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  • More warnings about scammers pretending to be contact tracers

    The State continues to warn of a multitude of scams associated with the COVID-19 virus; the latest involving scammers impersonating contact tracers in an attempt to acquire personal information. In its efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, legitimate contact tracers are calling Hawaii residents who may have come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. While this is a vital tool to combat the pandemic, residents should verify that the call is coming from an authorized individual before providing any information. Red flags that the caller might be an impersonator include asking for your Social Security Number, bank information, or a form of payment. According to a Better Business Bureau “Scam Alert,” this is how it works: “You receive an unsolicited message via text, email, or a social media messenger. The message explains that you’ve come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The message instructs you to self-isolate and provides a link for more information. Alarmed, you are tempted to click and get more details. But don’t fall for it! These links can contain malware that downloads to your device. Another version of this scam involves a robocall claiming to be part of "contact and tracing efforts." Again, the call informs you that you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. After electing to speak to a representative, the “contact tracer” asks you to verify personal information. This starts with questions about your full name and date of birth but can quickly move to Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and/or financial accounts.” An authorized contact tracer will not disclose the identity of the person who tested positive but may ask you for names and contact information for everyone you came in close contact with while possibly infectious so that they can contact those individuals as well. The DCCA Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has a COVID-19 Resource website that includes additional information on different types of scams: https://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/covid19/.

  • Koko Head Shooting Complex resuming regular walk-in operations

    Koko Head Shooting Complex resuming regular walk-in operations Online registration pilot project complete. Walk-in range usage beginning Wednesday, July 1 Regular walk-in operations will resume at the Koko Head Shooting Complex beginning Wednesday, July 1, following an online reservation system pilot project. From July 1 onward, range visitors will be able to utilize the pistol and rifle ranges during regular hours of operation on a first-come-first-served basis. No reservation is required. While more shooting lanes will be open as compared to what was available during online registration, the lanes will continue to be spaced apart as a result of physical distancing guidelines. Therefore, the pistol range side will have 16 lanes and the rifle range will have 25 lanes. This is less than what was available prior to the complex closure in late March 2020 due to COVID-19. Face coverings are additionally still recommended. The Parks and Recreation Online System (PROS) used for this pilot project was implemented on June 3. This was done to accommodate the reopening of O‘ahu’s only public firearms range with consideration to the limited amount of people allowed to gather. Most recently, PROS was used to successfully register thousands of keiki into a modified version of the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s Summer Fun Program. That registration continues as space is still available. In the future, this software is expected to be used for additional DPR reservation and registration needs. At this time, this does not include resuming PROS usage for the Koko Head Shooting Complex. For the most up-to-date and accurate information about the Koko Head Shooting Complex, please visit: bit.ly/KokoHeadRange We appreciate the patience of the public and range users during this pilot project, and extend a big mahalo for the input they provided. Stay healthy.

  • Mayor Caldwell voices strong support for H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1 S.D. 2

    Mayor Caldwell recently sent a letter to Senate President Ronald Kouchi and Speaker of the House Scott Saiki, voicing his strong support for expanding the public’s access to information about police misconduct. “Police officers have always had an incredibly challenging job that is even more challenging today,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Our officers serve a critical role in protecting and guarding all of our civil liberties. The vast majority are dedicated, hard-working and upstanding men and women. I am confident that the increased transparency and accountability provided by this bill would both improve the public’s trust in police and elevate the police department as a whole. It is time to recognize that protecting public safety and promoting transparency and accountability are not incompatible goals. I urge the legislature to support this measure.”

