News from the City and County of Honolulu The Honolulu Zoo will host a COVID-19 vaccination site this Saturday, June 26. The clinic is being conducted as a partnership between the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i State Department of Health, and Hawai‘i Pacific Health. Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s Vax Squad bus will be parked in the Honolulu Zoo on June 26 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Individuals ages 12 and older are eligible. Clients at the Honolulu Zoo vaccination site will be able to choose between the Pfizer (12 years and older) or Johnson & Johnson (18 years and older) COVID-19 vaccine. Both vaccine options will be provided free of charge. Department of Health Public Health Nurses will also be on site to answer questions about the vaccines. From 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Royal Hawaiian Band will be entertaining people in attendance. From noon to 2 p.m., Island 98.5 will be playing music at the vaccination site and offering prize giveaways, including gift cards from Zippy’s and Pieology, swag from the Honolulu Fire Department, F45 gym memberships and refreshments from Meadow Gold for those who get the vaccine. Individuals who pre-register at HawaiiPacificHealth.org/COVIDVaxSquad or call (808)-462-5460 will receive complimentary admission to the zoo. Those who pre-register should report to Gate 6 on Monsarrat Avenue instead of the front entrance. Walk-ins are welcome, but will need to pay for zoo admission at the front entrance. “We are very happy to partner with the State Department of Health, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and for the support from the Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department and the Hawai‘i National Guard in this effort to get more of our community vaccinated,” said Linda Santos, Honolulu Zoo director. “As zoo animals and household pets can contract COVID-19 from humans, it is very important for everyone to get vaccinated to protect our animals and those who care for our animals.” To keep the zoo animals safe, the Honolulu Zoo encourages people to wear masks near animal exhibits, keep a 6-foot distance, stay home when sick and never share food with any animal. Guests heading to the vaccination site should bring a picture I.D., insurance card, and a face mask to be worn at all times. Minors ages 12 to 17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For COVID-19 vaccine information please visit: https://www.oneoahu.org/vaccine

IRS online tool helps families see if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit; one of three tools now available for the upcoming advance payments The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today urged families to take advantage of a special online tool that can help them determine whether they qualify for the Child Tax Credit and the special monthly advance payments beginning on July 15. Available exclusively on IRS.gov, the new Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use. By answering a series of questions about themselves and their family members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether they qualify for the credit. Though anyone can use this tool, it may be particularly useful to families who don’t normally file a federal tax return and have not yet filed either a 2019 or 2020 tax return. Often, these are people who receive little or no income, including those experiencing homelessness, low income households, and other underserved groups. Using this tool can help them decide whether they should take the next step and register for the Child Tax Credit payments on another new IRS tool unveiled earlier this week. “This new tool provides an important first step to help people understand if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which is especially important for those who don’t normally file a tax return,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The eligibility assistant works in concert with other features on IRS.gov to help people receive this important credit. The IRS is working hard to deliver the expanded Child Tax Credit, and we will be rolling out additional help for taxpayers in the near future. Where possible, please help us help others by distributing CTC information in your communities.” To help people understand and receive this benefit, the IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021 designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit and the advance payments. Among other things, the page already features a link to both the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, and the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, along with a third tool launched earlier this week—the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant does not request any personally-identifiable information (PII) for any family member. For that reason, its results are not an official determination by the IRS. Though the results are reliable, if the questions are answered accurately, they should be considered preliminary. Neither the answers supplied by the user, nor the results, are retained by the IRS. After checking the Eligibility Assistant, Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is available to help those who don’t normally file tax returns The online Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is designed to help eligible families who don’t normally file tax returns register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This tool, an update of last year’s IRS Economic Impact Payment Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don’t normally file tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed. Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free File Alliance, this tool provides a free and easy way for eligible people who don’t make enough income to have an income tax return-filing obligation to provide the IRS the basic information needed to figure and issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This includes name, address, and social security numbers. This also enables them to provide information about their qualifying children age 17 and under, their other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so the IRS can quickly and easily deposit the payments directly into their checking or savings account. It is available only on IRS.gov. The Non-filer Sign-Up tool should not be used by anyone who has already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return. No action needed by most other families Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 income tax returns should not use the Non-filer Sign-Up Tool. Once the IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments. Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income families, should not use this tool and instead file a regular tax return. For them, the fastest and easiest way to file a return is the Free File system, available only on IRS.gov. Watch out for scams The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a scam. Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Remember, the IRS never sends unsolicited electronic communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a non-governmental web site. Child Tax Credit Update Portal Earlier this week, Treasury and IRS launched another useful tool, the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Initially, this tool only enables anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to see that they are eligible and unenroll from (opt out of) the advance payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of their payments and make updates to their information, including their bank account information. Later this year, the tool will also be available in Spanish. Community partners can help The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as well as other important benefits. Among other things, the IRS is already working closely with its community partners to ensure wide access to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool and the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. The agency is also providing additional materials and information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other methods. About the Advance Child Tax Credit The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will calculate the payment based on a family’s 2020 tax return, including those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed, the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that was available in 2020. The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17. To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15, and Dec. 15. For more information, visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021, or read FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTER HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT NEW HOME IN WAHIAWĀ The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges held a ground breaking ceremony today to mark the beginning of construction on the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC). The facility will house training programs that will provide participants an opportunity to create new and unique food-related products while learning critical entrepreneurship skills such as marketing, branding, product development, and business management so they can develop their value-added products. Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (District 22 – Launani Valley, Mililani Mauka, Waipi‘o Acres, Wheeler, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village and portion of Poamoho) helped secure monies for the project in 2017. "Products that are made-in-Hawai‘i are highly desired worldwide and we have a huge opportunity with the WVAPDC to capitalize on that global demand. Value-added entrepreneurship is critical for economic recovery as we look to strengthen the agricultural industry and diversify our economy to be less reliant on tourism," said Senator Dela Cruz. "Wahiawā welcomes this community investment and looks forward to working with the University of Hawai‘i in the years to come." Participants will have access to state-of-the-art equipment that will help take their idea to a marketable product. Developable products include but are not limited to baked goods, pickled products, ice creams, and juices. These products could benefit farmers as entrepreneurs utilize off-grade produce in their recipes and minimize food waste. Farmers can build their customer base outside of traditional outlets such as farmers markets and grocery stores and sell directly to food manufacturers or expand their businesses. "The WVAPDC will be instrumental in supporting the diversification of our local economy by adding value to Hawai‘i’s agricultural and food sector industries,” said University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges Vice President Erika Lacro. “It will take the knowledge, creativity, innovation, and uniqueness Hawai‘i offers to the next level, creating a robust workforce pipeline and providing the tools and skills for local farmers and entrepreneurs to take their value-added food products to market and beyond. Bringing this to the heart of Oahu achieves a critical milestone for our state in food security and sustainability.” The Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center is scheduled to open for classes in Spring 2023.

