(Hāna, Maui) - Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe) issued the following statement after the County of Maui confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Hāna: “The first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Hāna is alarming and it is important for residents to stay calm during these challenging times. The preventative measures that we have taken at the state and county level is critical to slow further spread of the virus into remote areas of East Maui, where access to supplies and medical attention is limited. “It is important for everyone to stay home and if you are sick or are showing symptoms, isolate yourself and contact your doctor immediately. I will continue to coordinate efforts from my home here in Hāmoa to ensure the health and safety of our people.”

Mayor Michael Victorino released the following statement on the first confirmed case in Hana. “The County of Maui was notified early this morning that a test result has returned positive for a female resident of Hana. This individual is in self isolation and has some travel history. The Hawaii Department of Health is investigating this matter and calling close contacts this individual may have had. I want to tell our Hana residents that we will be doing everything we can to protect their health and safety during these uncertain times. Please stay home as much as possible and practice aloha. We will continue to face these challenges together.”

(Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi) - Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe) and Representative Lynn DeCoite (D-East Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe and Molokini) issued the following statements this evening after the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on the island of Moloka‘i: “This positive test result is deeply concerning to the Molokaʻi community and we are working with Molokaʻi General Hospital to conduct drive-thru screenings for people who came into contact with this person,” said Senator English. “Friendly Market Center is the main grocery store on the island, and we are coordinating with the owners to have them reopen as soon as possible to provide this critical service to the community.” “The person who tested positive for COVID-19 traveled to Las Vegas and returned to Moloka‘i on March 17,” said Representative DeCoite. “The patient is now being treated on O‘ahu. This reminds us of how important it is to follow the travel quarantine order and self-distancing recommendations, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends and loved ones.” Friendly Market Center CEO Kyle Okimoto also added, “We have temporarily closed the market and will sanitize it before reopening. Our family has served the Moloka‘i community for three years and we will continue to support our Moloka‘i ‘ohana and work together to slow the virus from spreading on our island.”

Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim recommended Friday that people wear cloth face coverings when in public to protect others from the spread of COVID-19.  The recommendation reflects one made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is supported by the Mayors of the State of Hawaii. The Mayor made clear that he did not recommend surgical or N-95 masks for general use, because supplies need to be reserved for first responders and health care providers. Homemade masks can be made from household items, old clothing or bandannas. For more information on how to make a face mask from fabric, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031. “This would be voluntary, and it would be to protect each other from Coronavirus,” Mayor Kim said.  “As Dr. John Martell of Hilo Medical Center says, ‘Let’s all protect each other.’” People can contract and spread the virus without showing symptoms, so it is wise to assume that you could be a carrier and so wearing a mask would protect other people, Mayor Kim said.  A homemade mask can block one’s own germs from infecting others. The Mayor recommended that everyone wear a mask when leaving home and encountering others. Let us all protect each other.

PLEASE NOTE: Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice.  All projects are weather permitting. — KAMUALII HIGHWAY (ROUTE 50) — 1) KEKAHA (24-HOUR WORK) Emergency single lane closure on Kamualii Highway (Route 50) in the westbound direction between Kekaha Beach Park and the Kekaha Landfill, near mile marker 27.57, effective immediately, for drainage embankment repairs due to erosion from recent storms. The lane will remain closed until further notice. Alternating traffic control will be directed by flagmen and traffic control signs will be placed to provide advance notice to the public.

The Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted today to approve the Hawaii State Department of Education’s (HIDOE) request to modify high school graduation and commencement requirements under Board Policy 102-15 for the graduating class of 2020. This approval means the Department will be able to move forward with finalizing a graduation plan that principals, complex area and state leadership have been developing over the past two weeks. For students who do not meet proficiency, an extension or other options will be available, and further considerations are being made for students within block or multi-track schedules. The plan also includes additional considerations for academic honors including Advanced Placement (AP) assessments, International Baccalaureate (IB) assessments and dual credit as well as workforce opportunities like Career and Technical Education and military designations. The full plan will be released early next week pending a final review and approval by Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Adjusting to this global crisis has required school districts nationwide to rethink how education is delivered. We understand that students, families and our teachers want answers and we’re hoping that today’s decision will provide some closure as the Department will now be able to move forward with sharing and implementing plans for the remainder of the school year,” BOE Chairwoman Catherine Payne said. There are currently 11,183 seniors, with approximately 90% eligible to graduate on time based on third quarter grades, which are still being processed. The Department is starting to identify and categorize students into four bands to provide necessary supports. Band 1: Students who are on track based on third quarter grades will receive a diploma.  Enrichment and learning opportunities will continue to ensure they are ready for career, military and post-secondary opportunities. Band 2: Students who are not meeting proficiency based on their third quarter grades. They are targeted for intervention and remediation to help them graduate on time. These individualized plans will be developed at the school level. Band 3: Students who are not meeting proficiency based on third quarter grades and are unable to achieve proficiency during the fourth quarter time period. Supports being proposed include providing summer school or E-School options. Band 4: Students who were failing by the end of the first semester and are unable to achieve proficiency during the fourth quarter and with summer options. Administrators, counselors and teachers will work directly with these students and their families to develop a personalized plan. “Our priority from the start of this crisis has been our students, staff and their families. Developing this plan was a heavy lift by school and complex leaders and was done so with guidance from our federal, state and county partners,” added Kishimoto. “This waiver does not relax our standards. It provides the flexibility to ensure our eligible seniors graduate on time and smoothly transition to their chosen path after high school.” The Department will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and make a decision by April 15 regarding commencement ceremonies. School, complex area and state teams have started discussing alternative means of celebration in the event traditional ceremonies cannot be held. The BOE also unanimously voted to approve the Department’s waiver request to cancel federally required statewide standardized assessments for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes Smarter Balanced Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, Hawaii State Science Assessments and Biology 1 end of course exams; Hawaii State Alternate Assessments; and the Kaiapuni Assessment Educational Outcomes (KĀʻEO). The public can submit comments until April 10 regarding this waiver through an online survey here. For more information as well as the anticipated impact, click here. School facilities have been closed to students since March 19, with traditional, in-school instruction temporarily discontinued until at least April 30. All HIDOE employees continue to work remotely with the exception of those who are considered essential and must perform their duties at a campus or office. Schools have launched distance learning opportunities and/or learning packets were distributed via email, school websites and some in-person. Work packets will not be graded, but many teachers are identifying unique ways to provide feedback to students. The Department has also stood up a resource for parents available at bit.ly/HIDOEVirtualLearningParentResource. HIDOE COVID-19 updates will continue to be posted on the Department’s website at hawaiipublicschools.org. ###

Ali'i Health, with the support of Premier Medical Group and the County of Hawai`i COVID-19 Task Force, will be conducting drive-through screening and testing clinics in Kona. The twice-weekly clinics will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon, starting April 2 and continuing until further notice. These clinics will replace the drive-through clinics that were held at the Old Kona Airport. No testing will be held this weekend at the Old Kona Airport. These free clinics are open to the public. However, individuals must first undergo a screening to determine if they meet the criteria to be tested. Clinic physicians on site will make the determination regarding testing. The screening criteria will be based on the guidance of the CDC and the State’s COVID-19 Response Task Force. To bypass the screening queue, patients can go to Pathways Telehealth by calling (808) 747-8321 option 5 to be screened and expedite testing. People who visit the screening clinic will be asked to show photo ID. Additionally, people are requested to bring any health insurance cards they have, although insurance is not required. For further information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031

The City and County of Honolulu is pleased to announce that Premier Medical Group Hawaiʻi will again conduct drive-thru COVID-19 testing this weekend. Testing sites will be open in the parking lot of Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Complex and Kakaʻako Waterfront Park to check patients for COVID-19. Those eligible for testing should be experiencing upper respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you are not experiencing these symptoms, Premier Medical Group Hawaiʻi asks that you not come so that those experiencing symptoms can be seen expeditiously. On Saturday, April 4, the testing site will be at Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Complex, 93-061 Waipiʻo Point Access Road, Waipahu, off Farrington Highway. Follow the signs posted on Waipiʻo Point Access Road to the Soccer Complex where you will be directed to the initial screening site. Testing on Sunday, April 5 will occur at Kakaʻako Waterfront Park near Ala Moana Boulevard, with initial screening beginning at the corner of Ilalo and Cooke Streets. Drivers should access the screening station via Ilalo Street at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Ward Avenue. The hours of testing will be from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at both locations. Premier Medical Group Hawaiʻi’s Dr. Scott Miscovich will again be leading the effort at both of these locations. All who attend each location will first be screened for symptoms and asked to provide personal information and contact numbers so results can be made known to them. Results of the testing will be used to identify COVID-19 “Hot Spots” to help in their containment.  “The City has three main focuses in this fight against the coronavirus, and testing is number one,” said Mayor Caldwell. “The other two are quarantining and social distancing. I completely believe it is through testing, a pragmatic, active and targeted approach, that we can help flatten the curve. We are fighting a war against this virus and will be better prepared when we know where the enemy is.” For more information on this testing, please call Premier Medical Group Hawaiʻi at (808) 304-8816 or (808) 367-6020.