  • Health officials announce update on recent household cluster on Kaua‘i

    Kaua‘i District health officials have identified no new positive cases after testing a large number of contacts of Kaua‘i COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Tests were administered Saturday and Sunday to several dozen individuals who were contacts of eight positive cases identified earlier in the week. The test results were returned late Monday and were all negative. The eight active cases remain in isolation. The individuals who were tested are all close contacts of positive cases. These contacts remain in quarantine and continue to be monitored – because illness can develop at any time during the 14-day incubation period. Trained contact tracing teams are continuing their inquiry into the origins and the extent of the new outbreak. There is no indication that these cases are travel related. Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman said that a few additional contacts have been identified and tested, and those test results will be available in the next few days. “As we continue monitoring contacts who are in quarantine, and identifying additional contacts, we will continue testing and possibly re-testing in order to identify anyone else who may become ill,” Berreman said. The island’s cumulative case count stands at 29. “While these tests results are encouraging, we cannot let our guard down,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami. “We continue to manage this outbreak carefully. Once again, it reminds us of our need to take recommended measures to protect our friends and fellow residents.” Some of these recommendations are to: • Wear a cloth mask whenever away from home and near individuals not part of your immediate household. • When interacting with people from outside your household, maintain a distance of 6 feet of separation. • Stay at home as much as possible. • Do not leave home if you are sick unless you are seeking medical attention. • Wash hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. For local updates, visit the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency page, www.kauai.gov/COVID-19 The state Department of Health also posts state updates and information at hawaiicovid19.com

  • Satellite city halls set sights on reopening

    Satellite city halls across O‘ahu will start reopening July 1 for regular in-office service on an appointment-only basis. Only Ala Moana Satellite City Hall will temporarily remain closed to in-office visits as it prepares to relocate within the shopping center. For the other eight satellite city halls on O‘ahu, precautions are in place to ensure the safety of customers and employees, who will be required to wear facial coverings and remain six-feet apart from others during all in-office transactions. Appointments for in-office visits to satellite city halls will be available starting June 29. To make an online appointment, visit www.alohaq.org “In support of social distancing efforts, ‘walk-in-and-wait’ transactions are not offered,” said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services. “We also ask the public to continue to do express payment services, such as water bill payments and annual vehicle registration renewals, via online, mail-in or by 24/7 kiosk options.” This would free up appointment slots for transactions that can more efficiently be completed in-person, such as applying for a disability-parking permit, junking a vehicle or performing complicated motor vehicle transactions related to a lost title or difficult registrations. The six driver licensing centers on O‘ahu reopened May 26 for in-office visits also on an appointment-only basis. For more information, visit www.honolulu.gov/csd

  • Senator Dela Cruz announces groundbreaking for Leilehua High School cybersecurity classroom

    Senator Donovan Dela Cruz (D-Launani Valley, Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Waipio Acres, Wheeler, Whitmore Village) announced the groundbreaking for Leilehua High School's cybersecurity classroom today. Senator Dela Cruz secured these funds back in 2017. Construction is scheduled to be completed next year. This cybersecurity classroom is part of a program designed to help students gain skills needed to be competitive in a rapidly developing local field: cybersecurity and government cyber-tech. The construction of the classroom will also provide local jobs for the community. This cybersecurity classroom will provide the hardware necessary for schools to realize Senator Dela Cruz’s goal to capitalize on economic opportunity already located in Central Oahu and provide high school graduates with skills for them to be competitive in the workforce. “This is one step in the plan to diversify our economy,” said Senator Dela Cruz. “We need to develop more opportunities in sectors that have been proven resilient, like cybersecurity. Our schools need to prepare our keiki for the future and create real opportunities for high-demand jobs tied with real employers.” Senator Dela Cruz has worked with the National Security Agency (NSA), the University of Hawai‘i, Department of Education, and Leilehua Complex to develop a pathway between schools and the NSA, one of our nation’s four “cryptological centers.” The NSA is on the front lines of American intelligence gathering and monitoring various regions for national defense purposes. Senator Dela Cruz has also worked with the NSA and the Leilehua Complex to host cybersecurity camps, such as GenCyber and Hacker High, to raise awareness about this lucrative career path.