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) reintroduced the bicameral Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), legislation that would provide additional resources, training, and technical assistance to combat harassment and discrimination in education. “Trailblazers Patsy Mink and Louise Slaughter spent their careers demanding better opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their gender. This bill builds on their legacy by providing more funding to address sex-based harassment and discrimination in education,” Senator Hirono said. “On the 49th anniversary of Title IX’s enactment, Congress should act now to make sure that all students can learn in safe and supportive learning environments.” “Patsy Mink and Louise Slaughter were tireless warriors for equality and continue to serve as our north star for expanding opportunity and eradicating discrimination on the basis of sex in schools everywhere. By fiercely advocating for Title IX, these champions ensured that future generations of women and girls would have the tools to pursue their passions and become the next generation of leaders,” Congresswoman Matsui said. “Their stories remind us that our work is rooted in history and is built upon the struggles, lessons, and success of our predecessors. Moving forward, it is our duty make sure that every child, regardless of gender, has the same opportunity to succeed. By introducing this legislation on the forty-ninth anniversary of Title IX, we honor and build on their legacy – continuing to fight against discrimination and ensuring our nation’s schools provide a just learning environment for all.” Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Matsui previously introduced the legislation in the 115th and 116th Congresses. The Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act advances Title IX and promotes equity in education for students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics including actual or perceived sex—including sex stereotypes; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; sexual orientation or gender identity; among other characteristics. To do so, the bill: Creates a new Office of Gender Equity within the U.S. Department of Education to coordinate Title IX activities in the Department and throughout other federal agencies, Funds competitive grants for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, states, school districts, and other educational organizations to boost Title IX compliance programs, and Provides Title IX coordinators at colleges with annual trainings, information, and best practices about Title IX compliance. “A cornerstone of women’s economic security is ensuring they have equal access to — and opportunity for — education,” Kim Churches, CEO, American Association of University Women said. “While we’ve made tremendous progress, we are still far from that ideal of fully eradicating bias and discrimination in schools, colleges and universities. On the 49th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the best way to celebrate the many broken barriers is to improve and strengthen compliance with this vital law. AAUW thanks Senator Hirono and Representative Matsui for taking the important step of re-introducing the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act, which would provide critical resources, training and technical assistance to help educational entities fully comply with Title IX. We are steadfast in our commitment to enacting this bill prior to next year’s golden anniversary of Title IX.” “The Association of Title IX Administrators, on behalf of its 7,200 practitioner members, expresses its strong support for the GEEA,” Brett Sokolow, President of ATIXA said. “For decades, school and college-based Title IX administrators have worked diligently with the limited resources available to them to implement the aims of Title IX. ATIXA calls on Congress to pass the GEEA to provide Title IX administrators with the essential resources, training, and financial support needed to fully deliver on Title IX’s promise of sex and gender equity in education and thanks Sen. Hirono for championing the passage of this bill.” “Thanks to Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Doris Matsui for reintroducing the expanded GEEA,” Sue Klein, Education Equity Director, Feminist Majority Foundation said. “It has great potential for making a comprehensive and lasting impact on improving gender equity in and through education. Using existing legislation, GEEA should inspire the Education Department to establish an Office for Gender Equity and issue new guidance on the roles and responsibilities of Title IX Coordinators in a Title IX Gender Equity Infrastructure even before GEEA is passed.” “Despite Title IX’s existence for nearly a half-century, federally-funded educational institutions across the country are still falling far short of affording a truly gender-equitable education to our nation’s students, including in co-curricular athletics programming,” Kim Turner, director and senior staff attorney, Fair Play for Girls in Sports, a project of nonprofit Legal Aid at Work said. “The Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) would go a long way to ensure Title IX coordinators and the institutions subject to Title IX can once and for all can properly understand and effectively apply Title IX requirements, such as affording gender-equitable athletic opportunities to all students to finally level the playing field for girls and young women. Access to equal sports opportunities for our female students is an integral part of affording a well-rounded, effective education, as girls and young women who play sports are healthier, graduate at higher rates, and go on to experience greater workplace success as adults. GEEA can be a key component to promoting educational equality and societal wellness for all.” “The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE) has been a longtime supporter of the Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) and its purposes and wants to thank Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Doris Matsui and their staff for the bicameral reintroduction of GEEA to celebrate the 49th anniversary of Title IX on June 23, 2021,” Emily Martin, Chair of NCWGE said. “NCWGE is a nonprofit organization established in 1975 with over 30 current national member organizations who work together to develop and monitor national education policies to advance gender equity in education. In its previous five-year report it recommended that ‘Congress should pass the Gender Equity in Education Act, which would create an Office for Gender Equity in the U.S. Department of Education and provide support for implementation of Title IX, including training of Title IX Coordinators.’ In its next five-year report, it looks forward to celebrating the expanded progress under a well-funded GEEA!” “NWLC is grateful to Senator Hirono and Representative Matsui for their leadership in addressing sex discrimination in education by reintroducing the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA),” Shiwali Patel, Director of Justice for Student Survivors & Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center said. “Title IX became law on this day 49 years ago, and we celebrate the advances made in education to ensure that all students, including women and girls, have equal access to education. However, much remains to be done to eliminate sex discrimination and bias in schools, and GEEA brings us closer towards achieving this and creating equitable and welcoming school environments.” “Girls' and women's access and opportunities in sport have come a long way since the passing of Title IX 49 years ago, and we still have a lot of work to do,” Deborah Antoine, Women's Sports Foundation CEO said. “The Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act will help girls and women, especially BIPOC girls and women, realize their full potential in sport by advancing Title IX compliance and education. The Women's Sports Foundation applauds Senator Hirono and Representative Matsui for reintroducing this bill and for their continued efforts in the fight for equity.” “Despite the passage of Title IX, women and girls of color continue to experience barriers to education at higher rates when compared to their white counterparts,” Elisha Rhodes, Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer at YWCA USA said. “If we truly intend to achieve equity in education, we must continue to provide resources and technical assistance that will center the impacts and experiences faced by women and girls of color. That begins with passage of the Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA). This bill provides educational entities with additional support to ensure Title IX coordinators fully understand their roles and schools full comply with Title IX. GEEA a critical step towards achieving equity in education, particularly for students of color, and we applaud Sen. Hirono and Rep. Matsui for its timely introduction.” The Gender Equity in Education Act is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Representatives Val Demings (D-Fla.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Joseph D. Morelle (D-N.Y.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). The legislation is endorsed by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), Legal Aid at Work, National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), and YWCA USA. \ The bill text is available here.

The Hawaii Community Correctional Center (HCCC) reports 42 recovered inmates. That brings the total active positive inmate cases at HCCC down to 69 and the total recovered up to 167. There were no new HCCC inmate or staff results received today. The Halawa Correctional Facility received 20 inmate test results. Of that number, 9 are positive and 11 are negative. The Department of Public Safety (PSD) Health Care Division identified all nine as recent transfers from HCCC. They were already in a mandatory transfer-related quarantine. COVID-19 testing is continuously being conducted statewide at all facilities. The latest inmate testing results received for other facilities are as follows: Oahu Community Correctional Center – 66 negative inmate test results Women’s Community Correctional Center – 3 negative inmate test results PSD continues to encourage all staff and inmates to voluntarily get tested and receive the COVID vaccination. For 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 our webpage at: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/.

Effective immediately, the six municipal golf courses (Ala Wai, Pali, Ted Makalena, Ewa Villages, West Loch and Kahuku) will implement modifications allowed under Tier 4 of the City’s reopening framework. Tier 4 industry standards set by the PGA/Aloha Section, approved by Governor Ige’s administration today, provides modified procedures for BACK2GOLF Hawaii under its Hawaii Golf Phase 4 (HGP4) plan. For plan details please visit: https://www.aspga.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2021/06/210621-FINAL-Hawaii-Golf-Operations-Guidelines-HGP-4.pdf HGP4 allows for the following changes which will be implemented at our municipal courses: • Tee time reservations restored back to normal operating intervals • Shotgun tournaments will allow up to 216 golfers; • Flagsticks will be removed from the holes and modified putting cups will be replaced with normal cups; • Bunker rakes will be replaced at bunkers for golfers to use; and • Golf ball washers will be reopened for use. The following requirements will remain: • Masks shall be worn indoors at all times; • Golf groups shall not exceed six players in a group; • Group gatherings shall not exceed 25 people; Advanced tee time reservations are highly encouraged. The tee time reservation phone line, (808) 296-2000, opens at 6:30 a.m. daily to book tee times at any of the six municipal golf courses up to seven days in advance. Limited stand-by/walk-in play will be allowed at all six courses.

