The Kaua‘i District Health Office today reports two new positive cases of COVID-19. The current number of active cases now stands at 7 as several individuals were recently released from isolation. The cumulative total of cases to date is 40. Both new cases are residents, one adult and one child. They are unrelated to each other and have no known connection to the recent outbreak on Kaua‘i. The state Department of Health (DOH) continues to gather more information, but at least one case appears to be travel related. Both cases are in isolation and contact investigations are ongoing. Close contacts will be identified and notified directly by DOH personnel and offered a test. Updates on new positive cases will be announced as they are confirmed. As a reminder, officials urge the public to refrain from large gatherings with people outside of your immediate household. If you must go out, wear a mask, keep your physical distance from others, and stay outdoors as much as possible. Today’s new cases will be reflected on the state’s COVID-19 website at hawaiicovid19.com. The count is updated at noon every day. For local updates, visit the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency page, www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.

As a mark of respect for the late Hawaiʻi State Senator Breene Harimoto, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the flags of the United States and State of Hawai‘i shall be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard, from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, July 7 – the day of Sen. Harimoto’s memorial service. In addition – on Monday, July 6, the Hawai‘i State flag will be flown at the Hawai‘i State Capitol in honor of Sen. Harimoto, as a gift to his family. “Breene was a true dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly and selflessly for the community he loved, even while fighting his illness,” said Gov. Ige. Sen. Harimoto, 66, died June 18 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He represented District 16 – Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Halawa and Pearl Harbor for six years. He also served on the Honolulu City Council for four years and the Board of Education for eight years, two terms as the BOE’s chairman. Sen. Harimoto is survived by his wife Cheryl, three children, three grandchildren, his parents and three siblings.

The Hawai‘i State Senate will honor their late colleague Breene Harimoto with a memorial service on Tuesday, July 7 in the Senate Chamber. The State Capitol remains closed to the public due to the pandemic. The memorial service will be available live via ‘Ōlelo channel 49 and the Hawai‘i Senate Facebook page beginning at 10:55 a.m. A virtual guest book of condolences to Senator Harimoto’s family will be available for the public to sign. The memorial will begin at 11 a.m. with a processional for Senator Harimoto’s family, from Beretania Street into the Senate Chamber, honored by dignitaries in the rotunda. A service will then take place in the Senate Chamber. A digital program will be released next week. Confirmed speakers include Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Representative Gregg Takayama, Governor David Y. Ige, Norman Nakanishi, Founding and Senior Pastor of Pearlside Church, and House Speaker Scott K. Saiki. Senator Harimoto passed away Thursday, June 18, after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 66. The senator served the residents of District 16 – Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Waimalu, Halawa, and Pearl Harbor for six years. He was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. Prior to his election to the Senate, Breene Harimoto served on the Honolulu City Council for four years.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health is reporting the 19th COVID-19 death today of an elderly adult on O‘ahu who was hospitalized with multiple underlying health issues. Governor David Ige expressed his condolences to the family and friends for their loss. “Every COVID-19 death is an emotional reminder of the need for all of us to be vigilant and wear a face covering when outside our homes, physically distance ourselves from others and wash hands frequently,” said Gov. Ige. “It’s about protecting each other and allowing the state to reopen safely. We all have a stake in this and now is the most critical time to wear a mask.” “As the state continues to reopen businesses and rebuild the economy, controlling the spread of COVID-19 will be the key to moving forward,” said Health Director Bruce Anderson. “Controlling the spread of the virus requires everyone to wear a face covering whenever they are out and avoid crowded places, closed spaces, and close contact with those outside of their household.” An additional 29 new positive cases today bring the state’s cumulative total to 975 cases. There were 25 cases diagnosed on O‘ahu, 2 cases on Maui, 1 case on Hawai‘i Island, and 1 case is out of state. At least 5 cases represent 3 new events and possible clusters. Cases on O‘ahu are from various areas including Honolulu, Kailua, Mililani, Pearl City, Wahiawa, Waialua, Waianae, Kaneohe, Waimanalo, and Waipahu.

Department of Health: 20 New Cases of COVID-19 Reported Twenty (20) new cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday by DOH. The cases include 17 from Honolulu, most which were associated with identified cases or clusters, as well as three (3) cases on Hawai‘i Island. Community outreach and testing activities are ongoing. With the 4th of July holiday weekend quickly approaching, DOH wants to remind everyone to wear masks and to continue practicing physical distancing. One reported cluster the DOH is monitoring involved people that had gathered and shared food at a potluck. This serves as a reminder that COVID-19 is still in our communities and everyone should follow proper guidelines to reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others. Other tips to keep in mind include avoid gathering in large groups altogether, washing your hands properly, and always stay home when you’re sick.