  • City to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa

    Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa. In recognition, Mayor Kirk Caldwell has requested that Honolulu Hale be illuminated purple, a popular color often representing Okinawa, on the evening of Tuesday, June 23. “We remember the sacrifices of the American soldiers, Japanese forces, and Okinawan civilians who suffered so greatly,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Now we are at peace and owe this legacy to those who suffered so greatly to attain it. We also pause to remember the great outpouring of good will from the Okinawan immigrants to Hawai‘i who extended their hand in friendship to help the people of Okinawa in the aftermath of this tragic war. They conducted fundraising efforts and sent pigs, goats, medical supplies, and clothing to Okinawa to assist in the recovery. We are proud of this unique Uchinanchu heritage that has become an integral part of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural fabric of O‘ahu, and the rest of the state.” Every year on June 23, Okinawa commemorates the end of the Battle of Okinawa also known as Irei no Hi. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific during WWII where approximately 240,000 people – both civilians and military – lost their lives and Okinawa lost a third of its civilian population. The Battle of Okinawa left an indelible mark on the land and the survivors, which is why Okinawa is committed to spreading the message of peace – understanding firsthand the cost of war. “We are proud that Okinawa and Hawai‘i are sister states,” said Lynn Miyahira, president of the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association (HUOA). “Honolulu and Naha have been sister cities since 1960; this year marks the 60th anniversary of this relationship. Cultural, educational, and business ties have emerged and have been strengthened over the years and it’s my hope that we can soon return to this vibrant activity.” The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park is one of the few memorials around the world that lists all the names of lives lost during the battle – both Okinawan civilians and those who fought on either the American and Japanese sides of the war. It reminds us that no matter what side you are on, the cost of war is rarely, if ever, worth the sacrifice. Okinawans have a saying, nūchi du takara, which means "life is a treasure" and reminds us that all lives are precious. “On occasion of this milestone date and in recognition of the deep friendship we enjoy with the people of Okinawa, I join the Uchinanchu community and all the people of Hawai‘i in sending our wishes and prayers for continued peace to Okinawa’s Governor Denny Tamaki, Naha Mayor Mikiko Shiroma and all the people of Okinawa,” added Mayor Caldwell. “Last night, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association commemorated Irei no Hi with a live virtual event that can be viewed on the HUOA YouTube channel or HUOA Facebook page,” said Jon Itomura, HUOA executive director. “Join HUOA's worldwide audience through our virtual platforms to view the two-hour special to hear testimonies from survivors, share music about wartime experiences, and commemorate and learn about this important time in history with us.” VIDEO - Reflections: Irei no Hi in Hawaii: https://youtu.be/7WbB2DwaTqs

  • Maui Bus to provide free Wifi to East Maui residents starting Wednesday, June 24

    The County of Maui, Department of Transportation will be parking a Maui Bus fitted with free public Wifi at Hāna Bay, starting Wednesday, June 24. The bus will be parked at Hana Bay from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. “With many people working and learning from home during COVID-19, there is a greater need for reliable and safe access to the Internet,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “We are very happy to provide this service, especially for our keiki and residents out in the rural areas of Hāna and East Maui.” The bus will be fitted with antennas that can reach signals of up to 500 feet. Instructions on how to connect and use the Wifi service will be on the side of the bus for residents to follow. The bus will be parked at Hāna Bay for a two-week trial period, with the option to extend. “We know that Internet access can be spotty around Hāna, so we’re excited that our students can use our bus to find learning opportunities online with school still out,” Deputy Director Michael Du Pont said. “This could also assist our residents who may need to find financial and unemployment resources due to impacts from COVID-19.” Users are reminded to maintain physical distancing, limit gatherings and follow all other health and safety guidelines while accessing the free public Wifi. For more information, call the County Department of Transportation at (808) 270-7511.

  • Mayor Victorino announces drive-through testing in West, South and Central Maui

    Mayor Michael Victorino announced drive-through testing for COVID-19 in West, South and Central Maui from Wednesday through Friday, June 24 – 26, 2020. Minit Medical will be conducting the drive-through, with diagnostic and anti-body testing available. Minit Medical will call individuals with all results, which are expected to take one to three days. Please keep in mind that County parks and facilities hosting the events will have modified hours on the day of the drive-through. “We want to extend a warm mahalo to Minit Medical for partnering with us to provide this drive-through testing for our community,” Mayor Victorino said. “I also want to thank Parks and Recreation and Maui Police Department for continuing to support our efforts. Maui County leads the state in per capita testing and our County departments along with all of our partners are a big reason why we’re able to keep our testing numbers up as we move forward.” The drive-through schedule is as follows: Wednesday: Lahaina Aquatic Center from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Lahaina Aquatic Center will be closed ALL DAY on Wednesday. The Lahaina Recreation Center will be open from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. Thursday: South Maui Community Park from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The South Maui Community Park will be open from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Friday: Keopuolani Regional Park from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Keopuolani Regional Park will be open from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday. Participants can pre-register for the drive-through testing on Minit Medical website at www.minitmed.com. They can do same-day registration, but pre-registration saves time and avoids paperwork. Antibody tests are NOT covered by insurance. Those who get anti-body testing will receive a bill from Clinical Labs of Hawaii for about $45. People who get tested are asked to bring: Insurance card Identification Facial covering / mask Criteria for Molecular testing: Symptomatic: Fever/chills Body aches Short of breath Difficulty breathing Cough Loss of taste or smell Diarrhea Sore throat Headache Asymptomatic (with possible exposure): Recent travel to Mainland/International Positive/possible exposure contact First responders/essential workers Pre-operative, pre-procedure testing Required for travel (costs might be incurred) For more information on COVID-19 in Maui County, visit www.MauiCounty.gov

