Author: admin

  • Caring for our health, Senate hearing, Parks reopening

    Caring for our health, Senate hearing, Parks reopening

    Aloha Neighbor,

    There has been talk about the state reopening as our numbers are low; but many others, including the state’s health director, advise caution. Although we are on a downward trajectory – a total of 4 new cases and 596 total positive cases among the 26,640 cases tested since February 28. Of the positive cases, 11% have required hospitalization, and over 80% were residents returning from other areas.

    DOH gives data and a map of where cases are located on their website. The health director and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HiEMA) medical lead told us numbers are not enough; we need to make sure we have the health and medical system, with PPE, ventilators and beds, at the ready should there be a surge in cases. The senate committee is asking the administration to provide a plan and the data we need to know when and what to reopen.

    The data show that all of us working together in new norms of social distancing –as difficult as they are — are making a difference.  But, we need to do more.  Before we can reopen businesses, before many of us can go back to work, we need that curve to turn into a horizontal flat line!  Testing, contact tracing, and social distancing, including masking up, are key.  Some of this may be the new norm for months to come (until we are all immune or find a vaccine).

    The Senate Committee asked the State Department of Health and HIEMA to communicate their joint efforts more effectively so we can all be a part of the solution. Today (Friday) the committee hears from the Governor’s economic recovery lead Alan Oshima and calls back the health department and the state epidemiologist Sarah Park to tell us how they are gearing up with contract tracing and testing. See the agenda.

    What’s happening with the air passenger quarantine? Some international airlines could resume service to Hawaii as early as May 31.  The Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 expressed concern Wednesday that state government doesn’t have a plan to reopen travel.  Other than the defense industry, we live off the tourism industry so of course we want it to start up. But we don’t want to go back to a big surge and open our borders without having the infrastructure in place like hospital beds and ventilators to protect our safety and our health.

    Many thanks going out to our neighbors and hoteliers in Waikiki who reported the tourists who were not adhering to the 14-day mandatory quarantine.  Thank you for looking out for all of us and reporting them to the Honolulu Police Department!  The Department of Transportation-Airports, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, were changing their procedures to ensure compliance with the state’s quarantine rules. For details, see KHON2 News story.

    UPDATES

    Unemployment Insurance: On Thursday the senate committee was briefed by Labor Director Scott Murakami on the department’s progress to get UI claims processed and paid to over 290,000 applicants.  Over 200 state employees volunteered to help and have been trained to…

    This is just one of 4 rooms at the Hawaii Convention Center gearing up to process claims and respond to calls

    …process claims and respond to calls and emails in two shifts (7am-noon and 12:30-6pm). Filings and weekly/biweekly certification reports have been uploaded into a separate system so you should be able to get in sooner. While they are gearing up, the impacts of the changes will probably begin next week.

    I asked the director about the following concerns that some of you raised. Below is information that I hope will help:

    • If you still are trying to file a new claim: keep trying– click on “For New Claims, please complete this form” at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/ or if you cannot get in, call (833) 901-2272 or email dlir.ui.oahu@hawaii.gov (If you received a “congratulations” message, do not reapply. Wait until you get your username/password.
    • If you are trying to get in to submit your weekly/biweekly report: go to claimant services and sign in with your user name at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/login. If you have problems call (833)901-2275 or email: dlir.ui.oahu@hawaii.gov. Keep trying as you must submit your weekly/biweekly report (answer that you are available and looked for work). Reason for needing your report is to let UI know if your work status changes, e.g. some have been called back to work when their employers received federal relief funding.
    • If you want to know whether your claim was accepted and what’s happening try clicking on “check your claim status” at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/
    • If you have other concerns or need help you may find it at: https://labor.hawaii.gov

    In any event, do not give up! The labor director said that staff at all levels are working to serve you and as fast as they can. They all know that it’s important to help get payments out as soon as they can; and that includes gig workers and independent contractors. The claim processing will go much faster if the information you input is correct; the lag in time is due to incorrect or incomplete information. If you are having problems submitting your weekly report call or email and someone will call you (be patient there may be 60,000 others in line!) but be assured they will get to you and your benefit period will start from the date of termination.   So take a break and try next week but hang in there!

