Yesterday, 1,767 people arrived in Hawaii. During this same time last year approximately 35,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily, including residents and visitors. Yesterday marked 12 weeks since the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started for all passengers arriving in Hawaii from out of state. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday and does not include interisland travel. This data was collected from the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Mandatory Travel Declaration Form.

Largest single day increase in COVID-19 cases since early April Despite spike, state officials say all systems working as planned The Hawai‘i Dept. of Health (DOH) is reporting 27 new positive cases of coronavirus today, which is the highest number reported since April 2. DOH Director, Dr. Bruce Anderson said, “Despite our recent spike in cases, all of our testing and contact tracing procedures are working exactly as intended. Additional cases are being identified and added to the case count as a result of aggressive investigations and contact tracing.” The majority of new cases reported over the past week are associated with community clusters in large households with crowded conditions, adult care and long-term nursing facilities, and with a church group. Hawai‘i State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park, commented, “These clusters really emphasize our call for the continuation of safe practices, including physical distancing, using face coverings, frequent hand washing, and staying home and away from others when sick. Virtually all of the newly reported cases of COVID-19 are due to community-spread, often from a group setting.” Many of the recent cases have been associated with clusters. One faith community in Waipahu, having gatherings in a home, has prompted health authorities to reiterate safe practices for people being together in crowded conditions. Guidance, prepared by the City and County of Honolulu, based on best practices from sources such as DOH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and from research institutions and municipalities across the country is available online: https://www.oneoahu.org/house-of-worship-guidance There has been speculation that the recent rise in cases is due to large protests. Dr. Park added, “At this time there is no evidence that recent protests have led to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i. Nonetheless, we continue to strongly encourage physical distancing and the use of face masks when people are engaged in practicing First Amendment rights, or while in any other large gatherings, with people who don't live in the same household.” The health department says testing is based on a low threshold to test. In other words, once a resident or caregiver tests positive and the health investigation determines the source of infection, DOH supports broader testing of exposed healthcare givers and residents in conjunction with public health investigation. Part of DOH’s investigation procedure continues to be extensive contact tracing to get close contacts of an infected person into isolation and monitoring. The department and its partners continue to conduct outreach and education for impacted individuals and communities. Dr. Anderson concluded, “Once again we fully anticipated an increase in COVID-19 cases associated with more community activity and business re-openings. This is the critical time, with this week’s resumption of interisland travel and the re-opening of other air travel at some point in the future, for all of us to act with care, to protect our loved ones, particularly our kupuna, and to continue physical distancing, face masks, and all of the safe practices that have now become our new norm…at least for now.”

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi announced today with great sadness the loss of a respected colleague as Senator Breene Harimoto passed away last night after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. Senator Harimoto, who served the residents of District 16 – Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Halawa, and Pearl Harbor for six years (elected 2014, re-elected 2018) – was 66. “Breene Harimoto was one of the kindest people I have ever known, a man who truly cared about others,” said Senate President Kouchi. “He served his constituents with honor and treated everyone around him with kindness and respect. His legacy of public service will continue to benefit the people of Hawai‘i for many years to come. On behalf of the Hawai‘i Senate ‘ohana, we offer our deepest condolences to his wife Cheryl, and his children and grandchildren.” Senator Harimoto served as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, and was a member of the Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. He was the Senate’s representative on the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Board and was its Chair. He was also the Senate’s alternate representative on the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development and Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness. Prior to his election to the Senate, Breene Harimoto served on the Honolulu City Council for four years. He was chair of the Committee on Transportation where he championed rail, transit-oriented development, complete streets, smart growth, and health and safety issues. The Senator was a member of the Board of Education for eight years and served two terms as its chairman. He is a former information technology professional and is a long-time community volunteer. He is co-founder and serves as Executive Director of the Pearl City Foundation/Momilani Community Center. Senator Harimoto was a life-long resident of his district. He and his wife Cheryl are graduates of Waipahu High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. Senator Harimoto was born on May 6, 1954. Memorial services are pending.

