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

  • Act With Care – Do Not Gather, Public schools 100% virtual for first month

    Act With Care – Do Not Gather, Public schools 100% virtual for first month

    Aloha Neighbor,

    The continuing covid surge—still at triple digit 201! —is finally moving the Administration to act with urgency to add trained contact tracing staff to meet our exponentially growing numbers, impose more restrictions, and ramp up enforcement. Testing must be ramped up, too, and drive-through testing will be available in Kakaako, among other testing sites.  Meanwhile, the community should safely meet our civic duty: Primary Election on Saturday (if you did not send in your ballot) and completing the Census survey. And stay positive and calm…

    “Act With Care Do Not Gather” and the new order, starting Saturday, August 8, at 12 a.m. through Sept. 5, was announced by the Governor, Mayor and Honolulu Police Chief. The new order, requires:

    • Mandatory 14- day quarantine for interisland travel to travel to neighbor islands.
    • Closure of all City beaches, parks, playgrounds, courts, fields, exercise equipment, dog parks, skateparks, the Koko Crater Tramway, People’s Open Markets, campgrounds, botanical gardens and hiking trails, city and private pools, including hotel pools, except to traverse to any water activity like fishing or diving and use restrooms and showers.
    • Voting drop-off locations at parks will be open for the election.
    • Suspension of team sports.
    • Suspension of group-class activities at fitness centers but fitness centers will still be open otherwise.
    • Closure of pool halls, arcades, bowling, and mini golf.
    • Safety measures enforced at restaurants, hair salons, religious services, art galleries, and movies.

    See this City news release for more details. These orders will be strictly enforced. HPD chief hired 160 more officers to patrol island-wide to enforce against violators with citations and arrests.  This is serious!!!  You can get information at the Covid Enforcement Hotline at 723-3900, effective this Sunday 10am. and via email: hpdcovidenforce@honolulu.gov

    OAHU PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPENING AUGUST 17: SAFE OPENING
    Governor Ige and Superintendent Kishimoto announced in a press conference Friday that public schools will open safely on August 17 with entirely online instruction.  Schools will be providing students in need with computers.  No in-person instruction will take place during this time.  During the first week, parents and students will be invited to come to schools for training and instruction on how to attend online classes.  The subsequent three weeks of instruction will be entirely online.  For students without the physical means to take online instruction, supervised spaces will be provided on school campuses for students to take their online classes.

    KAKAAKO COVID TESTING THIS SUNDAY
    Due to the covid surge, you can get tested at the Kakaako Waterfront Park drive-through COVID-19 site on Sunday, August 9, from 8am-2pm. The City is supporting Kakaako and other testing sites with volunteers and traffic control. If you don’t have insurance the test is free. You will be screened for symptoms and asked to provide personal information. QUESTIONS: call Premier Medical Group Hawaii at 304-8816 or 367-6020  See this article for more details.

    DON’T LET HAWAII LOSE OUT: COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS SURVEY NOW
    The US Census Bureau is cutting short its field collection –moving it up from October 30 to September 30.  As of August 4, 2020, 63% of all households in the nation have responded; but Hawaii is 4.8 points behind at 59%. About 238,320 Hawaii households have not yet responded. If they don’t fill out the form online, Census counters will be knocking on their doors. If we continue to undercount, Hawaii could possibly lose billions of dollars of federal funds in the next 10 years. So take a few minutes to complete the form to help Hawaii get it’s fair share of federal funds. Click here: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html

    VOTE!  Be Counted
    Primary Election Day is tomorrow. You have until tomorrow so if you haven’t sent in your ballot, you can still vote by physically taking it to one of the drop boxes Wherever you are on Oahu, here are the places to deposit.

    TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE: THERE’S STILL TIME TO DROP OFF THAT BALLOT
    In this year’s election, the translated language materials for Honolulu voters are only made available in Ilokano and Chinese upon request at the Honolulu City Clerk’s office. If you need help with understanding your voting ballot, these services are available:

    ENJOY “WAIKIKI STYLE” SLACK KEY: FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL
    The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of many annual events island residents enjoy. But not the 38th annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival “Waikiki Style.”  Its four-hour virtual concert goes live at 1 p.m. Saturday (8/8). Read more about the festival here. Watch on Facebook (facebook.com/Slackkeyfestivals) or YouTube (808ne.ws/SlackKeyFestival).

    WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020
    Waikiki Community Center
    310 Paokalani Ave.
    6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
    USE OF MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING MANDATORY AT THIS MEETING
    Click here for agenda.

    Take care & stay safe!

  • New park restrictions, House COVID hearing, food distribution

    New park restrictions, House COVID hearing, food distribution

    “As long as individuals in our communities fail to accept personal responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, we are unfortunately going to see continued days of triple digit numbers….This already has resulted in the renewal of restrictions on large social gatherings…and is likely going to lead to additional ones.”

    ~ Dr. Bruce Anderson, Hawaii State Health Director

    Aloha Neighbor,

    With Hawaii‘s new record of 207, the highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases thus far, Mayor Caldwell has already reinstated some restrictions for City parks and recreational facilities, described below. The Administration has also adjusted to the surge: a delay in the start date of public schools, the ongoing installation of airport thermal screening cameras, and waiting for the feds to agree on a relief package.  Fortunately, some community organizations are not waiting; they are actively serving those in need with food distribution drives.

    CITY PARK RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID SURGE
    Restrictions outlined in Mayor Caldwell’s Emergency Order 2020-22 have resulted in the reinstatement of some Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facility restrictions. The most notable are:

    • No indoor or outdoor social gatherings exceeding 10 people
    • No new picnic permits issued (but will honor previously approved permits)
    • While outdoor team sports events are allowed up to 100 people,  they are not meant to be social gatherings so participants must leave after the event finishes.
    • Beaches may only be used from a half an hour before sunrise to a half an hour after sunset, unless being used for fishing or exercise. Regular City park closure hours remain in effect.
    • Campgrounds already have a 10-person limit per campsite;  if large gatherings occur they may be closed again.

    HOUSE COVID MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
    The House of Representatives continues its assembly of community leaders to problem-solve and monitor covid-impacted sectors to boost our safe economic recovery. Highlights of yesterday’s (8/3) meeting:

    • FEDERAL RELIEF. Congress is still negotiating a relief package. Points of contention relate to Medicaid, PPP, UI, stimulus payment, extension of CARES act money through 2021.
    • TOURISM / PRE-TRAVEL TESTING. Tour industry partners.– wholesalers, hotels, airlines— are being contacted to notify them about our pre-travel testing. The Administration is executing contracts with pharmacies despite difficulty in obtaining pre-tests due to the mainland covid surge.
    • CARES ACT MONEY. The $8.4 billion CARES Act funds are being documented, where the money is going, who the expending agencies are, how much is drawn down from feds & how much is expended with each agency.
    • JAPANESE BUBBLE–– Japan has identified Hawaii as the only U.S. state to start a travel bubble, it will include exchanging testing protocols, and communication with testing partners and Japan travel agencies.

    FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION: NA KUPUNA MAKAMAE CENTER
    Dates: August 8, 15, 22, 29
    Time: 12 – 2:30 pm (while supplies last)
    Place: 653 Ala Moana Blvd. (Corner of Keawe St. and Ala Moana Blvd., old pump station)
    See flyer for details

    HAWAII FOOD BANK ASSISTANCE UPDATE
    With the addition of food safety guidelines and a flyer of specific resources (mental health, legal, rental, veteran, food, shelter and abuse issues, etc.), the handout broadens its outreach to individuals who most likely have more than just food access issues. View the handout here.

    OTHER DISTRICT PROJECTS AND MEETINGS OF INTEREST

    • MOILIILI AREA SEWER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
      Sewer reconstruction involving work on Isenberg and Hausten Streets between Date and South King Streets is set to begin September 1st and last for a year.  The allowable work hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.  For more information, see this flyer.
    • MCCULLY – MOILIILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING
      THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
      McCully District Park
      831 Pumehana Street
      See agenda here.
    • HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY –  Wednesday, August 5, 2020, 10:30 a.m.  The virtual meeting will discuss construction issues affected by the Governor‘s emergency proclamations, including right of entry, approval of contract services, utility easement, and environmental impact statements.  See the agenda here.  Accessible to the public on facebook.
    • SENATE COVID COMMITTEE MEETING – Thursday, August 6 at 2pm; DOT and DOH will update the committee on arriving travelers, COVID testing and contact tracing. Live viewing will be available on Olelo Channel 49 and on olelo.org.

    Take care & stay safe!