    City Parks opening for some exercise activities. This weekend, city parks will be open for designated forms of exercise that include: running, walking, jogging, and bicycle riding.  Please enjoy the fresh air, exercise, and sunshine!  See the City’s press release for more details.  City parks in our District include Kapiolani Park, McCully District Park, Ala Moana Regional Park, and more.  For a list of parks run by the City and County of Honolulu, please visit their website.

    The Senate Committee on COVID-19 convenes today (Friday) at Noon.  The meeting will be available for live viewing on Olelo Channel 49 or online at olelo.org.  We will hear about airport procedures for deplaning passengers from Attorney General Clare Connors, Department of Transportation-Airports Division Deputy Director Ross Higashi and Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Chris Tatum; about contact tracing/testing procedures from Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson & Epidemiologist Sarah Park; and on the Hawaii Economic and Community Recovery & Resiliency Plan from Alan Oshima.  See the agenda here.

    Take care and stay healthy!

  • Caring for our Keiki and other updates

    Caring for our Keiki and other updates

    Aloha Neighbor,

    Hawaii’s future lies in our keiki. As resilient as they are, we still must make sure we continue to nurture and support them, especially in these delicate times. While schools and childcare centers are closed, we all are adapting and learning a new more resilient normal. Today we focus on caring for our keiki: district schools and distance learning tools, essential worker childcare sites, organizations offering free internet to students, an updated Grab-and-Go free meal schedule, and tips for parents on teachable moments to nurture their own emotional health as well.

    The State Department of Education (HIDOE) is continuing enrichment and distance learning through May 28, the last day of the 2019-20 school year. Each school has adopted a different approach to distance learning to fit the needs of their students so if you have students in our public schools you should go to your respective school website or you can phone the school if you are not connected via distance learning. Also see AT HOME LEARNING BOARDS for additional enrichment resources.  HIDOE COVID-19 updates will continue to be posted on the Department’s website at hawaiipublicschools.org. Below are the contact information for the schools in our district:

    THE HAWAII EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON EARLY LEARNING shares their new resource website for families and early care and education providers to help young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The site contains resources specifically tailored to children under kindergarten age and who may have unique developmental needs.  It includes how to apply for child care subsidies and where to find emergency care for essential workers.

    OTHER RESOURCES DURING COVID PANDEMIC:

    STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS AT HOME
    The nerf ball bounced off your head a few times while you were making those work calls or during your videoconference with an important client your 4-year old jumped on your shoulder without a stitch of clothing on. What to do to harness that keiki energy? Below are some resources to help you:

    UPDATES:

    • ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT: Here’s a link to find out the status of your Economic Impact Payment: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmsp/login. We found an informative article in Forbes on the payment program that you might find helpful
    • CONDOMINIUM COVID RESOURCE FROM THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION: The Commission produced a flyer for your use combining the various state and county COVID-19 resources. It is also working remotely but you can contact them at hirec@dcca.hawaii.gov or browse through their website at www.hawaii.gov/hirec
    • HAWAII AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION is supporting our farmers by supporting restaurants with its Food-a-GO-GO program to market the 1,200 restaurants statewide open for takeout, delivery and/or curbside pickup. See https://foodagogo.org
    • SENATE COMMITTEE MEETING: The meeting on Wednesday covered a lot of topics from the federal relief package coming to the state; the contact tracing/testing and coordination of health and medical services between the Department of Health and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA); and the status of state employee deployment to assist the labor department – few answers but you can gauge for yourself when the meeting notes are posted on the Senate Committee’s web page.
    • THE NEXT SENATE COMMITTEE MEETING is Friday (4/24) beginning at 11am. We’ll hear updates from the department of transportation-airports and department of education.

    Take care and stay healthy!