*News from the Office of Governor David Ige Gov. David Ige announced today that starting June 21, 2021 travelers from French Polynesia may bypass the State of Hawaiʻi’s mandatory 10-day quarantine if they take a COVID-19 test from a trusted testing partner in French Polynesia. The test must be taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure and the test result must be negative. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) has approved the use of the COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) conducted by the Institut Louis Malardé for the pre-travel test. “I am very grateful to President Fritch and all those in the French Polynesian government who have worked hard to make our pre-travel testing program available to your residents,” Gov. David Ige said. “Many of Hawaiʻi’s residents have family in Tahiti, and welcoming our guests from French Polynesia to Hawaiʻi is an important step in maintaining the close relationship between our two regions.” “I consider that the resumption of air service with the Hawaiian Islands as of August 7, is the recognition by your State of the collective efforts made both by the country’s authorities, by our health personnel but also by our population slowdown of the circulation of COVID-19 in our territory,” said President Fritch of French Polynesia. “It’s exciting to see the program that the governments of our two regions have worked closely on over the last several months come together. Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia have been successful in our fight against COVID-19, and today’s announcement is a reflection of our continued progress against the disease,” said Peter Ingram, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “Hawaiian has been flying to Tahiti since 1987 and we are pleased to once again connect our South Pacific guests with aloha.” “We are really very happy that your discussions with the Louis Malardé Institute and our Ministry of Tourism are now allowing the resumptions of rotations between Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia,” said Nicole Bouteau, Minister of Tourism and Labor. In addition to the state’s program, effective January 26, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the United States. For international travelers coming to the State of Hawaiʻi, only tests from Trusted Testing Partners will be accepted for purposes of by-passing the state’s 10-day traveler quarantine. On January 21, 2021, the President of the United States issued an executive order requiring, among other things, that masks must be worn at airports and on airplanes. The federal government is also contemplating additional measures relating to periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation and/or testing after entry into the United States. For the time being, the state is making no changes to the Safe Travels program. For more information visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/ and https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/returningtohawaii/.

Governor David Ige announced today the appointment of Representative Lynn DeCoite (House District 13 – Haʻikū, Hāna, Kaupō, Kīpahulu, Nahiku, Pāʻia, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Molokini) to fill the vacant Senate District 7 seat left by former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. Senate District 7 includes Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe. DeCoite has represented House District 13 since 2015. She is a third generation homestead farmer and a small business owner. “I am extremely pleased to extend a warm welcome to Senator DeCoite as our chamber’s newest member,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (District 8 – Kauaʻi and Niʻihau). “She’s an experienced legislator who knows this district and I am confident that she will be a valuable addition to this body.”

Gov. David Ige has appointed Gloria Chang as deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance, effective July 1. Chang joins the state after a 43-year career with First Hawaiian Bank, where she worked in corporate banking, managed assets, and commercial loan documentation and compliance. Chang received her M.B.A. from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts “I am honored and excited to join the team at the Department of Budget and Finance,” Chang said. Chang’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. She would replace Robert Yu, who is leaving to become the president and general manager of O‘ahu Transit Services (TheBus). In addition, Department of Health Director Elizabeth Char has appointed two new deputies who will join the department’s leadership team that includes Deputy Director of Health Cathy Ross and Deputy Director of Health Resources Administration Danette Wong Tomiyasu. Kathleen Ho will be the deputy director, Environmental Health Administration at DOH, effective July 1. Ho has served as deputy attorney general of the Health Division, Department of the Attorney General since 1992. She earned her J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, her LL.M in environmental law from Lewis and Clark Law School in Oregon, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of San Francisco. “I’m honored and grateful to have been chosen to serve Hawai‘i in this vital role. I will do all that I can to help the people of Hawai‘i protect and improve human health and the environment for present and future generations,” Ho said. Ho’s appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation. She replaces Keith Kawaoka, who is retiring. Dr. Char also appointed Marian Tsuji to serve as deputy director, Behavioral Health Administration at DOH, effective June 28. Tsuji has served as the O‘ahu Branch Administrator, state Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2020. She also spent 12 years as president and CEO of Lanakila Pacific, a social services organization that includes programs for adults with disabilities. Tsuji earned her M.A. in criminal justice from City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a B.A. in sociology and criminal justice from Long Island University, C.W. Post College. “I am looking forward to being a part of Dr. Char’s team and working with the talented health professionals at the Department of Health,” said Tsuji. Tsuji replaces Edward Mersereau, who has returned to his position as chief, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division at DOH. Tsuji’s appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation.

