COVID-19 testing is continuously being conducted statewide at all facilities. The Halawa Correctional Facility (HCF) reports one positive staff case. The employee last worked 7/21/21. Additionally, there were 3 negative inmate test results received for HCF. The latest testing updates received for other facilities are as follows: Oahu Community Correctional Center – 22 negative inmate test results Hawaii Community Correctional Center – 3 negative inmate test results and 10 negative staff test results. One of the two previously reported positive employees has recovered. Waiawa Correctional Facility – 3 negative inmate test results The Department of Public Safety (PSD) continues to encourage all staff and inmates to voluntarily get tested and receive the COVID vaccination. For PSD’s Pandemic Plan and more information on PSD’s planning and response to COVID-19, inmate testing data, and information detailing the efforts made to safeguard the inmates, staff and public, visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage at: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate will convene a special session for the purpose of reviewing the judicial appointments of Dan Gluck to the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) and Lesley Maloian to the District Family Court of the First Circuit. The process will begin with a Senate Judicial Committee hearing, chaired by Senator Karl Rhoads on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. View the hearing notice here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/splsession2021b/Hearing%20JDC%2007-27-21.pdf Members of the public who wish to testify via videoconference should use the Legislature's website (www.capitol.hawaii.gov) to submit their written testimony and select "yes" when asked if they will be testifying remotely for the hearing. Written testimony is required to participate via videoconference and must be submitted at least 24 hours before the hearing. Additional information and details are on the capitol website. The Senate will convene in a floor session on Wednesday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a separate decision-making meeting of the Judiciary Committee at 10:30 a.m. Final Senate votes on the appointments are expected on Thursday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. The special session will only address the two pending judicial appointments.

SENATE VICE PRESIDENT MICHELLE KIDANI ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC-SCHOOL GUIDANCE FOR ON-CAMPUS LEARNING Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani (District 18 - Mililani Town, portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia) issued the following statement regarding the Department of Health’s intent to revise the public-school guidance for on-campus learning: “As the Department of Health (DOH) is working to revise its public-school guidance for on-campus learning, it is my hope that they are able to learn from the multi-track schools that have since returned to the classroom in early July. With COVID-19 numbers on a rise due to the delta variant, I urge DOH and the Department of Education (DOE) to quickly provide guidance to our schools so that the appropriate preparations can be made. Implementation of any safety and health recommendations will take time and resources. It is important to provide teachers and parents with a plan of action before a majority of our students return on August 3.”

Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Ailā, Jr. has issued a statement on the Commission on Water Resource Management’s unanimous decision to accept the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s (DHHL) Water Use Permit Application, which increases the Department’s Hoʻolehua Water System pumping allocation to 595,000 gallons per day. “We are grateful for the Water Commission’s unanimous approval of our permit and their renewed acknowledgment that our water rights are a protected Public Trust use of water. This action will allow us to bring water to existing and new homesteaders while maintaining deliveries to critical island services that benefit all residents. We thank the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the many beneficiaries for their supportive testimony. While long-awaited, this effort clears one of the many barriers the Department has faced in developing new homestead lots on Molokaʻi.” DHHL is currently a year into a two year, $37 million capital improvement project to upgrade the 80-year-old Hoʻolehua Water System. Enhancements to the system will include the installation of a 200,000-gallon storage tank, upgrades to automation systems, a new warehouse, and a new emergency generator diesel fuel tank. Other improvements involve new paved roads and fencing, along with the repair and replacement of existing tanks, pumps, transmission mains, laterals, valves, and hydrants. The Hoʻolehua Water System serves over 2,400 customers, including approximately 500 homesteads in Hoʻolehua-Palaʻau, Kalamaʻula, and Moʻomomi. Water from this system also provides service to the post office, schools, and the airport. The Department maintains four water systems statewide. Those water service areas are in Anahola, Kauaʻi; Hoʻolehua and Kalamaʻula, Molokaʻi; and Kawaihae and Puʻukapu, Hawaiʻi Island.

The DLNR Division of State Parks, Wailoa River State Recreation Area will be closed temporarily from Thursday July 22nd through Saturday July 24th as dry wells are being installed to prevent flooding in the parking lot. In addition, a water bottle filing station will be installed and portions of the main entry roadway that have deteriorated over time will be repaved. These closures and projects will affect the main entry road area to the pavilions but other portions of the park including the Kamehameha Statue and the Wailoa Center will remain open. The overall cost of the project is $193,734.