  • Department of Health launches sexual, gender minority online research hub in honor of pride month

    Department of Health launches sexual and gender minority online research hub in honor of pride month in June. In honor of Pride Month, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) today launched the Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) online resource hub. This is the first DOH website dedicated to resources for SGM (also known as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other, or LGBTQ+) people in Hawai‘i, as well as their loved ones and allies. The site was developed by the DOH SGM Workgroup, a multi-sector collaboration of various state agencies and community stakeholders, in partnership with the DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch. “The SGM group exemplifies the importance of having everyone at the table,” said Jen Jenkins, Community Co-Chair of the SGM Workgroup. “Our collective voices and experiences produced this website, which adds to our work of improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people across the state.” The SGM Workgroup identified a community need for an online hub for local resources, among priorities that included data reports, legislative protections, and intersex health. The resources and materials on the SGM Online Resource Hub were recommended by members of the SGM Workgroup and the site includes topics such as gender, health, education, safe spaces, ‘ohana support, and legal. DOH continues to rely on workgroup members and community partners to contribute to the ongoing development and relevancy of the online resource. “With recent federal updates on healthcare protections for transgender people, it is more important than ever that we launch of this resource hub,” said Thaddeus Pham, DOH Co-Chair of the SGM Workgroup. “We look to the thoughtful and insightful contributions from our workgroup members and community stakeholders to make the website a robust, evolving, and perennial resource for our SGM ‘ohana.” To access the resource hub, visit https://health.hawaii.gov/sexual-gender-minorities. Additional SGM resources from DOH are at https://health.hawaii.gov/camhd/lgbtq-safe-spaces/ For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. The launch of the SGM Online Resource Hub was motivated by tremendous support and requests for greater public health action following the publication of the inaugural 2017 Hawai‘i Sexual and Gender Minority Health Report. The 2017 report highlighted the stark health and social disparities experienced by SGM communities. In response, the Department of Health convened a workgroup with community partners and stakeholders to prioritize and implement SGM issues. One outcome from the workgroup was the first ever Hawai‘i Transgender Youth Health Report in 2018, which continues to have implications for local and national policy and legislation.

  • Hawai'i passenger arrivals by air report for June 22, 2020

    Yesterday, 1,497 people arrived in Hawaii. During this same time last year approximately 35,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily, including residents and visitors. The state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started on March 26th 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. For Hawaii Tourism Authority and state updates regarding COVID-19 visit: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/ About the Hawaii Tourism Authority The Hawaii Tourism Authority is the State of Hawaii agency responsible for strategically managing its support of the tourism industry. Established in 1998 to support Hawaii’s leading industry and largest employer, HTA continually strives to help ensure tourism’s sustainability and the benefits it brings to residents and communities statewide. Follow updates about HTA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).

  • Update: Hawai'i COVID-19 Joint Information Center's daily news digest for June 22, 2020

    Department of Health: Four Additional COVID-19 Cases on O‘ahu After reporting 14 new cases on Saturday and 11 additional cases on Sunday, DOH is reporting four (4) new positive cases of coronavirus today, all of which are adults on O‘ahu. There is one (1) new case at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center which now has 15 confirmed cases: six (6) healthcare workers and nine (9) residents. As of yesterday, more than 500 residents and staff have tested negative facility wide. DOH continues to investigate cases in care homes, including two additional ones in Kaneohe. In total, DOH says there are a total of eight (8) cases associated with community care homes in three separate locations on O‘ahu. Investigations and weekly testing is ongoing at these sites. Changes in the total cumulative case number include the removal two earlier cases on Oʻahu due to a duplicated lab report and retesting of a previous case who was positive for influenza. Hawaiicovid19.com

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