Extended Hours for Public Calls to AUW 2-1-1 on COVID-19 Aloha United Way has extended its public call center hours to 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week. For more information or questions about COVID-19: Call 2-1-1 from any location in the state Text 877-275-6569 Email info211@auw.org Visit health.hawaii.gov/covid19 or coronavirus.gov Media Reports on Canadian Visitor to Hawaii The Department of Health (DOH) has reached out to its federal partners regarding media reports of a Canadian visitor who, upon return to Canada, was confirmed positive for COVID-19. DOH has not received any information on this individual to this point. Tours Temporarily Suspended at Kalaupapa National Historical Park DOH has temporarily suspended tours to Kalaupapa National Historical Park until April 11, 2020 as a public health measure to protect the vulnerable population of patients. Community Surveillance Initiative The Hawaii Department of Health is launching a statewide surveillance testing program to identify cases of community spread of the coronavirus. This additional layer of testing helps detect COVID-19 cases earlier so that appropriate steps can be taken to contain the virus. About 200 COVID-19 tests will be conducted each week under the program. Samples collected for influenza testing from patients with respiratory symptoms will be randomly selected and also tested for COVID-19. These samples are collected by healthcare providers in doctor’s offices and other outpatient settings. The information will help responders understand the scope if such a spread when it occurs. Continued Contact Follow-Up The Department of Health is conducting contact tracing and follow-up on the cases associated with the Grand Princess cruise ship in addition to the traveler who had recent travel to Washington State via Hawaiian Airlines. Healthcare workers exposed to the individual without proper precautions are being monitored for symptoms for 14 days. Precautions for seniors Seniors are at a greater risk for COVID-19, especially those who have underlying health conditions. Older adults and individuals with underlying health issues should avoid non-essential travel, including cruises. Neighbor island residents with scheduled medical treatment or follow-up care on Oahu should consult with their doctors. Seniors should avoid large crowds, wash their hands often, and keep medications and groceries on-hand. For the latest situation reports from the World Health Organization, visit who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports. DOH advises people who think they may have symptoms of COVID-19 to contact their healthcare provider in advance of going to a medical facility. Tell your provider about your symptoms and any recent travel. Healthcare providers will discuss any possible cases of COVID-19 with DOH to determine if testing is needed. Consider utilizing tele-health services, if available. Avoid traveling or leaving home if you are sick, except for visiting your doctor after contacting them in advance. Second positive case on Oahu On March 8, DOH tested a second presumptive positive test result for an elderly adult who is hospitalized in serious condition on Oahu. The individual felt ill on March 2 in Washington State and traveled home to Honolulu on March 4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been notified and trace back investigations are being conducted. The Oahu hospital has taken protective and preventive measures and is working with healthcare workers to ensure health and safety. Information is still being gathered and as more information becomes available, the public will be advised. The first presumptive positive case was announced March 6. That individual was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise in Mexico from Feb. 11-21. After arriving in Mexico, the individual traveled home to Honolulu with no symptoms. While home in Honolulu, the individual became ill on March 1, sought medical care and was tested on March 6. The individual is currently isolated at home and is being monitored daily by DOH. The department is conducting a detailed trace investigation to identify, notify, and provide guidance to all close contacts as quickly as possible. Grand Princess cruise ship To date, there have been 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (19 crew members and 2 passengers) on the Grand Princess cruise ship that made port calls to Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai on Feb. 26, Honolulu Harbor on Feb. 27, Lahaina, Maui on Feb. 28, and Hilo on Feb. 29. The ship is currently held off the coast of California and additional testing of all passengers and crew is pending. The Department of Health is working closely with the CDC to notify any passengers in Hawaii and trace all close contacts. The public is advised that exposure risk to tour operators and other hospitality services who interact with visitors on cruises is low. Companies should work on finding out which specific employees actually had close contact (close personal face-to-face contact for more than 10 minutes) with Grand Princess cruise passengers. DOH is