The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) is proud to announce Senator Donna Mercado Kim to serve as their new Board of Directors Chair, leading the nation’s oldest organization addressing the needs of elected women at all levels of government. Senator Kim was elected by her peers at the 2019 NFWL Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, where over one hundred elected women met to identify effective solutions to some of the nation’s most timely and pressing issues. Providing a non-partisan environment that encourages dialogue and the sharing of information and experiences, women leaders are able to build coalitions, share the concerns of their constituents, and identify out-of-the-box solutions to the most pressing issues facing their communities today. “We are so proud of Senator Kim and all she has accomplished,” stated Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, NFWL’s Immediate Past Chair. “It has been an honor to work with her over the years as members of the Board, and we are all looking forward to her continued leadership in the Foundation. I know she will make next year one of the most exciting years that NFWL has seen.” Senator Kim begins serving in her new position on January 1, 2020 and will hold this office through the end of 2020. The Foundation will host its 2020 Annual Conference next fall, in Memphis, Tennessee. Senator Donna Mercado Kim represents Hawaii’s 14th Senatorial District in urban Honolulu. She has served in the Hawaii State Senate since 2000, the Honolulu City Council from 1984 to 2000 and the Hawaii House of Representative from 1982 to 1984. Senator Kim has held leadership positions, including Senate President, Vice President, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Government Affairs, the Committee on Tourism, the Special Committee on Accountability, and the Task Force on Reinventing Government.  She currently serves as the Chair of Higher Education. Senator Kim has been actively involved in NFWL since 2013. “We congratulate Senator Kim, and are so glad to have her as a leader of our national organization,” states Jody Thomas, NFWL’s Executive Director. #DonnaMercadoKim #HawaiiSenate #NFWL #JodyThomas