All students at Hawaiʻi’s 257 public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch meals for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year, thanks to a nationwide waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The waiver aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 at schools across the country by eliminating meal payment transactions in school cafeterias, settings where students and cashiers may not be able to maintain proper social distancing. Federal funds will reimburse state education departments for meal costs. “This has been a challenging time for our ʻohana, and I am proud to continue our safety net support through actions that improve food security for our students while providing economic relief for our families,” Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto said. “The health and safety of our haumana continues to be our top priority, and as we fully reopen schools to in-person learning, this waiver will allow for a more efficient, contactless experience for students and our food service team.” Parents and guardians who have not yet purchased meal credits for the upcoming school year via the EZMealApp mobile app or through their school do not need to take any action. Those who have already purchased meal credits in advance may choose to leave funds in the account for the following school year or contact their child’s school to request a refund. Students will only receive meals at their school of enrollment. One meal per breakfast session and one per lunch session will be free of charge. Additional meals or meal items taken at the same session will be charged a normal rate. Parents are highly encouraged to continue to submit their Free and Reduced Price Lunch Meal Benefits applications online using the EZMealApp mobile app or at EZMealApp.com, where applicable, as information derived from the application directly impacts eligibility for other school programs, such as bus transportation and Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance. For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact the School Food Services Branch at (808) 784-5500. More information on the USDA waiver is available here.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate adjourned its veto override session that began on July 6. In addition to the actions taken on Tuesday, the Senate approved three floor amendments to meet the Governor’s objections in his veto messages for HB54, HB1299 and SB589. The chamber also moved to override the veto for HB53. Since convening on Tuesday, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature has taken the following actions: Six Veto Overrides: HB53 : Relating To State Bonds HB862: Relating To State Government SB263: Relating To Economic Development SB404: Relating To Electioneering Communications SB811: Relating To The Department of Education SB1387: Relating To Microchip Identification Three Floor Amendments: HB54: Relating To The State Budget HB1299: Relating To Non-General Funds SB589: Relating To The University of Hawaiʻi “Of the twenty-six bills that were vetoed by the Governor, the Senate and House overrode six vetoed bills,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (District 8 – Kauaʻi and Niʻihau). The Governor has until Thursday, July 22 to act on HB1299 and SB589.

THE STATE OF HAWAII OFFICE OF PLANNING BECOMES THE NEW “STATE OF HAWAI'I OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” Governor David Ige recently signed into law, House Bills 1149 and 1318 as Acts 153 and 152, respectively. The two laws work in conjunction and consolidate various government land use and environmental policy functions of different agencies into the newly renamed “Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.” Act 153 administratively attaches the State of Hawaiʻi Land Use Commission and its staff to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. The State’s Land Use Commission will continue its activities, with its nine members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The Commission’s primary role is to ensure that areas of concern by the State are addressed and considered in the land use decision-making process. The Commission will continue to establish the district boundaries for the entire state and acts on petitions for boundary changes submitted by private landowners, developers and state and county agencies. The Commission will also continue to act on requests for special use permits within the Agricultural and Rural Districts. Additionally, Act 152, consolidates the Office of Environmental Quality Control, its staff, and the Environmental Council, renamed the “Environmental Advisory Council”, within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. The Office of Environmental Quality Control facilitates Hawaiʻi’s environmental review process (commonly known as HEPA), pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, was previously administratively attached to the Department of Health. The Office of Environmental Quality Control will be renamed to “Environmental Review Program” within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. The functions, rules, dockets, special use permits, environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, The Environmental Notice, and public availability and services of both the State Land Use Commission and the Office of Environmental Quality Control will continue to remain in effect and unchanged. The functions, roles, and responsibilities of the Office of Planning’s pre-existing programs; the Coastal Zone Management Program, Statewide GIS Program, Land Use Division, Special Plans Branch, and Statewide Sustainability Program will also continue to remain in effect. The purpose of this consolidation is to improve the coordination of these related land use and environmental policy functions for Hawaiʻi’s State Government to work more efficiently to achieve the State’s long-term sustainability and climate change targets for a more abundant future for the people of Hawaiʻi. This consolidation builds upon the recent passage and enactment of Act 45, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2020, which officially established the Statewide Sustainability Program within the Office of Planning, and previously directed the Office of Planning to expand its efforts and responsibilities to include statewide sea level rise coordination, and sustainability and climate change adaptation planning and coordination. “The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development will continue to work actively in planning for Hawaiʻi’s sustainable development and climate adaptation to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations of Hawaiʻi to meet their own needs,” said Mary Alice Evans, director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. “We thank Governor Ige and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature for this opportunity to expand, streamline, and modernize our office to assist the State of Hawaiʻi prepare and face these sustainable development and climate change adaptation challenges.” About the State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development The State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is a state agency, administratively attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), that gathers, analyzes and provides information to the governor to assist in the overall analysis and formulation of state policies and strategies. Its purpose is to: (1) provide central direction and cohesion in the allocation of resources and effectuation of state activities and programs; and (2) effectively address current or emerging issues and opportunities. The office works closely with local, state and federal government agencies; the University of Hawai‘i; and various community stakeholders to achieve these objectives.