contacting companies to gather this information. Companies are advised to notify their workers that there have been individuals from the Grand Princess cruise who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and the overall risk to hospitality workers is low. State Laboratories Division testing The Hawaii Department of Health is capable of conducting in-state testing for up to 250 individuals per week for COVID-19. Results can be ready within 24-48 hours of a sample being collected. This enhances the state’s prevention and mitigation response capabilities to further safeguard the health of people in Hawaii. It is anticipated that private and clinical labs in California and Hawaii may have testing capability in a few weeks. COVID-19 Summary of Numbers as of March 11, 2020 (updated as new information becomes available) Number of Presumptive Positive or Confirmed Case(s) 2 Number of Persons Under Investigation (current, testing pending) 6 Number of Persons Under Investigation (closed, testing negative) 23 Number of Persons Under Quarantine 0 Number of Persons Self-Monitoring with DOH supervision 41 Of the 41 individuals who are self-monitoring with public health supervision, 36 are on Oahu, 4 are on Maui, and 1 is on Kauai. These numbers fluctuate often as travelers arrive, depart, or begin and end their self-monitoring with supervision by DOH. Presumptive Positive: A presumptive positive result is when a patient has tested positive by a public health laboratory, but results are pending confirmation at CDC. For public health purposes, a presumptive positive result using the CDC test is treated as a positive. Confirmed: Meets CDC criteria and positive test result received from a certified laboratory. Person Under Investigation (PUI): Meets CDC criteria for investigation and testing pending. Quarantine: Individuals are required to remain in a designated location and separated from others. They are actively monitored by Department of Health staff. Quarantine is enforceable by law. Monitoring: Individuals voluntarily remain at home and refrain from work, school, gathering places, and public transit. They communicate daily with Department of Health staff. Guidance for schools and childcare programs The CDC recently posted interim guidance for administrators of childcare programs and K-12 schools to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. School closures have taken place in Japan and South Korea. Business continuity p lanning State and county agencies are actively preparing for continuity of business operations to deal with the potential impact of COVID-19. The goal is to enable ongoing operations during a public health emergency. To address concerns about workers who have traveled to China, DOH developed a list of frequently asked questions and answers to guide local businesses. National travel advisories Before traveling, review Travel Advisories and Alerts for destination(s) at www.travel.state.gov/destination. The State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide specific advice to travelers on their websites. Preventing the spread of misinformation and disease The Department of Health is committed to sharing information as it becomes available. People are urged not to spread misinformation or inaccurate statements that are not confirmed, and keep updated and informed on the situation. Everyone can help prevent the spread of respiratory illness with these everyday actions. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from illnesses, including COVID-19. Keep in mind that supplies are limited and we need to make sure there are enough masks for our front-line health care workers. If you are sick then wear a mask to protect the people around you. Prepare for the possibility that people may want to stay home or may be asked to stay home to prevent the spread of illness. If you have daily medication needs, have more than a week’s supply on hand and have as much on hand as your insurance will allow you to have. Not everyone can afford to stock up on supplies or has the space to store them, but anything you can arrange in advance means one less inconvenience or one less trip to the store while you are sick. Make family plans for the possibility of school or day care closures. Do some contingency planning in advance at the family level. Sign up for public notifications at health.hawaii.gov/news/covid-19-updates. Screening of arriving passengers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu Foreign nationals who have traveled to mainland China and Iran within the last 14 days are being denied entry into the U.S. This includes not only people with a China or Iran passport, but all foreign nationals per Department of Homeland Security guidance. The exception is U.S. citizens, legal permanent U.S. residents or their immediate family. Enhanced screening procedures are in place at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for passengers who have traveled to China and Iran within the last 14 days. Airport passenger screening continues to be conducted by federal authorities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). #COVID19 #Coronavirus #DOH #Health #WorldHealthOrganization #DailyUpdate #HawaiiSenate