The Hawai‘i State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.7 percent, for the third consecutive month. Statewide, 643,700 were employed and 17,700 unemployed in October for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 661,400. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in October, compared to 3.5 percent in September. Both Initial claims and weeks claims decreased by 265 or -17.8 percent and 569 or -8.5 percent respectively for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago.  Over-the-month initial claims increased by 15.3 percent while weeks claims declined by -3.5 percent in October 2019. The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawai‘i and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State was 2.6 percent in October, compared to the 2.8 percent in September. Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey) In a separate measure of employment, total nonagricultural jobs decreased by 100 in October over September.  Within the major industries, job gains occurred in Professional & Business Services (+500), Education & Health Services (+400), Leisure & Hospitality (+200), and Financial Activities (+100).  Employment in the Information sector remained unchanged. Job losses were experienced in Manufacturing (-100), Other Services (-100), Construction (-400), and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-700). Within Trade, Transportation, & Utilities, the bulk of the employment drop was in Retail Trade.  Government jobs remained stable.  In comparison with one year ago, total nonfarm jobs have gone up by 5,600, or 0.9 percent. Technical Notes Seasonal Adjustment The seasonal fluctuations in the number of employed and unemployed persons reflect hiring and layoff patterns that accompany regular events such as the winter holiday season and the summer vacation season. These variations make it difficult to tell whether month-to-month changes in employment and unemployment are due to normal seasonal patterns or to changing economic conditions. Therefore, the BLS uses a statistical technique called seasonal adjustment to address these issues. This technique uses the history of the labor force data and the job count data to identify the seasonal movements and to calculate the size and direction of these movements. A seasonal adjustment factor is then developed and applied to the estimates to eliminate the effects of regular seasonal fluctuations on the data. Seasonally adjusted statistical series enable more meaningful data comparisons between months or with an annual average. Current Population (Household) Survey (CPS) A survey conducted for employment status in the week that includes the 12th day of each month generates the unemployment rate statistics, which is a separate survey from the Establishment Survey that yields the industry job counts. The CPS survey contacts approximately 1,000 households in Hawai‘i to determine an individual’s current employment status. Employed persons consist of: 1) all persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week, 2) all persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-owned enterprise operated by someone in their household, and 3) all persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs, whether they were paid or not. Persons considered unemployed are ones that do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are available for work. Temporarily laid off workers are counted as unemployed, whether they have engaged in a specific job seeking activity. Persons not in the labor force are those who are not classified as employed or unemployed during the survey reference week. Benchmark Changes to Local Area Unemployment Statistics Data Statewide and substate data for 2014-2018 have been re-estimated to reflect revised population controls and model reestimation, and for seasonally adjusted data, new seasonal adjustment. Change to Monthly Employment Estimates This release incorporates revised job count figures for 2014-2018 for the seasonally adjusted series. The reconstructed data reflects data from historical corrections applied to unadjusted supersector or sector level series. For years, analysts with the State DLIR’s Research and Statistics Office have developed monthly employment estimates for Hawai‘i and our metropolitan areas. These estimates were based on a monthly survey of Hawai‘i businesses and analysts’ knowledge about our local economies. Beginning with the production of preliminary estimates for March 2011, responsibility for the production of State and metropolitan area (MSA) estimates was transitioned from individual state agencies to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For Hawai‘i, this means the transition of statewide, Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina MSA areas. State agencies will continue to provide the BLS with information on local events that may affect the estimates, such as strikes or large layoffs/hiring at businesses not covered by the survey and to disseminate and analyze the Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates for local data users. BLS feels this change is designed to improve the cost efficiency of the CES program and to reduce the potential bias in state and area estimates. A portion of the cost savings generated by this change is slated to be directed towards raising survey response rates in future years, which will decrease the level of statistical error in the CES estimates. Until then, state analysts feel this change could result in increased month-to-month variability for the industry employment numbers particularly for Hawai‘i’s counties and islands. Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force and Unemployment Estimates for Honolulu and Maui County BLS publishes smoothed seasonally adjusted civilian labor force and unemployment estimates for all metropolitan areas, which includes the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County. BLS releases this data each month in the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release. The schedule is available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.toc.htm. Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, fourth quarter of 2018 through third quarter of 2019 averages. The six alternative labor underutilization state measures based on the Current Population Survey (CPS) and compiled on a 4-quarter moving average basis defined: U-1, persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force; U-2, job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force; U-3, total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (this is the definition used for the official unemployment rate); U-4, total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers; U-5, total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other marginally attached workers*, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers; and U-6, total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers. * Individuals who want, and are available for work, and who have looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months (or since the end of their last job if they held one within the past 12 months), but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the four weeks preceding the survey, for such reasons as child care or transportation problems, for example. Discouraged workers are a subset of the marginally attached. Note that, the state unemployment rates (U-3) that are shown are derived directly from the CPS. As a result, these U-3 measures may differ from the official state unemployment rates for the latest 4-quarter period. The latter are estimates developed from statistical models that incorporate CPS estimates, as well as input data from other sources, such as state unemployment claims data. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for (808) 586-8866 View DLIR news releases: http://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/category/news/

HONOLULU –  Gov. David Ige has appointed Col. Stephen F. Logan as deputy adjutant general for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense effective Dec. 6, 2019. He replaces Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, who assumes the position of adjutant general for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense on the same date. Col. Logan has served as the chief of staff of the Hawai‘i Army National Guard since Mar. 2017. Previously, he served as commander for the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, commander of the 103rd Troop Command, and as the state Army aviation officer for more than a decade, flying and managing both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Logan is also a 22-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department, retiring in 2004 as a patrol watch commander at the rank of Metropolitan Police Lieutenant. Logan served in key positions during his deployment to Afghanistan, working closely with Afghan National Police and Security Forces. In addition, Logan has served on several state missions in support of local authorities – most recently as the deputy commander of Joint Task Force 5-0 in support of the Kīlauea volcanic eruption and Hurricane Lane responses in 2018. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Chaminade University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Logan is married to the former Darcie N. Imose, and they have two children. "I selected Col. Logan based on his experience and integrity. He has also previously worked with Maj. Gen. Hara while on deployment and during various disasters and exercises here at home. They have established a great working relationship and will make an excellent team,” said Gov. Ige. “Being selected by Gov. Ige as the deputy adjutant general for the State of Hawaiʻi is truly an honor," said Logan. "I look forward to working on our state's priorities.” Logan’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. #StephenLogan #KennethHara #SenateConfirmation #DavidIge

