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

  • Homeowner tax credit deadline, Ala Moana Plaza, Meeting announcements

    Homeowner tax credit deadline, Ala Moana Plaza, Meeting announcements
    “September 11 impressed upon us that life is a precious gift. Every life has a purpose. And I think we all have a duty to devote at least a small portion of our daily lives to ensuring that neither America nor the world ever forgets September 11.”
    -William Harrison Frist, U.S. Senator, 1995-2007

    Aloha Neighbor,

    September 11 is officially called “Patriot Day,” a national day of service and remembrance commemorating the catastrophic events of Sept. 11, 2001 when hijackers flew our planes into the World Trade Center twin towers, the Pentagon, and the last one, believed to be headed to the White House. In all, almost 3,000 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured in a morning of attacks. On this 19th anniversary, watch this four-minute, 2011 tribute video for your personal commemoration of that fateful day.

    HOMEOWNERS REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT DEADLINE: SEPT. 30
    Eligible homeowners should file to claim the City’s real property tax credit. The deadline to file is Wednesday, Sept. 30 (applications postmarked on the due date will be accepted). Applicants who qualify are entitled to a tax credit equal to the amount of taxes owed for the current tax year that exceed three percent of the titleholders’ combined gross income. This tax credit will be applied to next year’s taxes. An annual filing is required to obtain the credit.
    You are eligible for the tax credit if:

    • You have a home exemption in effect when you apply and for the subsequent tax year.
    • You don’t own any other property, including outside of Oahu.
    • The combined income of all titleholders cannot exceed $60,000.

    To get an application go to:

    • Online @ HonoluluPropertyTax.com. Click on Tax Billing and Collections Forms.
    • Call 768-3205 and an application will be sent to you.
    • If you applied for this credit last year, an application was mailed to you in June 2020.

    Note: If you qualify for the credit, the credit will be applied to your property tax bill that you will receive in July of 2021. For more information or assistance, please contact the Real Property Tax Relief Office at 768-3205.

    WEIGH IN ON ALA MOANA PLAZA: SEPTEMBER 30
    Brookfield Properties is proposing a new mixed use project at 451 Piikoi St. and 1450 Ala Moana Blvd.  The project consists of 583 multi-family units (124 will be affordable), about 1,500 sf of commercial space and 220 parking stalls.
    Weight in on the project at the City’s Department of Planning & Permitting public hearing to be held on September 30, 2020, 10:30am, at the Mission Memorial Conference Room (550 South King St.). Click here to view the public hearing notice.  Click here to view the Ala Moana Plaza development plan.  Send in your testimony as follows:

    • Email: info@honoluludpp.org (due by 4:30pm on 9/29/20)
    • Mail: DPP, 650 South King St., 7th Flr, Honolulu, HI  96813 (due by 4:30pm on 9/29/20)
    • Oral: Via Phone or WebEx during the online meeting (Login Info on the notice above)
    • In-person: This option is available to those who are unable to attend meeting via Phone or WebEx.  Social distancing protocols apply.

    SENATE COVID COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON EDUCATION & HEALTH: SEPT. 11
    The Senate special committee will be meeting Friday (9/11) to hear updates on the re-opening of schools and what the Department of Education is doing to manage Special Education services during the pandemic. The Committee will also be briefed on the new Department of Health data-sharing dashboard. Click here for agenda. The info briefing will start livestreaming at 1:00pm on YouTube.  Speakers include the following:

    • Department of Education Superintendent, Dr. Christina Kishimoto;
    • Department of Health Chair, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Ms. Deborah Kobayakawa;
    • Department of Health Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Services Administration, Mr. Edward Mersereau;
    • Kauai District Health Officer, Dr. Janet Berreman;
    • University of Hawaii Assistant Professor, Dr. Victoria Fan.

    HOUSE COVID COMMITTEE UPDATES: ECONOMY, COMMUNICATIONS, CARES MONEY, HOUSING & HOMELESS: SEPTEMBER 14
    Next week Monday (9/14), the House committee will hear updates on Hawaii’s economy, communication strategies, use of CARES funding, and Housing and Homeless. View the info briefing live beginning at 10:00am on Olelo Cable Television Channel 49 on Oahu. It will also be livestreamed via www.olelo.org. Speakers include Carl Bonham (Economy), Ray Vara (Communications), Lauren Nahme and Jill Tokuda (CARES funds), and James Koshiba (Housing and Homeless). Click here for the agenda.

    HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HCDA) MEETS: SEPT. 16
    The HCDA that oversees development in Kakaako has been without a director since Aedward Los Banos left us for the UH.  The HCDA has been busy looking for a new executive director and will be confirming the selection at its next meeting on September 16. See the agenda:  Shall the Authority Confirm the Selection and Hiring of Deepak Neupane to Fill the Position of the Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority?  All written public testimony will be accepted through the HCDA website at www.dbedt.hawaii.gov/hcda or dbedt.hcda.contact@hawaii.gov up to 2:00 p.m. the day before the Authority meeting.  Please be advised that any written public testimony submitted to the HCDA will be treated as a public record and, available for public inspection and copying.