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Senate and House Education Committee Chairs, Senator Michelle N. Kidani and Representative Justin H. Woodson, announced today that the annual Education Week at the Hawai‘i State Capitol will be postponed this year, following the guidelines of the Hawai‘i Department of Health to implement social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. “While we have no cases of COVID-19 at the Capitol at this time, we are following the health department’s recommendation to implement ‘social distancing’ by avoiding large gatherings such as the Education Week presentations,” said Senator Kidani. “We’re sincerely sorry that our well-deserving educators and students will not receive the Senate recognition they deserve at this time. All Senate Floor presentations are postponed until further notice.” "We are acting on the side of precaution to ensure that we take the necessary steps to minimize the risks that come with being in a high-traffic environment," said Representative Woodson. Education Week had been scheduled for March 16-20 to honor students, teachers, administrators, and staff from across the state. #COVID19 #Coronavirus #EducationWeek #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiHouse #MichelleKidani #JustinWoodson

Hawai‘i Senate and House leaders informed legislators and staff today that, out of an abundance of caution, the Capitol’s Public Access Room will be closed until March 18 after an employee’s roommate came into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. No one who works at the Hawai‘i State Capitol has tested positive for, or shown any symptoms of COVID-19. The employee at Public Access Room today informed colleagues of the following: The employee’s roommate, a rideshare driver, was informed by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health yesterday that a passenger the roommate drove on March 4 tested positive for COVID-19.  As a precautionary measure, DOH asked the roommate to self-quarantine for 14 days even though the roommate has been symptom free. At no time have either the roommate or the employee of the Public Access Room exhibited any symptoms. Therefore, based upon CDC guidelines and DOH current policies, they were not tested by the Hawai‘i Department of Health and are extremely unlikely to have been infected. However, out of an abundance of caution, the employee and the employee’s colleagues in the Public Access Room were sent home and the Public Access Room will undergo a thorough cleaning. All essential functions of the Hawai‘i State Legislature will continue.

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed Chung I. Chang to serve as deputy director of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT). Chang has most recently served as coordinator for DBEDT’s Office of Aerospace Development. In addition, Chang was a bill researcher for the State Senate’s Ways and Means Committee, and senior business analyst, section supervisor and marketing coordinator at HMSA. He is also a small business owner/manager/consultant. Chang is a member of the Space Policy Committee, Aerospace States Association, and The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “I am grateful to Governor Ige for this opportunity to serve the public as the deputy director of DBEDT. I look forward to working collaboratively with public and private partners in achieving an innovative Hawai‘i economy that is globally competitive and provides sustainable opportunities for our keiki and Kama‘āina,” said Chang. Chang’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. His start date has not yet been determined. If confirmed, Chang will replace Randall Tanaka who was appointed assistant superintendent for the Office of Facilities and Operations, Department of Education. #ChungChang #DBEDT #SpacePolicyCommittee #HawaiiStateSenate #HawaiiState #DavidIge #RandallTanaka

Hawai`i Attorney General Joins Multistate Lawsuit to Stop Elimination of Food Assistance for Nearly 700,000 Struggling Americans. Hawai`i Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined a group of 20 Attorneys General and New York City in a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from eliminating food assistance for nearly 700,000 Americans. The lawsuit, filed in D.C., challenges a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that would limit states’ ability to extend benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” beyond a three-month period for certain adults. AG Connors and her counterparts assert that the rule directly undermines Congress’ intent for the food-stamp program, and that the USDA violated the federal rule-making process. Further, they argue that the rule would impose significant regulatory burdens on the states and harm states’ residents and economies. The coalition is urging the court to declare the rule unlawful and issue an injunction to prevent it from taking effect. “The USDA rule is contrary to the underlying SNAP statute and its adoption failed to follow legal processes,” said Attorney General