(Honolulu) – Last year, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) acquired more than 2,800 acres of forest land and former agricultural lands in the Helemano area of Central Oʻahu.  This area is now in the process of being placed in the State’s Forest Reserve System and DOFAW has begun developing a plan for the Helemano Wilderness Area with the assistance of local planning firm Planning Solutions, Inc. (PSI). As word has spread of the transfer of these lands to public ownership, excitement has developed about the area’s potential.  The plan will serve as a tool to promote access, recreation, and safety while preserving and enhancing the beauty, history, and natural resources of this special place.  In recognition of community interest and the uniqueness of the area, DOFAW envisions the development of the plan will include opportunities for people to share their knowledge and vision for the Helemano Wilderness Area. Planners intend to conduct stakeholder and public outreach and involvement through a collaborative planning process. To provide a user-friendly way for people to share their knowledge, stay up to date with the plan’s progress, and to download and review it, DOFAW and PSI have created a website with an interactive, social media-style commenting tool. To view the plan or to make comments: http://www.helemanowilderness.com/

(Pohoiki, Hawai‘i Island) – An enormous and ever-growing black sand beach is not the only new feature at Pohoiki, the site of a former boat ramp, rendered obsolete after being surrounded by lava.  Biologists from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) have noted at least seven anchialine pools dotting the Pohoiki landscape. 14 Months After Lava Stopped, Seven Anchialine Pools Appear Troy Sakihara explained, “Anchialine pools are brackish water pools that are land-locked, but are connected to the ocean and groundwater through the underground. They fluctuate with tides and while they may seem like unassuming, little puddles of water they are home to an array of endemic species found only in Hawai‘i.” The most common aquatic creature found in Hawai‘i’s anchialine pools are ʻōpaeʻula, the tiny Hawaiian red shrimp. They’re popular in desktop aquariums and Sakihara describes them as very charismatic – not the least of which they’re ability to evolve and thrive in a variety of habitats like volcanic rock and sand. Biologists say they’re not terribly surprised that ʻōpaeʻula and other native shrimp are beginning to show up at Pohoiki and likely in other anchialine pools up and down the Puna coast that were inundated by lava flows. The where and how of their reappearance is still a bit of a mystery, but experts do know that they quickly re-inhabit bomb impact craters at places like Kaho‘olawe. Sakihara said, “It is still a question that we’re trying to answer as far as how they recruit so fast into these pools.” Historically anchialine pools have been critical sources of fresh water, particularly in arid regions.  Hawai‘i has the highest concentrate of these ponds in the world, with a conservative estimate of 600 out of a worldwide total of a one thousand. DAR Administrator Brian Neilson commented, “These pools are really valuable resources – ecologically, biologically, and culturally. Our team is currently working on a rules package to provide better management strategies for anchialine pools. One of the things people can do right now is to stay out of these sensitive areas.  Sunscreens and other body oils can degrade water quality and potentially kill creatures like the ʻōpaeʻula.” On a recent visit to Pohoiki, Neilson and Sakihara, watched a woman with a snorkel, float in one of the new anchialine pools for more than an hour. Neilson concluded, “We want to educate folks and ask them not to disturb these pools and minimize their interactions with them.  Please don’t swim or snorkel in them, as you may be killing some of the most endangered aquatic creatures in the state.  Respect them and enjoy them, with your eyes, only.” To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/373208207

Attorney General Clare E. Connors today announced a campaign to teach kids about the 19th Amendment (women’s right to vote) on the cusp of its 100th anniversary. The Department of the Attorney General is conducting this campaign in partnership with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC), the federal commission created by Congress to ensure a proper commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and in cooperation with the Original Flat Stanley Project. “It is vitally important that we all commemorate this anniversary,” said Attorney General Connors. “Today is the day that Susan B. Anthony stood up for her right to vote and through August 26th, 2020, our office will be working with keiki to teach them how important this right is to all of us.” Today, nationwide, attorneys general are joining Attorney General Connors and the WSCC in highlighting the centennial of women’s right to vote and teaching kids about Susan B. Anthony with a paper cutout. “We want youngsters around America to go to www.WomensVote100.org to download and decorate ‘Flat Susan B,’” said Susan Combs, Chairwoman of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.  “Take her on adventures from the classroom to historic sites, even to the courtroom to meet today’s judges, prosecutors and attorneys. We want young Americans to learn about this unique history and celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s equality in the voting booth.” Prior to the 19th Amendment’s adoption, Virginia Minor, battled all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for her right to vote and lost.[1] Suffragists continued to fight for equality at the ballot box and succeeded when the 19th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution on August 26, 1920, finally guaranteeing women the right to vote. “Flat Susan B” is available for download at www.WomensVote100.org, as is a list of historic sites and state-by-state activities where Americans can photograph “Flat Susan B” and post the photos to social media using hashtags #WomensVote100 and #FlatSusanB. Susan B. Anthony photo: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony

With the rising popularity of esports, colleges and universities nationwide are picking up on the esports club trend where gamers not only compete against each other, but against other college teams as well. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa team is gaining recognition in the largest collegiate league. Students participating in the esports scene on the Mānoa campus. Leading the charge in the arena of esports at UH Mānoa is Nyle Sky Kauweloa, a graduate assistant at the School of Communications in the College of Social Sciences. Kauweloa, along with Kevin Nguyen, a UH Mānoa communications graduate, who now works full time as UH’s esports program assistant. UH esports runs 5 teams across 2 games which are Overwatch and League. The UH collegiate esports team, which is competing in the 2019 League of Legends Collegiate Starleague (CSL) tournament, recently received honorable mention in the CSL rankings and was noted as one of four teams in the Southwest region that remains undefeated after three weeks of regular season play. The other teams are from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), University of New Mexico and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Learn more about the growth of esports at UH Mānoa. “It’s really amazing given that this is our first time competing—ever in an organized tournament, and we are mentioned along with UCI,” said Kauweloa. Kauweloa also teaches a course, Esports and Society, the first of its kind at UH Mānoa. The course covers the rising popularity and significance of the growing esports industry. The University of New Mexico and UH will go head-to-head on January 18, 2020, competing in the next round of the tournament. From there, the top teams from each division will find out on February 8, 2020, who they will move on to play on the bracket stage. The schedule can be found here. Interested students can follow the team’s Instagram and Twitter, or email uh.esports@hawaii.edu. More on Collegiate Starleague Collegiate Starleague is the world’s first collegiate gaming organization. The league has grown to more than 1,800 aggregate universities and 55,000 cumulative active players. CSL runs leagues across multiple titles and platforms and has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to deserving college gamers. Source: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2019/11/15/uh-esports-collegiate-tournament/

(Hilo) – A free event at the Wailoa Center is being held to encourage everyone to use plastic free bottles to help the environment. In 2018, the DLNR Division of State Parks was awarded a grant to install 19 water bottle filling stations on Hawai’i Island, Maui, O’ahu and Kaua’i. The goal of the project is to reduce the number of single-use plastic water bottles that park visitors use during their visits to state parks. Five additional water bottle filling stations will be installed on Hawaiʽi Island: three in Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area (two at Hāpuna Beach and one at Waialea Bay), one in the Maniniʽōwali section of Kekaha Kai State Park (more commonly known as Kua Bay), and one in Kealakekua Bay Historical Park. The Help Keep the Sea Plastic Free event will be held on Saturday November 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is part of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Prevention Grant project that also celebrates the installation of a water bottle filling station at Wailoa Center. This event includes educational booths and art activities using marine debris collected at Kamilo Point. Join with State Parks, Hawaiʽi Nei, Hawaiʽi Island Art Alliance, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources Marine Wildlife Program, Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, and Hawaiʽi Wildlife Fund to learn why we should all reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse single-use plastics in our daily lives, starting with using refillable water bottles.

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Health and the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee will hold an informational briefing policy on the prescription drug take back program and the efficiency of onsite destruction of opioids in room 309 at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at the State Capitol. HB1272 which was signed into law on July 2, 2019 as Act 183 allows for the safe prescription drug take back and disposal program being utilized by CVS Long's and 17 of their pharmacies statewide. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency: 200 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose; 2,000 Americans suffer an overdose every day; and from 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose. In an effort to combat the opioid epidemic the focus will be on supporting healthcare providers and health systems, partnering with law enforcement, and encouraging consumers to make safe choices about opioids – and the devastation that comes with misuse. This briefing will seek to accomplish these four goals: ● Examine the prescription drug take back program and the effectiveness of onsite destruction of such drugs. ● Understand the risks associated with diversion – the possibility of prescription drugs being returned and falling into the wrong hands. ● Review the Riverton, Utah Model of onsite destruction of prescription medications and drugs returned to various sites. ● Begin a discussion about Hawaiʻi’s need for a well-considered, thoughtful transition to their current prescription drug take back program and a program that provides for both the safe take back and onsite destruction of such drugs. Presentations include: State Department of Health (DOH) DOH – Behavioral Health Administration, Eddie Mersereau Mayor Trent Staggs, Riverton, Utah David Schiller former DEA Agent, Denver, Colorado State Attorney General's Office United State Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)Honolulu Police Department CVS Pharmacy At the conclusion of the presentations the Committees will reserve the final 10 minutes to highlight the top priorities relating to an efficient prescription drug take back and disposal program in Hawai'i and a plan of action which may contain bill proposals for the 2020 Legislative session, administrative action, and/or memorandum of agreements between departments to ensure consumer protection while navigating the opioid epidemic. No public testimony will be accepted.