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court today issued a ruling upholding the conviction of Koma Texeira, Jr., for Murder in the Second Degree, for the October 31, 2016, execution-style shooting of Jon Togioka near Salt Pond in Hanapēpē. In a 67-page opinion penned by Justice Richard Pollack, the Court affirmed Texeira’s conviction, ruling that DNA evidence linking Texeira to the crime scene was properly admitted and that any errors that occurred during the trial were harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Texeira was convicted by a Fifth Circuit Jury in March of 2018 following a jury trial before the Honorable Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano and sentenced to life in prison in July of 2018. The case was prosecuted at trial by First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer S. Winn and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sean Van Demark. The appeal was litigated by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracy J. Murakami. Christopher Calio of the Kaua‘i Police Department was the lead Detective on the case. Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated: “We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s thorough review of the evidence and trial record and we are thankful they reached a just result. We hope this ruling can bring another milestone of closure to Jon Togioka’s ohana, who have remained in our thoughts throughout this process. We also thank Detective Calio and all the hardworking investigators and criminalists who helped make this prosecution successful. Without them we would not be able to do the work we do.”

Hawai‘i State Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and Special Committee on COVID-19, sent a letter to Governor David Ige encouraging the state to consider pooled testing of incoming travelers to Hawai‘i to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Pooled testing would allow the state to test more travelers using fewer tests, and allow for testing of presymtomatic and asymptomatic patients who do not have a fever at their time of arrival. “I am hoping that as we keep the screening and quarantine in place, that the state would also develop alternatives to the quarantine in ensuring the health and safety of our community,” Chair Dela Cruz wrote. “Alternatives may include government authorized travel bubbles, taking tests upon arrival, and others that still need to be identified and researched. ‘Pool testing’ may be a consideration.” Pooled testing is recommended by Dr. Darragh O’Carroll, an experienced emergency medicine physician at Kuakini Medical Center. Chair Dela Cruz included a letter from Dr. O’Carroll explaining pooled testing. “Samples from up to thirty individuals are pooled and tested together in a single tube using sensitive molecular biological detection methods,” wrote Dr. O’Carroll. “Only if the pool result is positive do the samples need to be tested individually. When the infection rate is low and only a few people are infected, pool testing can significantly expand the testing capacity of existing laboratory infrastructure.” “This new testing approach would further ensure that we can increase our capacity to test all travelers in a cost-effective way,” Chair Dela Cruz wrote. He recommended that the Hawai‘i Department of Health purchase an additional 3,000 to 5,000 tests to be administered daily to visitors. Dr. Carroll explained the need to test visitors who do not have symptoms: “New understanding from studies conducted by the CDC shows 40 percent of disease transmission occurs prior to symptom onset, in which infected individuals are unknowingly contagious prior to developing typical symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or pneumonia, collectively known as presymptomatic. This research also shows that the coronavirus can be spread three days prior to an individual becoming sick, with viral loads even peaking before symptoms begin. Furthermore, up to one third of individuals will never develop any symptoms, but remain contagious for some time, collectively known as asymptomatic. It is crucial that these presymptomatic and asymptomatic patients are identified, as this allows for the early prevention of infection hotspots, and will lead to isolation of infected individuals. “An article in Scientific American also details how the pooled testing approach effectively identifies presymptomatic and asymptomatic carriers, and can accomplish it in large numbers in order to meet the high demand for screening. Sans a vaccine, the pooled testing approach ‘is trying to do more with the same number of tests.’” ATTACHMENTS: Letter from Chair Dela Cruz Letter from Dr. Darrah Cormac O’Carroll MD

The Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) Harbors Division is placing four new Security and Disaster Recovery vessels into service in time for the ongoing 2020 Central Pacific hurricane season. The Security and Disaster Recovery vessels will be ported at Hilo, Kawaihae, Nawiliwili, and Kahului Harbors and can support emergency operations at Port Allen, Kaunakakai, and Kaumalapau Harbors. “After a hurricane, tsunami, or earthquake, one of the first steps in getting our commercial harbors back up and running to support the delivery of needed supplies is underwater surveys to make sure there are no obstructions that could cause damage to the ships and barges that make our State’s hub and spoke system possible,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Jade Butay. “These vessels will enable us to do the surveys quickly and accurately.” The four aluminum monohulled vessels were designed in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and come equipped with portable side scan sonar for the assessments. The total cost for the vessels was $1.4 million, which was paid for through the Harbors Special funds supported by tariffs and fees from the movement of cargo. “Delivery of the Kuleana, Kokua, Kalewa, and the Ke Aliʻi O Ke Kai improves our emergency operations capabilities significantly,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Harbors Derek Chow. “Although we hope we won’t need to use them this hurricane season, it’s important to us to have the tools to ensure our commercial harbors can support safe navigation and the mooring of vessels post disaster.” Additional details and links to images of the Security and Disaster Recovery vessels follow: Kuleana (Responsibility or Duty) – This 27-foot long vessel will be home ported in Hilo. Kokua (To help or give aid) – This 27-foot long vessel will be stationed in Kawaihae. Kalewa (To move or float with the wind) – This 27-foot long vessel will have Nawiliwili as its home port but will also support operations at Port Allen Harbor. Ke Aliʻi O Ke Kai (The Chief of the Sea) – This vessel is 29-feet long and will be stationed in Kahului. The Ke Aliʻi O Ke Kai will also serve Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai and Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai.