Connors. “Allowing this rule to take effect undermines the ability of individual states to care for its most vulnerable citizens.” SNAP has served as the country’s primary response to hunger since 1977, and a critical part of federal and state efforts to help lift people out of poverty. The program provides access to nutrition for millions of Americans with limited incomes who would otherwise struggle with food insecurity. While the federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits, it shares the costs of administering the program on a 50-50 basis with the states, which operate the program. Congress amended SNAP in 1996 with the goal of encouraging greater workforce participation among beneficiaries. The changes introduced a three-month time limit on SNAP benefits for unemployed individuals aged 18 to 49 who are not disabled or raising children—"able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWDs). Congress understood that states were best positioned to assess whether local economic conditions and labor markets provided ABAWDs reasonable employment opportunities. As a result, the law allows a state to acquire a waiver of the ABAWD time limit for areas where the unemployment rate is above 10 percent, or if it presents data demonstrating that the area lacks sufficient jobs for ABAWDs. States also were given a limited number of onemonth exemptions for individuals who would otherwise lose benefits under the time limit and were permitted to carry over unused exemptions to safeguard against sudden economic downturns. Over the last 24 years, Congress has maintained the criteria for states to obtain waivers and to carry over unused exemptions. It has reauthorized the statute four times without limiting states’ discretion over these matters. House Republicans considered adding restrictions on waivers and carryovers in the 2018 Farm Bill, but a bipartisan coalition expressly rejected them in the final legislation. Shortly after President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, USDA announced a proposed rule seeking changes almost identical to those Congress rejected. USDA received more than 100,000 comments in total—the majority of which reflected strong opposition from a broad range of stakeholders. Regardless, USDA’s final rule went even further in restricting state discretion over waivers and exemptions than what it had initially proposed. In the lawsuit, the states collectively argue that the administration’s rule: Contradicts statutory language and Congress’s intent for the food-stamp program: When Congress amended SNAP and added the ABAWD time limit in 1996, it included a waiver process explicitly providing for relief from the time limit if insufficient job opportunities were available for ABAWDs and clearly indicating that states were best equipped to make this determination based on local economic and employment conditions. Congress has reaffirmed this position multiple times, most recently in 2018. Yet USDA’s new rule severely restricts states’ discretion over these matters and essentially writes this basis for waiver out of the statute, in direct contravention of law and congressional intent. Major aspects of the rule mirror proposed changes that Congress explicitly rejected in 2018. Raises healthcare and homelessness costs while lowering economic activity in the states: For SNAP recipients, losing benefits means losing critical access to food, raising the risk of malnutrition and other negative health effects. Studies have shown that SNAP can counteract food insecurity and lower healthcare costs for recipients by about $1,400 per person—costs that state governments will likely bear in the absence of SNAP assistance. Without SNAP benefits, many will be forced to choose between having food to eat or a place to live. Their purchasing power will decrease, harming state economies. As USDA concedes in the rule, these impacts will be most concentrated among lowerincome communities of color. Amends the law for arbitrary and capricious reasons: The APA requires agencies to offer a reasoned explanation for changing long-held policies and address why the facts and circumstances supporting the prior policy should be disregarded. For over two decades, USDA has accepted Congress’s premise that a state should define the geographic scope of its waiver request and support that request with a wide range of data sources that are together best able to capture employment prospects for ABAWDs. Yet the new rule strictly defines the area for which waivers may be sought and rejects data beyond general unemployment figures without any justification. Violates the federal rulemaking process: The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) governs internal procedures for federal agencies, including rulemaking. Among other requirements, agencies must solicit and consider public comments on the substance of a rule. USDA broke from this process by issuing a final rule that diverged from its proposed rule in significant ways. For example, while the proposed rule maintained that a state could receive a waiver if it qualified for extended unemployment benefits under