Hawaii Civil Rights Commission Offers Public Training Civil Rights at Work: Worker Rights & Employer Best Practices HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) today announced its annual training will provide an opportunity to learn more about state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace and what workers and employers can do to fight and eliminate unlawful discrimination. The training, presented in collaboration with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will cover topics including sexual harassment in the #Me Too era, labor, business, and public interest in eliminating discrimination in the workplace; voluntary mediation options in discrimination cases, the HCRC and EEOC processes, and tips on building respectful workplaces. For program info please visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191106Civil-Rights-At-Work-Program.pdf The training is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Consolidated Ward Theaters and costs $30. To register, call the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission office at (808) 586-8636, or email Sharon Ferguson-Quick at sharon.y.ferguson-quick@hawaii.gov. To request an auxiliary aid / service or other accommodation needed due to a disability, contact Sharon Ferguson-Quick at (808) 586-8636, or email her at sharon.y.ferguson-quick@hawaii.gov. The Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing state civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded services. If you feel you have been subjected to discrimination on any basis protected under state law, contact the HCRC at: telephone (808) 586-8636, or email DLIR.HCRC.INFOR@hawaii.gov.

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) recently confirmed two additional cases of lung injury related to the use of e-cigarette or vaping products and has received other reports for investigation. This brings the current number of confirmed cases in the state to four, with one individual confirmed in each county. Two of the individuals are adolescents and two are adults. All were hospitalized and have recovered. The department continues to advise everyone to stop vaping, no matter the substance or source, until current nationwide investigations are complete. “E-cigarettes and vaping products are not safe,” said Director of Health Bruce Anderson. “The public should refrain from using these products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or THC.” As of Nov. 13, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports 2,172 confirmed and probable lung injury cases associated with use of e-cigarettes or vaping products reported by 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This includes 42 deaths confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia. FDA and state health laboratories have detected vitamin E acetate (a synthetic form of vitamin E) in a sample of vaping fluids also containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active compound in marijuana. In a sample of lung fluid from 29 ill patients: All 29 were positive for vitamin E acetate. Twenty or 69 percent of these patients stated they were vaping marijuana. Other patients using nicotine, or a combination of nicotine and THC have also developed symptoms. Although there may be a link between THC and vitamin E, the exact cause of the vaping injury and deaths is unknown. DOH recommends that persons should not use e-cigarettes of any kind (marijuana or nicotine) and especially those containing vitamin E acetate. People should be concerned about using vaping products containing THC, particularly those obtained from informal sources such as friends or family, or from the illicit market, where product ingredients are unknown or can be highly variable. Until the relationship of vitamin E acetate and lung health is better characterized, it is important that vitamin E acetate not be added to e-cigarette or vaping products. DOH has issued an updated Medical Advisory to physicians to assist in identifying patients who may have lung injury related to e-cigarettes and vaping. New tools for clinicians are available online at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/vaping-resources-for-clinicians/. Healthcare providers in all settings are advised to educate all patients on the risks associated with vaping nicotine and other products. E-cigarettes should never be used by youth, pregnant women, and adults who currently do not use tobacco products. DOH, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and using Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Funds, recently conducted three different sets of vaping prevention workshops for administrators, staff, and faculty teams for the Department of Education, State Charter School Commission, and the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools. “Prevention is the best strategy,” said Alvin Bronstein MD, medical toxicologist, and Emergency Medical Services branch chief. “E-cigarettes are not safe, and we do not know the long-term effects for youth and adults who vape.” DOH is working daily with local physicians and federal authorities to investigate and report cases related to the national outbreak of lung injury. At this time, no one compound, or product has been identified as the cause of the injuries, and there may be more than one cause of the outbreak. DOH therefore recommends the following: Do not use e-cigarettes or vaping devices of any kind. If you don’t use vaping devices, don’t start. If you are using a vaping device, stop. E-cigarettes and vaping products are unsafe and unregulated. While there are claims that vaping devices help smokers kick their cigarette habits, not enough time has elapsed, nor has testing been done, to verify this claim or the potential for other health impacts. If you are an adult using vaping devices with medical cannabis products, consider changing to another form of medical cannabis. If you choose to continue using vaping devices, do not use off-market products. Caution is especially advised regarding the use of off-market THC-containing liquids. “Off-market” products are those available through the internet, purchased from persons on the street, and those which are homemade. Homemade products often involve modifying or adding substances to products purchased at retail stores. While evidence points to a higher incidence of negative health impacts among users of off-market THC products, some patients suffering negative health impacts report using only nicotine products or products obtained on the market. CBD products in retail locations other than through the licensed state dispensaries are not on the market legally, and vaping products especially should be avoided. Pregnant women should not use e-cigarettes and vaping products of any kind. Children and youth should never use e-cigarettes and vaping devices. Parents are urged to talk about the hazards of vaping with their children. Visit HawaiiNoVape.com for more information on e-cigarettes and tips on starting the conversation. Nicotine is highly addictive, and one vaping pod smaller than the diameter of a quarter can contain nicotine equivalent to 41 sticks of cigarettes. The act of selling tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone under the age of 21 is illegal in Hawai‘i. It is also illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, use, and possess these products. Vaping devices were never intended to be used by children or youth and should not be used by them. If you have recently used a vaping device and are experiencing symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, or abdominal pain, see a healthcare provider. You may also call the Hawai‘i Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 at any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. PDF: DOH confirms additional cases of lung injury associated with the use of vaping products