Ali'i Health, with the support of Premier Medical Group and the County of Hawai`i COVID-19 Task Force, will be conducting drive-through screening and testing clinics in Kona. The twice-weekly clinics will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon, starting April 2 and continuing until further notice. The clinic will be held at the Keauhou Shopping Center. These clinics will replace the drive-through clinics that were held at the Old Kona Airport. No testing will be held this weekend at the Old Kona Airport. These free clinics are open to the public. However, individuals must first undergo a screening to determine if they meet the criteria to be tested. Clinic physicians on site will make the determination regarding testing. The screening criteria will be based on the guidance of the CDC and the State’s COVID-19 Response Task Force. To bypass the screening queue, patients can go to Pathways Telehealth by calling (808) 747-8321 option 5 to be screened and expedite testing. People who visit the screening clinic will be asked to show photo ID. Additionally, people are requested to bring any health insurance cards they have, although insurance is not required. For further information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031

Hāna, Maui – Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe) announced today that public restrooms along the Hana Highway will remain closed until further notice while the highway is restricted to local traffic only. “The Hana Highway is closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 into the remote East Maui community, where supplies are limited and emergency medical help is very far away,” said Senator English. “No one should be using the highway except for East Maui residents needing emergency assistance and life-saving necessities not available in Hana.” The State Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks maintains two restrooms along the Hana Highway at Kaumahina and Pua‘aka‘a Wayside parks that are now closed until further notice. In addition, Waiʻānapanapa State Park and its restrooms are also closed due to COVID-19. A medical professional advised officials that it was dangerous to leave the restrooms open in a remote location where it is not possible to sanitize them frequently. One infected person could use the bathroom and would have the potential to infect other people who come in. “These remotely located public restrooms are not safe to open,” said Senator English. “They could become a location where the virus spreads to our residents and endangers our kupuna. And keeping them open would encourage continued illegal use of the highway by tourists.” Mayor Mike Victorino also announced last month that the Piʻilani Highway, the backside of Hana is closed to all non-residents of East Maui as an emergency measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. He later announced a stay-at-home order for everyone in Maui County. “I know there are kupuna who want to use these restrooms when they must make the long trip into town, but they are the very people who should be avoiding contact with these public toilets,” said Senator English. “We are sorry for this hardship, but the consequences of leaving them open would be much more severe. “We strongly discourage residents from driving into town for grocery shopping and socializing. Every time you go to town, you are risking the health of everyone in our community if you bring the virus back with you to East Maui. Please support our local businesses and keep your neighbors safe by getting the supplies you need in Hana. And if you do need to go to the other side of the island, go directly to your destination and don’t stop along the way. Working together, we can slow the curve and keep one another safe.” Photos: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/kaumahina-state-wayside/

The special committee will convene tomorrow to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State of Hawaii's COVID-19 plans and procedures to include, but not limited to: 1) Confirm the development of the state departmental plans and procedures; 2) Review and assess current state departmental plans and procedures; 3) Review and assess whether state departmental plans and procedures are properly and timely implemented to safeguard public health and safety; and 4) To communicate and disseminate information obtained therefrom. The special committee will be meeting with the following: 11:00 AM              Office of the Governor Ms. Linda Chu Takayama, Chief of Staff 11:30 AM              Department of Human Resources and Development Mr. Ryker Wada, Director 12:00 PM              Department of Agriculture Ms. Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, Chair 12:30 PM              Department of Education Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent Watch via: `Ōlelo channel 49 YouTube livestream: https://youtu.be/OrKctj7bGQM The special committee members are: Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Senator Michelle N. Kidani, Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, and Senator Kurt Fevella.

Kaumuali'i highway (route 50) reduced to single lane at bridge between Kekaha Beach Par and Kekaha Landfill LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises the travelling public of the 24/7 emergency closure of the westbound lane of Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) at the bridge between Kekaha Beach Park and the Kekaha Landfill. This closure is effective immediately. The emergency closure is to repair erosion damage from the recent storms. The lane closure will remain in effect until repairs have been completed. Traffic in both directions will be maintained through alternating traffic control in the remaining eastbound lane. The alternating traffic control will be directed by flagmen. Traffic control signs will be placed to provide advance notice to the public. Motorists with essential business are asked to follow the directions of the flagmen and to allow additional time to pass through the area. Updates on the repairs will be provided as the situation develops.