Department of Labor policies, the final rule eliminated this basis. Thus, commenters did not receive meaningful opportunity to comment on the full extent of the agency’s changes. District of Columbia AG Karl Racine and New York AG Letitia James are co-leading this coalition, and are joined by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, along with the City of New York. The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The States filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction concurrently with the complaint to enjoin the rule from going into effect on April 1, 2020. The complaint as filed is available at: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-29-SNAP-First-Amended-Complaint-FINALfiled.pdf #FoodAssistance #FoodStamps #USDA #SNAP #SNAPProgram #ClareConnors #ABAWD #FarmBill #FoodStampProgram #DOL #DepartmentOfLabor #APA #HawaiiAG

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has announced the appointment of Kathleen S. Y. Ho as director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) in the state Department of Health. Ho has extensive experience as deputy attorney general in environmental law, having served as deputy attorney general in the Health Division since 1992. In addition, Ho was an adjunct professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu. She has also worked in private practice in Honolulu, and served as advisor to OEQC and the Environmental Council. Ho is a graduate of the University of San Francisco where she earned a B.S. in Biology. She also earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and her LLM in Environmental Law from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. “Kathleen has years of experience working in environmental law alongside a wide range of stakeholders. She is highly qualified and will serve the state well in leading and managing the OEQC,” said Gov. Ige. “I am honored and grateful that Governor Ige has nominated me to serve as the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. I look forward to continuing my service to the people of Hawai‘i,” said Ho. Ho’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Her start date has not yet been determined. If confirmed, Ho replaces Scott Glenn who has been appointed as chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i State Energy Office. #KathleenHo #EnvironmentalQualityControl #DepartmentOfHealth #ScottGlenn #HawaiiState #DavidIge

HOUSE, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ASK GOVERNOR TO FORM BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION TO EXAMINE NATIVE HAWAIIAN ISSUES Commission to establish a reconciliation process for past, present, future issues Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Speaker Scott K. Saiki and Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 35 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 asking the Governor to form a blue ribbon commission to examine and establish a reconciliation process relating to past, present and future issues of importance to Native Hawaiians and the State of Hawaiʻi. #NativeHawaiians #BlueRibbonCommission #StateOfHawaii #HawaiiSenate #HIHouseDems #HILeg2020 #RonKouchi #ScottSaiki #OneHawaii

Experience all that local agriculture has to offer at the 2020 Agriculture Awareness Day (Ag Day) on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at the Hawaii State Capitol. Now in its thirteenth year, Ag Day showcases Hawaii’s diverse agricultural industry and the many partnerships that make up this thriving industry. Sixty-two exhibitors will be situated on the fourth-floor walkway of the Hawaii State Capitol from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ag Awareness Day, which is sponsored by the Hawaii Farm Bureau, is an opportunity for policymakers and the public to learn about Hawaii’s agriculture industry and meet many of the organizations and people who supply our communities with locally grown and produced products. (See attached list for this year’s participants). The 2020 Ag Awareness Day is being hosted by Representatives Scott Saiki, House Speaker, Richard Creagan, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Lynn DeCoite, Vice-Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. Along with Mike Gabbard and Russell Ruderman, Chair and ViceChair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee. The primary goal of Ag Awareness Day is to develop a grassroots effort to support agriculture in the islands by engaging policymakers and the community in interactive educational exhibits. The exhibits will cover a wide range of Hawaii agriculture topics and help to build a greater understanding of agriculture in Hawaii and educate policymakers and the public on current issues facing the industry today. For more information, please contact Rachele Lamosao, Director of Communications, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, at (808) 848-2074 or rachele@hfbf.org The Hawaii Farm Bureau was founded in 1948 and is a statewide nonprofit organization of 1,800 farm families united for the purpose of analyzing problems and formulating action to ensure the future of agriculture