Tag: hawaii state,oahu,honolulu,senator district 12,sharon moriwaki

Aloha Neighbor,

Happy New Year!  On Wednesday,  the 2021 Session of the Hawaii State Legislature opened and our 46^th president of the United States, Joe Biden, was inaugurated.  As we come through a covid-ridden year, we face the looming expiration of UI benefits, the debut of the vaccine; President Biden’s inaugural-day signage of executive orders of relief for renters, students, and the unemployed; with hope for a better tomorrow.

• NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT WIELDS EXECUTIVE POWERS
• TOUGH DECISIONS COMING UP IN THE LEGISLATURE
• VACCINE & COVID SCREENING
• UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE
• STIMULUS DEBIT CARD SCAMMERS
• UPCOMING EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS

NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT WIELDS EXECUTIVE POWERS
Just hours after the inauguration this past Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed executive orders, memorandums, and agency directives. Below are some you should know:

• Mask Requirement: Masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors, in airports and planes, and on all public transportation.
• Negative test before U.S. Entry: All travelers, including US citizens, required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before entering the United States from abroad.
• Housing Foreclosures: Housing foreclosures and evictions delayed until at least March 31, 2021. The  order is longer than the state’s moratorium, which is set to expire on February 14th. So far, Governor David Ige hasn’t said if he’ll extend that date.
• Rent Relief: $200 million in emergency rental aid for Hawaii.  U.S. Senator Schatz lists eligibility requirements here.
• Student Loan Payments:  U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan payments extended to October 1.

TOUGH DECISIONS COMING UP IN THE LEGISLATURE
As we open the 31^st Legislature, we face a most difficult year, with much work to do in tackling challenging issues both epic and minor–all vital to addressing our “new normal”:

• The state had to borrow $700 million last year to pay unemployment benefits and might have to borrow another one billion this year. Because the State of Hawaii is heavily dependent on tourism, we have the worst unemployment record nationwide.  We need to work through financing state programs through government efficiencies, loans, seeking new revenues and cutting or consolidating programs and services.
• Handling pandemic-related emergency order violations through fines.
• Legalizing gambling and other ways to increase revenues to make up for the budget shortfall caused in large part by the severe drop in visitor arrivals.

VACCINE & COVID SCREENING

• The Flu Shot and the Covid Vaccine: Don’t Take Them at the Same Time
  The COVID-19 vaccine series should be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after getting other vaccines. This is a precautionary CDC recommendation because we lack data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. For more info, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/ Look for a link for vaccination registration and click on it.
• New Hawaiian Airlines Program Allows Travelers to Skip Covid Screening Lines
  Those traveling to Hawai’i on Hawaiian Airlines can be pre-cleared from screening at certain destinations on the continent if you upload your negative COVID-19 test results and other supporting documents before boarding the plane, you can skip airport screening lines in Hawaii.

UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE

• Status of New Benefits And Extensions Approved by Congress Ending Last Year – Benefits and extensions are continuing but…
  • PEUC: This federally funded program added 13 weeks of benefits for UI claimants who exhausted their 26 weeks of standard state UI benefits. Late last month Congress and the President approved an additional 11-week extension (for a total of 24 weeks of benefits).  But the extension has not yet launched in Hawaii so only people who have not exhausted their initial 13 weeks can receive PEUC by applying and certifying their claims. If you have exhausted your initial round of PEUC you cannot; you can wait for the 11-week extension or apply for Extended Benefits, known as EB20 (more on that below). The DLIR hopes to launch the extension before the end of January.
  • EB20: The DLIR is not automatically processing EB20 applications submitted after Dec. 13, but claimants can call the DLIR Call Center toll free at 833-901-2272 or 833-901-2275 to ask that their application for Extended Benefits be processed if that is their preference. The DLIR stopped auto-processing EB20 applications so that claimants could instead claim the PEUC extension. This makes sense for claimants who have enough money to tide them over, as the preferred progression is from UI to PEUC to EB, a timeline that maximizes the number of weeks a claimant receives benefits. However, it also means the claimant would receive no payments while waiting for the PEUC extension.
  • Standard UI: Benefits for claimants who have not exhausted their 26 weeks of standard state UI are flowing normally.
  • PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Compensation): Benefits for the self-employed and others not eligible for standard UI are flowing normally, with the $300 weekly plus-up. One new rule: PUA claimants must document that they are self-employed (previously they could self-certify).
  • MEUC (Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation): Hawaii will participate in this federally funded program, which will pay an extra $100 a week to eligible claimants who earned too much from an employer to be eligible for PUA but too little to get much in standard UI. This likely will be the last of the new benefits to be paid and may arrive as a lump sum. DLIR has no implementation timetable currently.

• FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) Claimants receiving PUA, UI, PEUC or EB20 are eligible for the $300 weekly plus-up. But due to difficulties in reprogramming the DLIR mainframe for the new programs, the FPUC currently is being paid only to PUA claimants. Known as “Plus Up Payments” FPUC in Hawaii is  flowing only to PUA recipients at this point, because PUA claims are not processed on Hawaii’s aging mainframe computer.  This means that all other claimants eligible for the $300 weekly plus-up benefit, including those on standard Unemployment Insurance (UI), initial Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), or Extended Benefits (EB20) are not yet receiving payment. The department hopes to finalize the programming of FPUC payments for those claimants within the next week. Payments will be made retroactively as necessary.

STIMULUS DEBIT CARD SCAMMERS
Scammers are looking for your stimulus debit card too. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Scammers may send you a text, “You are due an economic impact payment and you need to provide your personal financial information to us in order to receive it.” The IRS will not text, call, email or contact people via social media.
• Beware of fake websites and social media that lures you in by a fake ad and emails

The Better Business Bureau found that 35-to-54-year olds were the most susceptible to COVID-19 related scams. See the BBB’s COVID-19 scam report here.

UPCOMING EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MONDAY JANUARY 25

• Queens to Offer Vaccines to 75 Years of Age and Older. The Queen’s Health Systems has vaccines for seniors 75 years old and over starting on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 at the Neil Blaisdell Concert Hall by appointment. To schedule an appointment, you can call 808-691-2222 Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. You can also register online at http://covid.queens.org/vaccination
  LOCATION: Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall
  DAYS: Starting Monday, Jan. 25 Sundays-Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, Closed on Tuesdays
  TIMES: 8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  PARKING: Neal Blaisdell Center parking structure (enter from King Street). Free parking compliments of Elite parking.
  INSTRUCTIONS:
  • Bring a government-issued ID and your insurance card.
  • Avoid wearing long-sleeved clothing.
  • All patients will be expected to return 28 days later for a second dose.
  • The process includes a 15–30-minute observation period to ensure there are no severe adverse reactions.
  • Attend no earlier than 10 min. before your vaccination appointment
  • Everyone entering the vaccination clinic must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing requirements.
  • If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
• New Waikiki Beach Maintenance Project Starts.  This project is intended to restore beach conditions and shoreline and enhance recreational opportunities; and sand replenishment will facilitate lateral access along the shore and provide erosion mitigation to Waikiki beaches. Below see what the project will do:
  • Hydraulic dredging and pumping will move up to 20,000 cubic yards of marine sand from offshore Waikiki to Waikiki Beach.
  • Partial Closure of The Kūhiō Beach/Diamond Head swim basin as it will be the receiving and dewatering area for pumped sand. The Kūhiō Beach/Ewa swim basins and Royal Hawaiian beach areas will have daily intermittent, partial closures to allow heavy equipment movement.
  • Sand maintenance is expected to last three to four months with offshore dredging and pumping of sand occurring weekdays 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
  • Additional details of the project and are available at: https://www.wbsida.org/waikiki-beach-maintenance  For questions, email dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov or call 808-587-0396.
• Gov. Ige to Deliver ‘State of the State Address’. Governor David Ige is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address to the public. He will lay out his plan for the year and share where we stand against the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s hope he has a strong plan! You can watch his speech live starting at 10 a.m. Monday. Click here to watch: https://www.kitv.com/

TUESDAY JANUARY 26

• Meeting to Discuss How Kupuna Without Computers and Email May Not Get Vaccine
  Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center is working with several groups in hopes of finding solutions. Some staff can do robocalls to large numbers of people, to support the state’s efforts to vaccinate everyone. The Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center is hosting a Zoom meeting and Conference call on the vaccine Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. For an invitation, call 847-1322.

• Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board
  WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, 6:30pm
  JOIN: Via videoconference or by phone. Click on agenda below for logon info.
  TESTIMONY: Must be received by the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the board at the meeting. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 or Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov
  Below are some of the items on the agenda that might interest you.  See the AGENDA here
  • Straub Medical Center Redevelopment – City Council hearing will be held within 60 days. Links to the application materials are available on the agenda above.
  • McKinley High School Athletic Complex – The state education department has published an environmental assessment (EA), the link of which can be found on the agenda. A 30-day comment period will end on February 8, 2021. Comments should be sent to mitch.tamayori@k12.hi.us  and kawikam@g70.design.
  • Ala Moana Boulevard Elevated Pedestrian Walkway – The state transportation department has published a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document, the link of which can be found on the agenda. The 30-day comment period on this determination will end on February 8, 2021. Comments should be sent to DOT.HWY-AlaMoanaPed@hawaii.gov
  • Keeaumoku Complete Streets Project – Complete Streets are streets that work for all of us, safely moving people while balancing the needs of all roadway users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists.
  • Kaiāulu o Kaka‘ako Master Plan Update – Kamehameha Schools’ KKMP plan calls for the development of a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood featuring a range of housing options for owners and renters – from low-rise residences to high-rise towers – inviting green spaces, walking paths, and unique retail and dining experiences.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27

Full City Council to Convene
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, 10am
JOIN: Via videoconference or by phone. Click on agenda below for logon info.
TESTIMONY: May be transmitted via the internet at here for distribution at the meeting. Written testimonies, including the testifier’s address, email address and phone number, will be available to the public on the City Council’s website. Written testimony will not be accepted in person at the meeting. Should you have any questions, please call 768-3814 or send an email to jyamane1@honolulu.gov
AGENDA: here
Some items that may interest you:

• PAUOA AREA SEWER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: Providing for the acquisition of easements for public use, and determining and declaring the necessity for eminent domain. Link to Resolution 20-255.
• ALA WAI FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT: Urging the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the City Administration to involve the community in preparing supplemental environmental impact reviews for the Ala Wai Flood Control Project. Link to Resolution 21-19, CD1.

THURSDAY JANUARY 28

Condominium Owner Rights Webinar – Join a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 28, 12:00-1:30pm to hear about the ABC’s of condominium ownership: the do’s and don’ts of construction contracts, insurance contractors, meeting blunders to avoid. Click here to register now.

FRIDAY JANUARY 30

Sign Up for Free-Vaccination Town Hall Meeting: Guest Speakers Lt. Gov & State Epidemiologist
Lt. Governor Josh Green and Dr. Sarah Kemble will talk about the COVID-19 vaccination roll out for Hawaii; the safety and benefits of the vaccination; and how to sign up for vaccination appointments. Hosted by AARP, the telephone forum will be on Jan. 30 at 9am as they answer questions and provide an update about the State’s vaccination plan. Sign up to receive a call or livestream here: https://vekeo.com/aarphawaii/# (Under the word “Events,” click on the 1^st tile)

CELEBRATING THE REV DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: JANUARY 18
HONOLULU HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:  In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here is the holiday schedule:

• Emergency Medical Services, fire, lifeguard, medical examiner and police services will be available.
• TheBus will operate on a state holiday schedule.
• Parks and botanical gardens will be open. Click here for park-use guidelines: http://www.honolulu.gov/parks
• Refuse will be collected, transfer stations, and convenience centers will be open. Click here for more info: https://www.opala.org/
• Municipal golf courses will be open. Click here for revised play info: http://www.honolulu.gov/des/golf
• The Honolulu Zoo will be open. Click here for more info: http://www.honolulu.gov/zoo
• CLOSED: The Neal S. Blaisdell Center box office, People’s Open Markets, all satellite city halls and driver licensing centers.
• Traffic lanes will not be coned for contraflow.