The public is advised that night construction work will be performed at the Wastewater Management Division’s Hanamā‘ulu Sewage Pump Station (SPS), located on Hanamā‘ulu Road, and Kapaia SPS, located at the intersection of Kūhiō Highway and Ma‘alo Road. The work is being performed as part of the construction project to rehabilitate and upgrade the Hanamā‘ulu and Kapaia SPSs. The construction work will be performed as follows: • Hanamaulu SPS: July 2 at 11 p.m. to July 3 at 6 a.m.; July 8 at 10 p.m. to July 9 at 6 a.m, weather permitting. • Kapaia SPS: July 5 at 11 p.m. to July 6 at 6 a.m.; July 9 at 10 p.m. to July 10 at 6 a.m., weather permitting. For the work at the Kapaia SPS, two-way traffic will be maintained on Kūhiō Highway and Ma‘alo Road. For the work at the Hanamā‘ulu SPS, one-way traffic in the immediate vicinity of the pump station will be maintained using a flagger. Motorists should drive with caution, expect delays, and adjust their travel times as needed. Anyone with questions may contact Jason Kagimoto with the Department of Public Works at 808-241-4083 or via email at jkagimoto@kauai.gov

The State of Hawai‘i mandatory interisland travel and health form can now be submitted online within 24 hours of flight departure. This upgrade adds efficiency to the passenger verification process, helps save travelers time and allows information to enter the database in real-time. The form includes health and contact information needed to trace close contacts should a passenger become ill. Ticketed passengers are encouraged to visit the Hawai‘i Department of Health travel website to find the digital fillable travel and health form. Once all the required questions have been completed and it is signed and submitted, the passenger will receive an email with a QR code. They should bring the code with them to the airport, either on an electronic device (preferred) or printed. The form may not be completed or submitted outside of the 24-hour time frame. (Please note: certain browsers such as Safari and Explorer are slow loading and Chrome is best). When passengers arrive at the airport they should check in to their flight and obtain a boarding pass (if they haven’t already done so) and drop off any checked luggage. Passengers will then proceed to a passenger verification and screening station located before Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, where they will have their temperature taken to ensure it is below 100.4 degrees. Passengers without elevated temperatures will submit their QR code to an airport representative who will scan it with an iPad to verify the information. Travelers can also download the form in advance, fill it out and print it, and bring it with them to the airport or fill it out at the airport. The passenger’s mobile phone will be called in front of them, to ensure it rings and the screener will verify the address provided on the form matches the passenger’s government issued identification. Passengers with a temperature of 100.4 or above are not allowed to fly. Certain other individuals will receive an additional assessment and will have the opportunity to have a nasal swab sample taken at the airport, which will be delivered to an off-site DOH lab to be tested for COVID-19. Feeling symptomatic (other than a fever) and having the swab sample taken does not necessarily mean the person cannot travel. However, the form will allow DOH to contact the person should their test result be positive. Once the information is verified and the passenger has successfully completed the process they can proceed to the TSA checkpoint. The mandatory travel and health forms must be submitted by each passenger, including minors. It must be submitted before each interisland flight, even if flights are on the same day. Travelers are encouraged to allow extra time and arrive at the airport with enough time to complete the passenger verification process, pass through security checkpoints and arrive at their assigned gate prior to departure. The Governor’s Office, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of the Attorney General, Office of Enterprise Technology Services and all four counties coordinated to help with the development and implementation of the new digital resource. The system was developed by Esri and utilizes its ArcGIS platform. The State lifted the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for interisland travelers on June 16. As of today, Aloha United Way 2-1-1 will field questions regarding the interisland travel form. They will not be able to answer questions about domestic or international travel. About the form: https://health.hawaii.gov/travel/traveler-health-form/ Online form: https://health.hawaii.gov/travel/traveler-health-e-form/

Department of Health: Nine New Cases of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i There are eight (8) additional adult cases, and one (1) pediatric case of coronavirus being reported by DOH; all are Hawai‘i residents. Four O‘ahu cases are associated with a new cluster at an urgent care facility, though none of those infected are involved in patient care. Two (2) new Maui cases continue to be under investigation for association with travel.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced that the City and County of Honolulu’s proposal to Governor David Ige has been approved to extend the Emergency Order on O‘ahu through July 31. The Mayor’s Emergency Order No. 2020-17 (Ho‘oulu i Honolulu 4.0) can be found here. “Keeping everyone on O‘ahu safe is our priority,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Extending our Emergency Order allows us to carefully get more of our island back to work and to a more open way of life while keeping measures in place that protect everyone in our island community.” The emergency period on O‘ahu is now set to expire on July 31, aligning with the Governor’s Ninth Supplemental Proclamation.