thereby promoting the well-being of farming and the State's economy. HFB serves as Hawaii’s voice of agriculture to protect, advocate, and advance the social, economic and educational interest of Hawaii’s diverse agricultural community. The 2020 Exhibitors for Ag Awareness Day at the Capitol Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii Aloha Harvest Bayer Begreen Hawaii, LLC Damate Edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine FarmLovers GoFarm Hawaii Green Industry Haliimaile Pineapple Company Hawaii Agriculture Foundation Hawaii Agriculture Research Center Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association Hawaii Cattlemen's Council Hawaii Coffee Association Hawaii Crop Improvement Association Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Plant Quarantine Branch Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Animal Industry Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Market Development Branch Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Branch Hawaii Department of Agriculture - Plant Pest Control Branch Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hawaii Farm Bureau Hawaii Farm to School Hui/ Hawaii Public Health Institute Hawaii Farmers Union United Hawaii FFA Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association / CTAHR Tropical Plants & Soil Sciences Extension Hawaii Invasive Species Council Hawaii Pork Industry Association Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association Hawaii Wildlife Ecology Lab Hawaiian Air Cargo Hawaiian Chip Company Hawaiian Earth Recycling Hawaiian Egg Company Island Mana'ia LLC Kamiya Papaya Kauai County Farm Bureau Kona Coffee Farmers Association Kowa Premium Foods Hawaii (Big Island Abalone) Kualoa Ranch Mahi Pono Ma'o Farms North Shore EVP Oahu Agriculture and Conservation Association Oahu Invasive Species Committee Oahu Invasive Species Committee - Little Fire Ant Information Oahu R&D Pacific Gateway Center Ulupono University of Hawaii CTAHR -Tropical Plants & Soil Sciences University of Hawaii CTAHR - Natural Resources and Environmental Management Department University of Hawaii CTAHR - Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program University of Hawaii CTAHR - Hawaii State 4-H University of Hawaii CTAHR - Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences Dept. University of Hawaii CTAHR - Veterinary Extension University of Hawaii at Manoa - Rapid Ohia Death Project USDA - National Agriculture Statistical Services USDA - Natural Resources & Conservation Services USDA - Farm Service Agency USDA - Rural Development And, many more! #AgDay #AgAwarenessDay #Agriculture #FarmBureau #Farmers #HawaiiState #HILeg2020

The Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is seeking applications to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate eligible Safe Routes to School (SRTS) non-infrastructure projects. A call for applications is available at the following link: https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/18855 SRTS is an international effort to increase safety and promote walking and bicycling to/from school. The federally funded SRTS program was established by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), signed into law in 2005. This is HDOT’s sixth call for applications to award SRTS federal funds obtained under SAFETEA-LU. Eligible recipients of SAFETEA-LU Section 1404 funds to be used for SRTS projects are limited to state, local, and regional government agencies, including schools and school districts, and non-profit organizations. Applications will be accepted only from these entities. Recipients of SRTS federal funds will be responsible for all aspects of project implementation as HDOT’s role is in an oversight capacity only. Eligible SRTS projects and activities shall directly support increased safety and convenience for students in grades K-8 to walk and/or bicycle to/from school. In addition, all projects that use SRTS federal funds shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local provisions. Applications must be received by April 30, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., at the following address: Department of Transportation, Highways Division Traffic Branch 601 Kamokila Boulevard, Rm 602 Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 Attention: Tara Lucas For more information on the SRTS federal program in Hawaii, please visit http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/srts/. #SafeRoutesToSchool #HIDOE #SRTS #HDOT #SAFETEALU #Transportation #HawaiiState #PublicSchools #OneHawaii