Jobs increased by 41,900 over-the-year The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.7 percent compared to the revised rate of 8.0 percent in May. Statewide, 596,500 were employed and 49,750 unemployed in June for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 646,250. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in June, up from 5.8 percent in May. 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 7.9 percent in June, compared to the revised rate of 7.4 percent in May. Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey) In a separate measure of employment, total nonagricultural jobs increased by 3,000 in June over May. Job gains were experienced in Leisure & Hospitality (+2,500), Construction (+1,000), Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+600), Other Services (+500), and Information (+300). For the third straight month, expansion in Leisure & Hospitality was robust in both Accommodation and Food Services & Drinking Places. Job losses occurred in Manufacturing (-100), Financial Activities (-100), Professional & Business Services (-200), and Education & Health Services (-1,300). Contraction in Education & Health Services was solely within the Health Services subsector, specifically in Ambulatory Health Care Services and Hospitals. Government employment declined by 200 jobs. Over-the-year (June 2020 was the 3rd month of pandemic effects), nonfarm jobs have risen by 41,900, or 8.0 percent. However, in comparison with March 2020 (last month prior to pandemic effects), nonfarm jobs were down by 86,400, or -13.2 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, 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 2010-2020 have revised inputs and have been re-estimated to reflect revised population controls and model re-estimation. Change to Monthly Employment Estimates This release incorporates revised job count figures for the seasonally adjusted series. The revised data reflects historical corrections applied to unadjusted super sector or sector level series dating back from 2004 through 2020. 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 estimates for both the seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted areas are produced by BLS. 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. BLS can be reached at (202) 691-6533 for any questions about these estimates. The not seasonally adjusted job estimates for Hawai‘i County, Kauai County, Maui Island, Molokai, and Lanai are produced by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor & Industrial Relations. Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force & Unemployment Estimates for Honolulu & Maui Co. 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 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; 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.

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald today appointed Lesley N. Maloian to fill a judicial position in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. Maloian has been a Deputy Public Defender in Honolulu for the past 18 years, with extensive felony jury trial experience in the circuit, district, and family courts. Prior to that, she worked for two years as an associate with the Law Office of Ellen Politano representing clients in family court cases, including divorce, restraining orders, alimony, child support, and paternity. From 1996 to 2001, Maloian served as a Deputy Public Guardian in Chicago, Illinois where, combined, she maintained a caseload of over 150 families and participated in daily bench trials, administrative hearings, and criminal proceedings. She also has experience as an Administrative Hearings Officer with the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings, which she held for a year before becoming a Deputy Public Guardian. Maloian graduated from Valparaiso University of School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from CUNY Baruch College. The Chief Justice made his appointment from the nomination list that was presented to him by the Judicial Selection Commission on June 9, 2021. The appointment of Maloian is subject to Senate confirmation.

