Author: admin

Aloha Neighbor,

Incident Commander Kenneth Hara, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, briefed the Senate Special Committee today on the COVID-19 Emergency Plan. It is a comprehensive plan that identifies clearly four levels of effort for the four levels of threat (from “no disruption” to “major disruption”). More information will be on the Senate website or at olelo.org. It was approved by the Governor and will be shared shortly with the Cabinet; and, if followed, will move more quickly towards important efforts in prevention & protection, public health & medical response, information & public outreach, and supply chain management.

In addition to planning the emergency response, it is working with Governor’s economic recovery team so that we can map  getting back to (a better) normalcy. In addition to planning efforts, HIEMA brings 1,300 national guard support to help in areas such as airport screening, contact tracing, call center, etc. wherever needed.

Enforcement of Governor’s Proclamation and Mayor’s Orders. General Hara urged everyone to follow these rules, especially social distancing.  This is the best way to “flatten the curve.” We still haven’t brought our numbers down: since yesterday (Tuesday) we have increased the number of positive cases by 13 to 530.  He said he sees violations and, because this is the only way, to overcome the virus and get to normalcy, the county police officers will be citing. If in violation you may be lucky to get a warning but if you are caught again, the maximum fine is $5,000 and/or a year in jail. The rules again: 6 feet apart while in public; no social gathering; and, more recently issued, wear a face mask.

HELPING RESOURCES
As we hear from folks who are waiting for their unemployment benefit check or paycheck, and need help,  there are a number of resources.  If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance for food or other social services call 211 or visit AUW211.ORG.

FOOD FOR OUR DISTRICT
Seeing the long line looped on Atkinson Drive last Saturday, I thought that some of you may have need or know of others who may need a free nutritious meal. Here are some in our district. You can stop by and get help or also kokua by donating:

St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen in Waikiki offers a free, hot, nutritious meal for anyone who cannot afford a meal. It’s open from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays.  You can also make a monetary donation by calling the parish office at 923-7024.

Nā Kūpuna Makamae Senior Center (a project of Pacific Gateway Center)offers free food for kupuna and the community on April 17th and on April 24th, 12-2:30pm at the corner of Keawe & Ala Moana in partnership with Aloha Harvest.

The Waikiki Community Center‘s emergency food pantry is open on Tuesdays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Please bring your government photo ID and proof of need.

GENERAL FOOD RESOURCES:

The Hawaii Foodbank stores distributes food to their partner agencies.  Click here to donate to Hawaii Foodbank.

The Executive Office on Aging provides the Aging and Disability Resource Center Food Resources Guide

The DOE continues to provide free breakfast and lunch to children.  For our district they are being offered at McKinley & Kaimuki High Schools.  For more information, click here.

Help is On the Way is a new non-profit for kupuna and others in need.  They will drive anywhere on Oahu to kupuna and others who are homebound. To request a delivery service or to find information about volunteering, visit https://hihelpisontheway.org, or call (406) 426-1013.

Foodpantries.org lists several Honolulu food pantries including food closets, food banks, soup kitchens, congregate meal locations, food boxes, vouchers, etc.

Mālama Meals provides food security to communities in need or at risk due to actions taken to contain COVID-19 by distributing nourishing, freshly made meals.  If you or your community’s food security has been impacted by COVID-19 see their website or call (808) 943-MEAL (6325).

Hawaii Meals on Wheels delivers meals for seniors and the disabled on Oahu.  Call (808) 988-6747 or check eligibility online.

The YMCA continues to offer free, healthy lunch to children M-F, 11:30-12:30 at grab-and-go sites.

Apply for SNAP (food stamps). First time applicants: you are invited to use the digital fillable/printable application form.  Once complete, you may print and sign, then mail it or drop it off at a processing center. Or, if able to place your signature on the page, you may scan or take a photo of the application and email it as an attachment to BESSD.StatewideBranch@dhs.hawaii.gov.

SUPPORT OUR FOOD SERVICES SECTOR:

Kakaako Farmers Market at 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. is open Saturdays from 8am – 12am

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) sells and delivers locally grown produce.

Oahu meal prep, delivery services bring food to you.

Foodland, Safeway, and Target deliver groceries directly to homes.

Restaurants in our district continue to offer takeout.  Please see our list of these restaurants.

GUIDANCE: The USDA offers this page for food safety information.

Take care & Stay Healthy!

Aloha Neighbor,

The Senate Special Committee met today to hear updates from Attorney General Clare Connors, Labor Director Scott Murakami, Airports Deputy Director Ross Higashi and Health Director Bruce Anderson. It was an especially long meeting with a number of questions from members so the agenda was not followed. We went overtime. If you missed the meeting, you can see the recording when posted on Olelo’s Senate Video Archive Page.  Tomorrow’s meeting will begin at 1:00 – 1:30 pm with a followup meeting on the airport protocol for deplaning passengers; and a briefing on the state’s emergency plan at 3:00 pm by Incident Commander Kenneth Hara. It can be viewed on Olelo Channel 49.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Concerns:  The Senate Special Committee took UI concerns to Labor Director Scott Murakami today.  Because of the state’s overtaxed computer system and the need for more staff to handle the over 230,000 filings, he has offloaded some items such as certification and status inquiries and is adding more staff and call centers to accelerate claims processing. Below are updates installed today which I hope will help you.  So don’t give up. Please try again tomorrow! Below are some of the changes to the website and services:

• Video instructions on all aspects of filing a claim to claim certification are on the DLIR site. It also includes a number of “Frequently Asked Questions” you may find helpful.
• If you are filing for the first time, click on “For New Claims, Please Complete This Form” and complete the form.
• For claim certification click on “Claimant Services” and sign in. You will be asked two questions, answer “yes” to both: (1) availability to work and (2) sought 3+ employers.

• Status of claim. Folks trying to get on the website or calling the department to check on status of their claims also overloaded the system so this is separated out. Click on “Check Your Claim Status” to find out the status of your claim.

• If you have problems, contact the office.  Click on “Contact”.  You will see phone numbers and email addresses for various issues or general numbers. If you cannot get through on the phone, you can email the office with your problem and someone will respond.

Consumer Concerns. A number of issues impacting consumers were raised. State Attorney General Connors addressed foreclosure and eviction issues.

Landlord-Tenant Problems.  Asked how the Governor’s COVID Proclamation could help renters who are being threatened with eviction, the AG said that the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) oversees landlord-tenant issues and would be able to assist if in violation of the Governor’s Proclamation. See the OCP website. While it does not cover those who are not able to pay the rent, she advised to call the OCP office at 586-2634 every weekday (except holidays) from 8am-12noon. If the office receives a large number of complaints, the Governor will be asked to issue a policy on the matter.

Foreclosures. If you are facing problems in paying your mortgage there are a number of federal and state resources to help.  Check out this link. For information on other consumer resources from price gouging to scams, visit the OCP website. Or to file a complaint, call the Consumer Resource Consumer at 587-4272 and press 2.

Take care,