The Bill Was Signed Days Before Upcoming Juneteenth Celebration Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of African American enslavement in the United States, has been added to the official state calendar as a permanent day of reflection, honoring the ancestral legacy and experience of African Americans. In a formal ceremony at Washington Place, surrounded by legislators and civil rights advocates, Gov. David Y. Ige signed the measure, SB 939, which was passed by the Legislature in April. Hawai‘i has a proud and rich history of standing on the forefront of racial and social justice. As early as 1852 the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi wrote into law that: “Slavery shall, under no circumstances whatsoever, be tolerated in the Hawaiian Islands; whenever a slave shall enter Hawaiian territory he shall be free, no person who imports a slave or slaves, into the King’s dominions shall ever enjoy any civil or political rights.” “With the national events from the summer of 2020 fresh in our collective minds and a renewed call to address the systemic racism that results in racial injustice and inequality, it is important and timely that Hawaiʻi acknowledges the experience of African Americans. We also recognize the accomplishments of African Americans and their roles in our state’s history. With the signing of this bill, I hope that June 19th will serve as a moment of reflection for all,” said Gov. David Y. Ige. The push for state recognition was kickstarted by Hawai‘i’s First-Ever African American Miss Hawai‘i USA, Samantha Neyland (25), who after being motivated by the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor in the Summer of 2020, founded Hawaiʻi for Juneteenth, a grassroots coalition comprised of elected officials as well as civil-rights and education activists, including: the Anti-Defamation League, ACLU, the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, the Honolulu NAACP, the African Americans on Maui Association, the Democratic LGBTQ Caucus, the University of Hawaiʻi and over 50 others. Neyland, who spoke alongside the governor, said, “I stand here today, beyond thrilled and proud of the State of Hawai‘i for choosing to stand in solidarity with our African American community. Neyland continued, “By forever acknowledging and memorializing this monumental day, Juneteenth will henceforth serve as an annual time of reflection. A day to awaken us, to inspire us and to challenge us to look inward as we seek to combat systematic racism and stand against all forms of inequality with the goal of creating a more vibrant and inclusive Hawai‘i.” The movement gained tremendous momentum and in just a year’s time successfully lobbied the Hawaiʻi State Legislature to introduce and pass SB 939, which was sponsored by Senator Glenn Wakai and Representative John Mizuno. “Aloha is Hawaiʻi’s super-power that lends itself to the acceptance of others. But even superheroes have their weakness,” said Sen. Wakai, author of SB 939, “Hawaiʻi is not immune to moments of racism. Juneteenth is a day for each of us to contemplate the explication of Aloha in our lives and reset our souls.” "Juneteenth represents so much more than just acknowledging America's troubling past of slavery as well as ongoing instances of prejudice and discrimination,” said Representative Mizuno, author of HB 1308 (SB 939’s companion bill). “It represents our desire to overcome, to triumph, and endure as a Nation where all people are free to enjoy the promise of life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness." Juneteenth also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day celebrates the end of slavery when word of President Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was brought by the Union Army to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, making them among the last to be freed over two years later on June 19, 1865. Mizuno added, " 'What to the American slave is your Fourth of July?' (stated by Frederick Douglass, leader of the abolitionist movement to end slavery and social reformer 1817-1895). His statement encapsulates Juneteenth for African Americans as this represents Freedom Day - Independence Day." “I am very happy to see this day finally come to fruition,” says Hawaiʻi for Juneteenth Coalition Member and Honolulu NAACP President, Alphonso Braggs. This statewide day of recognition ensures future generations will always be reminded of African Americans proud legacy, including our monumental contributions throughout the Hawaiian Islands. These cultural celebrations also remind us that although the Civil War was won with tremendous sacrifice, the battle for justice and equality for all persons in America continues.” Currently, 48 other States have passed similar laws to make Juneteenth a ceremonial holiday with South Dakota now remaining as the only holdout.