The scenic road to Hana, officially known as Hana Highway, is one of the top points of interest for visitors to Maui, which has resulted in traffic congestion caused in part by illegal parking and unsafe pedestrian crossing along the highway. To help alleviate the situation for Hana residents, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) continues to work with Maui County officials and other state agencies, and is also strongly advising visitors to join a tour from a permitted tour company instead of driving on their own or visiting other areas on Maui. This ongoing effort is a part of HTA’s Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP), published in March, in which a number of the hotspot areas and sites listed are either located in Hana or along the road to Hana. Furthermore, Action H in the Maui section of the Maui Nui DMAP created by Maui residents calls for HTA to advocate for increased enforcement of current laws. “We take seriously, the concerns brought forth by the residents of Hana and east Maui surrounding the impact of visitors in their community, especially along this main thoroughfare for which they rely on, and are committed to addressing them through viable solutions,” said John De Fries, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. HTA, in partnership with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, encourages visitors to experience the road to Hana through a permitted tour led by professional guides. HTA has posted a list of tour operators with excursions to Hana on its website: www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/traveling-to-hawaii/tours-to-hana/ Since May, in an effort to mitigate the visitor impact in Hana, HTA has been convening collaborative meetings with Maui County, the Maui Police Department, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Haleakala National Park Service and the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. HDOT announced in a press release on June 10 that it has installed approximately 70 “no parking” signs on Hana Highway, warning drivers about the $35 no parking fine and a $200 surcharge for illegally stopping on a state highway, to reduce the temptation for drivers to illegally park on Hana Highway. Approximately ten signs were installed at each location: Waikamoi Stream Bridge, Twin Falls, Bamboo Forest, Ching’s Pond, Waikalani Bridge, Puaa Kaa Park, and Hanawi Bridge. According to Maui Mayor Michael Victorino’s office, between June 1 and June 23, the Maui Police Department issued 389 parking citations and 83 warnings to violators on Hana Highway between Haiku and Hana town. HDOT developed educational flyers for use by car rental agencies and is working on posters at Maui’s Consolidated Rental Car or “ConRAC” facility at Kahului Airport.

Starting today, Hawai'i bound domestic travelers that are fully vaccinated in the United States, may bypass testing and quarantine effective today, July 8, 2021. News Release from June 24, 2021: Gov. David Ige announced that effective July 8, the State of Hawai‘i will eliminate its pre-travel testing/quarantine requirement for domestic travelers to Hawai‘i who have been fully vaccinated in the United States. Travelers to Hawai‘i must upload their CDC issued vaccination record card to the state’s Safe Travels Program website and have that card with them upon arrival in the State of Hawai‘i. The 60% vaccination rate also means that effective July 8, social gatherings are expanded to 25 people indoors and 75 people outdoors. Also, restaurants may increase capacity to 75% – with maximum group sizes of 25 indoors and 75 outdoors, starting July 8. “We anticipate that on or about July 8, Hawai‘i will have achieved a 60% vaccination rate. Our residents have sacrificed and worked hard to get to this point, but we still have more to do. Please get vaccinated to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We are close to achieving a 70% vaccination rate, at which point all restrictions will end and we can return to the lives we remember,” said Gov. Ige. Mayor Derek Kawakami, Kaua‘i County: “We are pleased to see continued progress in our statewide vaccination rates and support Governor Ige’s announcement to further loosen restrictions on July 8. On Kaua‘i, we will follow suit and move to Tier 5 of our Kaua‘i Tier Chart on July 8, which will allow businesses, such as restaurants, to operate at 75 % capacity with social gathering limits increased to 25 indoors and 75 outdoors. With news of the Delta variant spreading in our state it is clear that the threat of COVID is not over, but we now have the tools we need to protect ourselves and others. Please continue to be responsible in wearing masks and keeping your distance while in crowded spaces and get vaccinated if you are able.” Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City & County of Honolulu: “The commitment of our residents to protect themselves and others will get us to 60%, a huge step ahead for O‘ahu’s economic recovery and the health of our communities,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “Our next goal is 70%, it’s achievable and it will mean little to no restrictions on operations in the City and County of Honolulu. Let’s get there sooner rather than later by urging all our friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers to get vaccinated now.” Mayor Michael Victorino, Maui County: “I want to thank Gov. Ige for taking this next step toward normalcy. I also want to thank the people of Maui County for helping Hawaiʻi to reach the 60% milestone for full vaccinations. We hope this serves as an incentive to the unvaccinated to get the shot to protect themselves, their loved ones and the rest of our community.” Mayor Mitch Roth, County of Hawai‘i: “We’re glad to have worked with the governor and other mayors to define a specific date for the transitioning of statewide COVID restrictions. By setting clear dates, we will be able to allow our overseas ʻohana to better plan their trips while allowing our businesses, families, and sports leagues to better prepare for the road to recovery that lies ahead.” Gov. Ige also announced that statewide vaccination goals will not affect the counties’ policies regarding structured events, weddings, etc. This applies only to travel, social gatherings, and restaurants. When the state achieves a 70% vaccination rate, all restrictions terminate. Social gatherings will no longer be restricted, and restaurants will continue to be regulated in the normal course by the Department of Health, which may establish new, permanent rules in light of the pandemic.