Cleaned planters with new Pak Lan trees recently planted by DPR’s Division of Urban Forestry in Chinatown. HONOLULU – Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced a handful of improvement projects for Chinatown in Downtown Honolulu. This is in addition to other improvement projects that have already been initiated. “Chinatown is a vital part of our city, both from a cultural and economic perspective,” said Mayor Caldwell. “We know our Chinatown merchants are struggling. Today’s announcement will hopefully lead to a revitalization of Chinatown and the surrounding neighborhood, along with providing a boost to our merchants during this extremely difficult time.” Recently, the City worked with the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to address concerns of illegal activities on Kekaulike Mall. HPD came up with a plan, and within a couple days had their Community Policing Team checking on Kekaulike Mall during the daytime and their bicycle team riding through the Mall in the late night hours. Also, the dirty, empty planters throughout Chinatown were cleaned up by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Division of Urban Forestry and new, young Pak Lan trees were recently planted in five planters on Kekaulike Mall. Jeanne Ishikawa, Deputy Director for the Department of Parks and Recreation said the benefits of these plantings are already noticeable. “This simple action instantly brought color and appeal to Kekaulike Mall. People are smiling and admiring the Pak Lan plantings. We’ll be working on other improvements to clean, sanitize, and revitalize our Honolulu Chinatown.” The Pak Lan tree is native to Indonesia, and is known for its fragrant white flowers. Deputy Director Ishikawa is asking the community to help care for the plantings by not throwing trash, food, or drinks into the planters. Beginning on Wednesday, July 1, the sidewalks in Chinatown will be disinfected and cleaned through pressure washing with an environmentally friendly disinfectant. Crews are scheduled to complete work from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. The work crew will work Mondays through Friday nights, working their way through several main streets in Chinatown. The work area covers a block area from River Street to a portion of Nuʻuanu Avenue. Going Makai, pressure washing on the sidewalks will be from North Beretania Street to North King Street, with the power washing on Kekaulike, Maunakea, and Smith Streets extending to Nimitz Highway. Pressure washing will be done on sidewalks on both sides of each identified street. The work will be a continuous cycle, 5-nights a week. When all identified streets are completed, the contractor will start over at the beginning—this will be a continuous cycle ending in December. In addition, all TheBus stops in Chinatown and Downtown will be disinfected regularly using a new chemical-free, high-temperature steam procedure. Extra service will be provided to over fifty stops in the district. As part of the ongoing effort to remove trash from sidewalks in Chinatown, the City’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) Refuse Division will be monitoring violations daily and issuing Notices of Violation as necessary. The City will be enforcing on businesses that do the following: · Are open for business and choose to leave trash collection carts obstructing the sidewalks. Some businesses (such as bars) that do not open until after lunch or in the evenings will not be enforced upon. · That avoid the carts and just put out bags (including yellow ones) will have their trash put back on their doorstep and given citations. · That add waste (bags, cardboard boxes) outside their carts will have their trash put back on their doorstep and given citations. LED lighting and fixture materials have been ordered after brighter lighting on Kekaulike Mall was suggested by HPD to improve personal safety and security when traversing the mall after dark. In another move to improve security in the area, guard services, through Aliʻi Security Systems, will run from Wednesday, July 1 to December 20, from 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. Coverage has been extended to wrap around Kekaulike Street to include the entrance to Kekaulike Courtyard’s parking lot. Funding for the contract was made through an appropriation by Councilmember Carol Fukunaga. This is the second six-month contract. The original contract, mentioned earlier, started in March 2020 and had positive results in reducing loitering and unwelcome activities on sidewalks fronting city owned properties. On Saturday, July 11, Hotel Street will be closed from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Restaurants will be able to place tables on the sidewalk outside their establishments to promote physical distancing. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to enjoy Hotel Street from River Street to Nuʻuanu Avenue free of vehicles. This “Open Street” concept was successful down Kalākaua Avenue in Waikiki with hundreds of local families taking advantage of the safe open street. The Department of Land Management has awarded a contract to Jade Painting to paint over the graffiti at the Dan Liu Building. The work started Sunday, June 28. The City will also be painting all of the traffic control boxes in the area. A commemorative, traditional-style Chinatown gateway arch structure will be installed at Kekaulike Mall, provided by Eddie Flores.