On-street parking will be free except for the meters on Kalakaua Avenue along Queen Kapiolani Park, metered parking lots and meters on specific Waikiki streets listed here.

• THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE OPENS ITS 2021 SESSION: JAN. 20
• VACCINATIONS: WHAT WE KNOW
• VACCINATED PASSENGERS NOT EXEMPT FROM HAWAII PRE-TRAVEL TESTING PROGRAM
• ALOHA SAFE: NEW APP ALERTS YOU TO COVID EXPOSURE
• PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: ROUND 2 (JAN. 11 – MAR. 31)
• HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: BARSTOOL FUND
• UH ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19:  Jan. 11 – 31
• REPAIR WORK TO WAIKIKI ROCK WALL:  AVOID FOOT TRAFFIC
• WAIKIKI BEACH STABILIZATION PROJECT SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT: DEADLINE IS JAN. 22
• MAKIKI/LOWER PUNCHBOWL/TANTALUS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD: JAN. 21, 6:00-8:00pm

THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE OPENS ITS 2021 SESSION: JAN. 20
Lawmakers are already facing a challenging new year with a budget shortfall, Covid-19 vaccination management, and a slew of related issues to address business and jobless supports. When it opens next week, the legislature has much to do– restructure, reorganize, and recover from a harrowing and traumatic 2020 year.  The legislature, too, has had to change: we open but unlike our past open house, we’re taking safety and health precautions, closing the Capitol doors to the public and operating virtually. Silver lining: more people can weigh in on bills than one Capitol conference room can hold so I encourage you to attend (remotely) the committee hearings, and to follow the bills that you care about. Here’s how you can submit testimony, testify remotely and/or attend the hearings.

COVID UPDATES:

VACCINATIONS: WHAT WE KNOW
Mass vaccinations for the public are scheduled to begin on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• All vaccinations are free but are given by appointment and according to eligible priority groups.
• Eligible priority groups: Are you in the priority groups below?
  • Phase 1a: Health care personnel in settings where they have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, long-term care facility residents.
  • Phase 1b: Those over age 75; first responders, including police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, emergency services dispatchers, critical transportation infrastructure workers (harbor and dock workers, public transportation, etc.), critical utilities (energy, water, etc.), teachers and childcare and educational support staff (childcare, early education, K-12, post-secondary), those essential for federal, state, and local government operations, and U.S. Postal Service employees. Vaccinations for this group is expected to be completed in May.
• Locations and Registration Sites:  (1) Pier 2 operated by Hawaii Pacific Health will be open six days a week starting Monday (1/18)- and (2) Blaisdell Concert Hall operated by Queens Medical Center will open on the following Monday (1/25) but registration information yet to come; and (3) for Kaiser Permanente members
• Learn how to register for vaccination here

VACCINATED PASSENGERS NOT EXEMPT FROM HAWAII PRE-TRAVEL TESTING PROGRAM
If you already received your vaccination, it does not exempt you from the following:

• Pre-travel requirements, both interisland and domestic – Proof of vaccination is not a recognized exemption to the Hawaii travel quarantine. The state continues to evaluate the latest science and will inform travelers of any new exemptions as those decisions are made.  Travelers may go to https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/ for updated information and news about travel quarantine exemptions.
• Mask-wearing, social-distancing, and close contact with those outside of your bubble – While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide, it is important for everyone to continue using all the to help stop this pandemic: wash hands, watch distance, wear a mask. .