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) confirms the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant, has been detected in the islands. This strain of COVID-19 was first detected in India, where the virus sparked a public health crisis in April and May. The Delta variant now makes up approximately 6% of all cases in the United States. The State Laboratories Division routinely monitors for variants through genome sequencing surveillance. The variant was detected in a specimen from an O‘ahu resident, who traveled to Nevada in early May; the Delta variant was reported in Nevada in May. The person was fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to travel and had a negative SARS-CoV-2 test prior to departing Nevada. The person developed mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19 several days after returning to Hawai‘i and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The individual was isolated and household and close contacts were quarantined. To date, there is no evidence of household transmission or secondary cases. “Early evidence suggests the Delta variant might spread more quickly than other SARS-CoV-2 strains,” said State Laboratories Division Administrator Edward Desmond. “There are reports the Delta variant produces a higher rate of severe illness than original COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to support that conclusion.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes the Delta variant as a variant of concern. The health department is working with other states and the CDC to learn more about the characteristics of the Delta variant. However, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States offer protection against most variants currently spreading in the United States. “The vaccines not only help protect against infection, they protect against severe illness,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “While this is one of those very rare breakthrough cases in which the vaccine did not prevent infection, the infected person did not suffer severe illness.” The State Laboratories Division began genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in June 2020. It now examines 50 to 100 specimens a week and has developed a testing algorithm designed to find variants in a timely manner. “We encourage everyone who is eligible to please get vaccinated to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. The vaccines are free and widely available,” Char said. Information on where to get vaccinated is available at https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine/.

Hawai‘i’s first lady Dawn Amano-Ige, together with state and non-profit partners, has expanded the ʻOhana Readers program on Kaua‘i. ʻOhana Readers is a literacy program that focuses on reading with family. The program will offer high-quality, age-appropriate Imagination Library books each month to children on Kaua‘i who are four years old and younger. Children who register for the program will receive one book each month via the U.S. Postal Service beginning approximately eight to ten weeks after their registration form has been submitted. The program operates through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is free of charge. The program is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the Office of the Governor, the State Department of Human Services (DHS), the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, and nonprofit partners The Dollywood Foundation, Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, Learning to Grow and the KIUC Charitable Foundation. The Hawai‘i State Public Library System is encouraging families to register for the ‘Ohana Readers program. Families who live in Waimea (96796) and Kekaha (96752) can register their children at the Waimea Public Library. “Research shows that children are ready to learn in their earliest years, and this program provides no-cost opportunities for learning from birth through age four. ʻOhana Readers encourages family read-aloud time, an activity that increases the vocabulary and language skills of our children and contributes to their growing knowledge of the world,” said Amano-Ige. “This program encourages the youngest members of our community to develop a love of reading that will be important throughout their entire lives. The Hawai‘i State Public Library System is very excited to partner with the ʻOhana Readers program by being a place for families to sign up their little ones for story times at the Waimea Public Library to complement the books being mailed out,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich. “The ‘Ohana Readers program sends books directly to the home where families can together establish a lifelong love of reading. Friends of the Library of Hawai’i is pleased to be a part of expanding this popular program to families in the Waimea and Kekaha communities,” said Nainoa Mau, executive director of Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i. For more information about the ʻOhana Readers program on Kaua‘i contact Michelle Young, branch manager at the Waimea Public Library at (808) 338-6848. Photo courtesy from the Office of the Governor, State of Hawai'i