In light of continuing or planned removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the offshore waters of Mālaekahana Bay to La‘ie on O‘ahu and the Molokini Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), off Maui’s south shore, state and federal authorities are advising people to follow the 3 Rs of UXO safety: Recognize, Retreat, Report. Remediation off Oahu and Molokini Planned in Early 2020 “Although the UXOs discovered at the Molokini reserve have been in place for more than 70 years without incident, there is a potential for the ordnance to explode, particularly if they are disturbed,” said Bruce Anderson, director of the Hawai‘i Department of Health. “We urge everyone who may encounter any of these munitions to never approach, touch, move, or disturb them. Our department’s goal is to ensure removal of these items occurs as quickly and as safely as possible.” Remedial action for two potentially explosive items identified in waters of the Molokini MLCD is expected to begin next spring, after Hawaiian Humpback whales have migrated from Hawai‘i and when sea conditions will be calmer. Outreach to commercial tour operators, divers, and boaters is already underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) which has jurisdiction over State waters in the Molokini MLCD. This includes public presentations and distribution of UXO pamphlets to divers and boaters (attached). The U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team has been requested to conduct the remediation at Molokini, and the area is expected to be closed temporarily during this work. Specialized disposal teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified and began removing about 185 items potentially presenting an explosive hazard from waters off the islets between Kahuku and La‘ie on O‘ahu’s North Shore over the summer. Work ended in September and will resume in the spring to allow whales to move away and permit work to continue in calm waters. The area around Goat Island has not been observed to have UXO. Unexploded munitions left behind more than 70 years ago from historical military activities in areas around the state pose a serious risk if disturbed. No injuries or deaths in Hawai‘i have been attributed to UXOs since extensive public education efforts conducted by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Hawai‘i Department of Health. The last incident occurred in 1983 when two Schofield soldiers were injured by UXO during a military exercise on Parker Ranch land near Pu‘u Pa‘a, and in 1971, a Hawai‘i Island teenager died from an explosion when he handled and attempted to dismantle a UXO found at Pohakuloa Training Area. Repeating the 3 R’s of UXO safety: Recognize – when you may have encountered a munition and the potential danger Retreat – do not approach, touch, move or disturb it and carefully leave the area Report – call 911 or the DOH HEER Office at (808) 586-5815 To download safety flyers: https://www.denix.osd.mil/uxo/educational-resources/posters/