The Department of Health (DOH) Neurotrauma Supports Program kicks off National Brain Injury Awareness Month by unveiling the UnMasking Brain Injury Mobile Exhibit at the “Rock It, Don’t Stock It” rally on March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, Campus Center, located at 2465 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. The rally, which is free to the public, will provide attendees with injury prevention tips, resources, fun activities and multi-sport helmet giveaways on a first-come first-served basis. Following the rally, the UnMasking Brain Injury Mobile Exhibit will be on display at the following locations/dates: March 4                      9am – 1pm               Rock It, Don’t Stock It Rally, UH Campus Center 11:45 am                  First Lady Dawn Ige Remarks March 5 – March 12      8am – 4:30pm           Honolulu Hale 3rd Floor Gallery March 13 – March 23     7am – 6pm                State Capitol Chamber Level March 23 – March 31     10am – 9pm              Windward Mall March is recognized as Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of total traumatic brain injury (TBI) related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths increased by 53% from 1.88 million in 2006 to 2.88 million in 2014. Between 2016-2018, about half (52%) of the patients hospitalized for TBI in Hawai‘i and 90% of those treated in the emergency department were discharged.  Between 2012 – 2018, the Hawai‘i Department of Health, (DOH) reported an annual average of 3,723 visits to Hawai‘i emergency departments and 1,561 hospitalizations related to a head injury. According to Mary Brogan, the DOH Developmental Disabilities Division Administrator, “TBIs are often referred to as a “hidden disability” because survivors may not exhibit outward impairment.  Yet, a TBI can affect how a brain processes information, compromising a person’s cognition, emotions, language, physical mobility, and sensory perception. This impacts their daily livelihood and ability to function.” To increase public awareness about the effects of brain injuries, available resources, and ways to prevent serious, life-changing brain injuries, the DOH Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) Neurotrauma Supports program is teaming up with community partners for events throughout the month of March. The UnMasking Brain Injury Project is a national initiative that empowers brain injury survivors to share their stories through the creation of three-dimensional artistic masks that are beautiful and inspirational portrayals of survivors’ personal emotions and feelings experienced during their healing journey. The goal of this project is to raise public awareness about the prevalence and impacts of a brain injury while giving survivors a voice and creative outlet to educate others about the challenges of living with a brain injury. Organizations participating in the rally include: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UH Manoa) College of Education, UH Mānoa Kokua Services, Hawaii Concussion Awareness Management Program, Queen’s Medical Center, Kapiolani Medical Center, Hawai’i Bicycling League, Hinds Feet Farms, DOH Injury Prevention Systems Branch, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, City and County of Honolulu Proud to be Pono Prevention Campaign, and Leeward Community College Motorcycle Training Instructors. The Hawai‘i DOH Neurotrauma Supports Program cultivates and shares resources to address the needs of individuals and their families affected by neurotrauma injury. The program encourages people to learn about brain injuries and how to prevent them. The following prevention techniques are recommended to avoid traumatic brain injuries: Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle and properly install and use infant and child car seats; Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; Wear a helmet or appropriate headgear when you or your children ride a bike, motorcycle, moped, scooter, or skateboard, play contact sports or baseball/softball, or ride a horse; Eliminate trip hazards at home for kupuna through regular medication reviews and annual eye exams. Regular exercise is highly recommended to help older adults maintain and improve their balance and coordination; and Make living and play areas safer for children by installing window guards, using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, and make sure your child’s playground has soft material under it. For additional information on resources for individuals with traumatic brain injury, please call the Neurotrauma Helpline at (808) 733-2155 or visit the Neurotrauma Supports website at http://health.hawaii.gov/nt/. PDF: National Brain Injury Awareness Month Kicks Off “Rock It Don’t Stock It” Rally March 4 #DOH #Health #BrainInjury #UHManoa #Neurotrama #UnmaskingBrainInjury

eWIC provides a faster, more flexible and simpler way to pay for groceries HONOLULU, HAWAII — Following the successful launch of an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card on Kaua‘i, the Hawai‘i Department of Health will now extend the benefit to Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program participants on March 3, 2020, making access to healthy food more convenient and to ensure children have a healthy start in life. The EBT card, known as eWIC, will eliminate paper checks. Approximately 17,000 Oahu WIC participants who redeem an average of $1.7 million in benefits each month, will transition to the eWIC card over a three-month period, depending upon when their benefits were last issued. eWIC was launched on Kaua‘i in October 2019, and to date, about 1,000 Kaua‘i WIC participants used a total of $122,000 in