The State of Hawai‘i mandatory interisland travel and health form can now be submitted online within 24 hours of flight departure. This upgrade adds efficiency to the passenger verification process, helps save travelers time and allows information to enter the database in real-time. The form includes health and contact information needed to trace close contacts should a passenger become ill. Ticketed passengers are encouraged to visit the Hawai‘i Department of Health travel website to find the digital fillable travel and health form. Once all the required questions have been completed and it is signed and submitted, the passenger will receive an email with a QR code. They should bring the code with them to the airport, either on an electronic device (preferred) or printed. The form may not be completed or submitted outside of the 24-hour time frame. (Please note: certain browsers such as Safari and Explorer are slow loading and Chrome is best). When passengers arrive at the airport they should check in to their flight and obtain a boarding pass (if they haven’t already done so) and drop off any checked luggage. Passengers will then proceed to a passenger verification and screening station located before Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, where they will have their temperature taken to ensure it is below 100.4 degrees. Passengers without  elevated temperatures will submit their QR code to an airport representative who will scan it with an iPad to verify the information. Travelers can also download the form in advance, fill it out and print it, and bring it with them to the airport or fill it out at the airport. The passenger’s mobile phone will be called in front of them, to ensure it rings and the screener will verify the address provided on the form matches the passenger’s government issued identification. Passengers with a temperature of 100.4 or above are not allowed to fly. Certain other individuals will receive an additional assessment and will have the opportunity to have a nasal swab sample taken at the airport, which will be delivered to an off-site DOH lab to be tested for COVID-19. Feeling symptomatic (other than a fever) and having the swab sample taken does not necessarily mean the person cannot travel. However, the form will allow DOH to contact the person should their test result be positive. Once the information is verified and the passenger has successfully completed the process they can proceed to the TSA checkpoint. The mandatory travel and health forms must be submitted by each passenger, including minors. It must be submitted before each interisland flight, even if flights are on the same day. Travelers are encouraged to allow extra time and arrive at the airport with enough time to complete the passenger verification process, pass through security checkpoints and arrive at their assigned gate prior to departure. The Governor’s Office, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Department of Health, Department of Transportation,  Department of the Attorney General, Office of Enterprise Technology Services and all four counties coordinated to help with the development and implementation of the new digital resource. The system was developed by Esri and utilizes its ArcGIS platform. The State lifted the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for interisland travelers on June 16. As of today, Aloha United Way 2-1-1 will field questions regarding the interisland travel form. They will not be able to answer questions about domestic or international travel.

Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair of the Finance Committee, have proposed a $2 million budget to assist in defraying college costs for public school seniors and funded through the CARES Act Relief Fund. The funding contained in Senate Bill 126 was approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Friday, June 26, and then sent to the Governor.“We need to make sure we are providing our high school graduates with the resources to pursue education and training opportunities that will help to build Hawai‘i’s 21st century workforce,” said Senator Dela Cruz. The Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) is asking that the State Legislature match its $2 million commitment to the Stronger Together Hawaii Scholarship Fund and the HCF will waive all administrative fees to the State’s matching contribution. “About two weeks ago,” said HCF President/CEO Micah Kane, “in partnership with First Hawaiian Bank, we each contributed $1 million to create a new initiative targeting the 11,000 public school seniors who were impacted by COVID during their final semester of their senior year. As you know, the final semester of your senior year is the most important time where college counselors are working with seniors to help prepare them for a post-secondary career path. “This initiative complements a program that was funded 100 percent by philanthropy called the Next Steps to Your Future Program. This program, run by the University of Hawai`i, provides one-on-one college counseling and access to a free online career exploration course for every senior graduating from a public school. Kane said that “over the past 30 days, more than 3,000 graduates are participating in the program. These seniors will also need a lot of financial supports to go to and stay in college. We anticipate a high demand for these funds and we welcome this partnership with the State.”