Ten Confirmed Cases at Hale Nani Included in New Case Count of 18 DOH reports a total of 18 additional cases of COVID-19 today, with all of them diagnosed on O‘ahu. All but one of the cases are adults and at this time 15 are identified as Hawai‘i residents with the remaining three (3) still under investigation. There are now ten (10) confirmed cases of coronavirus at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Honolulu (2 healthcare workers & 8 residents). All but one of these cases resided or worked on a single unit in the facility. So far 307 staff, tested from other areas of the facility, have received negative COVID-19 test results. source: www.hawaiicovid19.com

The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency and the Office of the Mayor are implementing a new program that offers emergency rental, mortgage, and utility assistance. “This program can provide payments of up to $1,500 per month for a maximum of three months to cover rent, mortgage, and utility payments for low- to moderate-income Kaua‘i residents who have suffered a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami. The County of Kaua‘i is partnering with Family Life Center and Mālama Pono Health Services to implement this program. For more information and to apply for assistance, please contact these non-profit organizations directly. Family Life Center can be reached at 212-0850; Mālama Pono Health Services can be reached at 246-9577.

Yesterday, 1,671 people arrived in Hawai'i. During this same time last year, nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawai'i daily, including residents and visitors. The state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started on March 26th for all passengers arriving in Hawai'i from out of state, and it was extended through July 31st. Meanwhile, the quarantine order for interisland travelers was lifted yesterday. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday and does not include interisland travel. This data was collected from the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Mandatory Travel Declaration Form. For Hawaii Tourism Authority and state updates regarding COVID-19 visit: www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

As Hawai'i reopens, now is a great time to reconnect with your healthcare provider. Here are four tips as you navigate the new normal in healthcare visits: ☎️ Call, don’t cancel. If you have a scheduled appointment, call your healthcare provider to see if the appointment can be kept and what precautions are being taken. 🤳🏽 Consider alternate healthcare delivery, such as telehealth or getting vaccinations at your neighborhood pharmacy. 🏥 Be patient for routine care, but persistent for more urgent issues. Healthcare providers may be facing a backlog of patients, but if you have a health concern, insist on being seen soon. For medical emergencies, seek immediate care and call 9-1-1. 🤙🏽 For those without health insurance or who are unable to pay for healthcare services, call 2-1-1 for assistance. Free or low-cost services are available to those who qualify. source: www.hawaiicovid19.com

Five New COVID-19 Cases Hawai'i State Department of Health reports a total of five (5) additional cases of COVID-19, with four on O‘ahu and the fifth on Hawai‘i island. All of the cases are adults. A third case at the Hale Nani skilled nursing facility is a resident who was identified through ongoing testing and investigation. Two other O‘ahu cases are from household contacts in two separate households with previously confirmed cases. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases Hawaiicovid19.com On 6/16/2020, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reported four new positive cases on O‘ahu for a cumulative total of 740 cases statewide (reported since 2/28/2020) A total of 63,243 individuals have been tested in the state. Detailed information and data about COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i is available at: Latest Cases in Hawai'i Current Situation in Hawai'i COVID-19 Data Dashboard

State Department of Health Update: Spike in O‘ahu Case Numbers – Links to Previously Identified Cases 13 of 15 new cases of COVID-19 being reported on O‘ahu today are all related to four known cases or ongoing investigations. Ten (10) of the cases are part of a family cluster in the same household and all the family members were previously in quarantine when someone in the family tested positive. Also, three (3) of the positive cases are in communities where DOH is actively canvasing door-to-door to provide educational information and to offer testing. Of the new cases, nine (9) are adults and six (6) are pediatric cases. Yesterday DOH reported seven (7) additional coronavirus cases bringing the statewide total to 706. One case has been removed from the count due to retesting as a negative case. Hawaiicovid19.com Source: The Office of the Governor, State of Hawai'i