    GET YOUR VEGGIES HERE: Na Kupuna Makamae Center Open For You!
    Visit the Nā Kūpuna Makamae Center for fresh, local produce.  PGC Farms will supply every week a fresh harvest of cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, papayas, bananas, and more. The produce is local and supports the livelihoods of our immigrant farmers. Bring a reusable bag with you to carry away your goodies!

    WHERE: 653 Ala Moana Blvd.
    WHEN: M-F, 9am-5pm. New supplies weekly Sept. 14, 21, 28.
    PARK: Free onsite
    CALL: (808) 773-7047
    WEBSITE:  https://www.facebook.com/events/563621937696854/?event_time_id=563622041030177

    Take care & stay safe!

  • City & State public spaces open for solitary use, Rent relief unveiled

    City & State public spaces open for solitary use, Rent relief unveiled

    Aloha Neighbor,

    September is National Preparedness Month to promote disaster planning.  As our State continues to respond to COVID-19, and while you are shuttered at home, work on your plan to be “2 Weeks Ready.” No better time!  This year’s theme is: “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” Hurricane season began in June and will end on November 30. Use September to get ready: Make the Plan, Build Your Kit, Prepare for Disaster, Teach Youth About Preparedness. For more information, click here.

    HOME & OUTING ALONE: Mayor’s Extended  STAY-AT-HOME ORDER Through September 23
    But…City parks, botanical gardens, certain park facilities, and beaches will reopen on Thursday, Sept. 10 under their regular hours of operation but with limited use – you can use facilities in a solitary matter, alone. View the amended order here for details (Orders 6-7 page 4).  Below are highlights:

    Open:

    • Outdoor activities like fishing, walking, running, biking.
    • Ocean access: stand-alone comfort stations and outdoor showers.
    • Community Gardens open to designated gardeners only.
    • Park parking lots, bicycle paths, and the Koko Head Tramway will reopen.

    Closed:

    • Play courts (basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, etc.), pools, playgrounds, exercise equipment, off-leash dog parks, skateparks, archery ranges, and the Koko Head Shooting Complex.
    • Indoor park facilities like gymnasiums and recreation rooms.
    • City campgrounds

    If you have questions regarding City public spaces, it may be answered here or call the City’s COVID-19 call center 768-2489, M-F, 8 am – 4:30 pm OR email covidresponse@honolulu.gov.

    State policy on public spaces on Oahu conform to the City order.  Trails, beaches, and sandbars on Oahu managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) are no longer closed due to COVID-19, provided that the conditions in Orders 6-7 (page 4) are followed.  See DOFAW’s release here.

    STATE FINALLY RELEASES CARES FUNDS: RENT RELIEF AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
    Gov. Ige announced launching of the State’s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program (RRHAP) to assist Hawaii renters who have been hit by COVID-19 with income loss and to prevent eviction.  Federal CARES Act funds this program to provide at-risk renters with assistance in making monthly rent up to $2,000/month as well as financial counseling.
    Applications are currently being accepted for housing payments due between August 1, 2020 and will run through December 28, 2020.  To apply for assistance and for more details on eligibility and other information, including frequently asked questions (FAQs) and a list of required documentation go to: www.hihousinghelp.com.

    YOU WANTED MORE INFORMATION? HERE YOU GO: THE STATE LAUNCHES:

    • HAWAII DEFENSE ECONOMY WEBSITE —The Hawaii Defense Economy website includes updated data, information and resources about Hawaii’s second largest economic sector — national defense. Local businesses can use the new data tools and information to improve their understanding of Hawaii’s military spending and contract trends, as well as access resources to explore and better engage in local defense contracting opportunities. You can access the website here.
    • HAWAII TAX DASHBOARD — The Department of Taxation’s dashboard is a visualization of tax collection data.  Users can easily access tax collection data and filter tax data by date and tax type for monthly collections data going back to January 2000. The portal allows users to interact with the graphical interface or download the underlying data.

    OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST:

    • SURGE TESTING CONTINUES UNTIL SEPT. 18
      The next testing near our district is this Thursday at:

    Honolulu Police Department Main Headquarters
    801 South Beretania Street – Lawn Area, 1st Floor
    Thursday, September 10, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    For other testing locations, dates and times and to register, click here.

    • HAWAIIAN AIRLINES WAIVES FLIGHT CHANGE FEES
      Hawaiian Airlines is waiving change fees for most customers looking to reschedule travel inter-island or between Hawaii and the mainland or international destinations. The fee waiver doesn’t apply to Main Cabin Basic fares. For more information, click here.
    • CHARITY SEEKS MASK DONATIONS FOR PARENTS OF NEWBORNS 
      March of Dimes is collecting donations of masks, books and other much-needed items. Donations go to families with newborns at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. To donate, call 973-2155.

    Take care & stay safe!