues in place until July 31. See the 9^th supplementary emergency proclamation giving Governor the flexibility to reopen travel when the state is ready, and authorizing exemptions for transit corridors/bubbles with other destinations having low virus incidence.

MORE RE-OPENING COMING FRIDAY
As we continue to reopen and allow for more congregating (safely), we will continue to see increases in cases. With the various events over the past couple weeks –and opening Waikiki Sunday —we will see the double digit numbers.  Many people will not survive an encounter with the virus, and many businesses can’t survive a second shutdown, so it is in everyone’s best interest to prevent the spread of this virus.  To keep the numbers manageable as we enjoy these outings — practice physical distancing, mask up, and wash your hands regularly. The following designated business and operations, with limitations, will be opening this coming Friday, June 19:

• Education and care facilities (private education, adult care, special needs care facilities),
• Indoor attractions (theaters, museums, arcades, bowling alleys, etc.),
• Outdoor organized team sports (two phases, with phase 1 beginning June 19),
• Fitness facilities (spaces for yoga, barre classes, hula halau, etc.),
• Bars

Click here for more details on re -openings, which follow the Mayor’s Emergency Order 2020-15.