benefits. WIC is a public health nutrition program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), providing nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for income-eligible women who are pregnant or post-partum, infants, and children up to age five. The program is administered in Hawai‘i by the Department of Health. “This latest upgrade will take the shopping experience for families to a new, exciting level,” said Melanie Murakami, the Department of Health’s WIC Services branch chief. “This new technology allows us to better serve families and makes transactions at cash registers much more efficient for both shoppers and retailers.” “For the past few months, Kaua‘i families have enjoyed more convenient and easier access to nutritious foods through eWIC,” said Michael Ellis, WIC vendor manager. “Faster check-out times, coupled with new food offerings such as string cheese, canned beans, and canned fruits and vegetables, have created a more positive shopping experience for both WIC participants and WIC vendors. We’re looking forward to serving more families on O‘ahu.”With paper checks, participants are required to spend the entire amount of their allocation in one singular transaction. With the eWIC card, which automatically tracks purchases and the remaining balance for a 30-day rolling period, participants can buy as little or as much WIC approved groceries as they need at a time. WIC participants may only purchase groceries from a WIC-approved food list. This list is comprised of nutrient-dense foods that are essential during pregnancy, lactation, between pregnancies, and early childhood with consideration for local food preferences. Murakami added that the eWIC program will be rolled out to other counties in the next few months, with a targeted expansion to Maui county in April and Hawai‘i Island in May. “We are pursuing a staggered approach to our rollout to ensure families in each county have our full attention during this transition,” she said. She said Maui county will serve an estimated 2,000 participants using $188,000 in benefits, and Hawai‘i Island will serve an estimated 4,900 participants using $380,000 in benefits. New WIC participants can apply at the clinic nearest them. Visit the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s website at https://health.hawaii.gov/wic/  for WIC clinic locations. PDF: DOH extends eWIC to program participants on O‘ahu #WIC #DOH #Health #EWIC #EBT

PLEASE NOTE: Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice.  All projects are weather permitting. --- HANA HIGHWAY (ROUTES 36/360) --- 1) WAILUA VALLEY (24-HOUR WORK) Lane closure on Hana Highway (Route 360) in the northbound direction in the vicinity of the Wailua Valley State Wayside on Saturday, Feb. 29, through Friday, March 6, over a 24-hour period, for paving and road striping work. 2) HAIKU (24-HOUR WORK) Lane closure on Hana Highway (Route 360) in the northbound direction in the vicinity of Papaaea Road on Saturday, Feb. 29, through Friday, March 6, over a 24-hour period, for retaining wall work. 3) KAHULUI (NIGHT WORK) Closure of one direction at a time of Hana Highway (Route 36) between Kaahumanu Avenue and Dairy Road on Monday evening, March 2, through Saturday morning, March 7, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for paving work. Alternating traffic control (contraflow) of open lanes will allow single lane traffic in both directions. --- HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY (ROUTE 30) --- 1) LAHAINA Left lane closure on Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) in both directions between Lahainaluna Road and Aholo Road on Tuesday, March 3, through Thursday, March 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for landscape maintenance. 2) KAPALUA Closure of single lane at a time on Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) in both directions in the vicinity of Mile Marker 32, between Honolua Bay Scenic Lookout and Honolua Bay Trailhead on Wednesday, March 4, through Thursday, March 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for tree trimming and tree removal. Traffic flow in both directions will be maintained through alternating traffic control (contraflow). --- KANE STREET --- 1) KAHULUI Lane shift on Kane Street in the northbound direction between Vevau Street and Kaahumanu Avenue on Monday, March 2, through Friday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for storm drain installation. --- MAIN STREET --- 1) WAILUKU All lanes closed on Main Street in both directions between Church Street and Market Street on Sunday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for sewer maintenance work. Motorists will be detoured in both directions. Eastbound detour: Main to Church – Wells Street – and Market back to Main. Westbound detour: Main to Market – Vineyard Street – and Church back to Main. --- HIGH STREET --- 1) WAILUKU Lane closure on South High Street in the southbound direction between Malako Street and Keanu Street on Tuesday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for tree trimming and tree removal. #Maui #DOT #Transporation #RoadWork #LaneClosures