ALOHA SAFE: NEW APP ALERTS YOU TO COVID EXPOSURE
Sign on to AlohaSafe Alert – the State’s official exposure notification application. It’s voluntary and free. Just download from both the Apple and Google Play stores. Once downloaded, the app uses Bluetooth technology to anonymously communicate with other phones that have the application. The devices will “ping” one another, measuring the strength of the Bluetooth signal, distance of each device, and the duration of the contact. If an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will receive a text message from the Department of Health with a verification code to input into the app. This code will anonymously notify other devices about their possible COVID-19 exposure. The notification will not disclose any personally identifying information such as where, how, or when they were exposed. To trigger a notification alert, devices must have been within 6 feet of each other for at least 15 minutes in the past 14 days. If someone receives a notification from AlohaSafe Alert that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, they are recommended to self-quarantine, and get tested.   For more information, click here.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: ROUND 2 (JAN. 11 – MAR. 31)
The Paycheck Protection Program restarted this past Monday to help businesses.   Here’s what you need to know this time around:

• For first-time PPP borrowers, these Hawaii financial institutions will administer loans to ensure the neediest borrowers have access, click here.
• Existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a second loan if they have no more than 300 employees, used the first loan for authorized purposes, and can demonstrate they suffered a decline in gross revenue. If applying for a second PPP loan, it is recommended that you go through the same lender as they already have your existing documentation.
• While previous loans needed to be spent quickly, businesses now have up to six months to use the money.
• Qualifying expenditures now include operating, property damage, and supplier costs (e.g. cosmetic construction to keep customers and staff safe).
• Bars, gyms, and other small businesses hit hard by shutdowns, restrictions or tier systems will also have an advantage this time around.
• Funding is set to expire March 31, 2021.

HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: BARSTOOL FUND
The Barstool Fund is a virtual fundraiser. If you’re a struggling business, here’s how to apply:

• Submit your story, send a video. Show how much you need just to survive the pandemic.
• Businesses must meet two requirements: You were running a successful business before the pandemic and the only thing that changed was the pandemic AND employees still need to be currently on their payroll.
• Once an owner is called, the money is wired within 48 to 72 hours. That money will help the business through the month of January.
• Each month, the fund will continue to cut you a check for how much you need to stay in business.
• It’s a celebrity sponsored fund with some big names contributing, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Food Network host Guy Fieri, musician Kid Rock, plus NFL superstars Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Created in December 2020, the Barstool Fund was created by Dave Portnoy, the founder of digital media giant ‘Barstool Sports’.
• To apply for help, visit https://barstool.typeform.com/to/fbCSK7GZ

UH ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19:  Jan. 11 – 31
As the 2021 semester begins, the University of Hawaii (UH) has good news for students in need of financial aid. Nearly $3 million in federal funds will be available for students in financial need due to COVID-19 impacts. Students may apply for the financial aid now through Jan. 31. Click here to apply.

DISTRICT NEWS:

REPAIR WORK TO WAIKIKI ROCK WALL:  AVOID FOOT TRAFFIC
Emergency repairs have begun this week to the damaged concrete wall fronting the Barefoot Beach Café near Queen’s Surf Beach (or the surf break known as Public’s). The work involves the removal of the severely damaged ramp & rock wall, with repairs to the promenade wall including installation of a concrete curb to match the connecting walkway. The promenade around the work area will be closed off during the work, so please avoid the area. It will also be pretty noisy while work is being conducted. City officials say this is a direct result of rising sea levels taking a toll on infrastructure. Expected completion: end of January.

WAIKIKI BEACH STABILIZATION PROJECT SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT: DEADLINE IS JAN. 22
Without intervention, Waikiki’s beaches could be totally lost before the end of the century. Proposed beach improvement and maintenance projects are planned for Fort DeRussy, Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian, and Kuhio Beach. Projects include construction of new beach stabilization structures and the recovery of offshore sand and its placement on the shoreline. The state filed an environmental impact statement preparation notice on the Waikiki Beach Improvement and Maintenance Program. See the proposal here. Written comments can be emailed to Andy Bohlander of Sea Engineering at abohlander@seaengineering.com.  Deadline to submit comments is Jan. 22.

MAKIKI/LOWER PUNCHBOWL/TANTALUS NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD: JAN. 21, 6:00-8:00pm
Send testimony and chime into your community happenings. Some of the updates and discussion will cover:

• Honolulu Museum of Art annual presentation
• Complete Streets Updates, Sidewalks, Bicycle Lanes, and Road Infrastructure: Changes to bus route
• Ala Wai Flood Project

For more information, including agenda, click here.