The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released its fourth quarter 2020 Statistical and Economic Report today. Based on recent developments in Hawai‘i’s economy, DBEDT now projects that Hawai‘i’s economic growth will fall by 11.2 percent in 2020, less than the 12.3 percent previously forecast. Recent Economic Improvements Improvement in the Hawai‘i economy includes the following: 1. Visitor arrivals recovered by 23 percent in November 2020 in comparison to the level, in the same month, in 2019. The preliminary visitor count for November was 6,100 a day, which is an improvement from 630 a day for the first half of October and from 4,000 a day for the second half of October. 2. Hawaii bankruptcy filings fell by 9.4 percent during the first eleven months of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. 3. Personal income rose 15.9 percent during the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter a year ago. 4. Initial unemployment claims have been stable at below 5,000 level since October 17. For the most recent week (week ending November 28), initial unemployment claims were 6.7 percent of the peak level, which occurred in the week ending April 4, 2020 with 53,112 unemployment filings. 5. In December 2020, 935 more flights are scheduled from the U.S. mainland and 84 more flights are scheduled from international destinations than in November 2020. Of the international flights in December, 42 will be coming from Canada, which is the first time that Hawai‘i has had Canadian inbound flights since April 2020. 6. Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate continued to decline from 23.4 percent in May 2020 to 14.2 percent in October 2020. 7. In terms of average daily new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, Hawai‘i’s cases ranked the lowest among the states in the nation for the week ending December 3, 2020, with 5.7 cases per 100,000 population in Hawai‘i versus 53.3 cases per 100,000 population for the U.S. as a whole. 8. According to U.S. Congressman Ed Case, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available for distribution in the middle of December 2020. 9. A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal on December 1, 2020, with more federal funds potentially coming in 2021. 10. The U.S. stock market, in terms of the Dow Jones Industrial Index, had the best month in November 2020 since 1987. 11. The outlook for the U.S. economy has continued to improve in recent months. According to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators report issued in November the U.S. economy is expected to contract by 3.7 percent in 2020. That is an improvement from the May forecast of 5.8 percent contraction in 2020. The Blue Chip forecast is for 4 percent U.S. economic growth in 2021. The Blue Chip Economic Indicators is a consensus of 50 economic forecasting organizations. The improvements cited above are mainly attributed to the federal government assistance programs and the starting of the pre-travel testing program for trans-Pacific passengers. As of the end of November, federal funds allocated to Hawai‘i totaled $10.3 billion, of which 80.3 percent has been spent. Economic Challenges Remain According to an estimate by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Hawai‘i’s real gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 13.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter of the previous year. As the pandemic took hold, tourism-related industries were hit the hardest in the second quarter with real GDP declines in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (-61.8%), Accommodation and Food Service (-61.1%), Transportation and Warehouse (-30.6%), Educational Services (-18.4%), and Wholesale Trade (-17.9%). Buoyed by resident spending, the retail industry fared better than other tourism-related industries, declining 9.0 percent in the second quarter over the same quarter of the previous year. GDP for knowledge-based industries showed a measure of resilience, declining less than overall state GDP in the second quarter compared with the same quarter of the previous year. These industries included Finance and Insurance (-1.3%), Information (-2.8%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (-4.3%), and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (-8.7%). The construction industry also showed resilience, with a modest GDP decline of 3.5% in the second quarter over the same quarter of the previous year. Commercial and industrial construction appears to be paving the way for a recovery, with the value of September year-to-date building permits up 89.6 percent over the same period of 2019. In spite of the pandemic, there were two non-agriculture industries that grew during the second quarter: Federal Civilian Government (1.7%), Utilities (2.6%). There were 110,000 fewer non-agriculture payroll jobs in the third quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter of 2019. The decline in jobs was the highest for Accommodation (-33,300 or 77.8%), Food and Drinking Places (-30,000 or 42.7%), Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities (-9,800 or 28.7%), Professional & Business Services (-7,500 or 10.1%), and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (-5,900 or 43.1%). The challenging climate for businesses was reflected in the second Hawai‘i Commercial Rent Survey conducted by Island Business Management Hawai‘i with data provided by DBEDT and released in October. Company revenues were down almost across the board, with 86.4 percent of respondents indicating that 2020 revenues would be below 2019 revenue. Furthermore, 11.9 percent of those surveyed indicated that their revenues would be 50 percent or more below 2019 levels. As revenues declined, the ability of Hawai‘i ‘s businesses to meet their basic expenses became increasingly difficult. When asked about their level of hardship to pay expenses, “extreme hardship” was indicated by 43.7 percent of the businesses for rent expenses, 40 percent for employee expenses, and 36.7 percent for operating expenses. At the national level, the U.S. economic growth rate was negative 9.0 percent for the second quarter and negative 2.9 percent for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarters in 2019. The Blue Chip Economic Indicators November report forecast that a majority of countries in the world will have economic contractions in 2020 with China as an exception with a 2.0 percent increase. Declines in 2020 are forecast for the European region, 7.6 percent; Japan, 5.4 percent; Canada, 5.8 percent; Australia, 3.9 percent; and South Korea, 0.9 percent. Forecasting Results DBEDT now projects that Hawai‘i’s economic growth rate, as measured by real GDP, will drop by 11.2 percent in 2020, then will increase at 2.1 percent in 2021, 2.0 percent in 2022 and 1.2 percent in 2023. Hawai‘i is forecast to welcome 2.7 million visitors in 2020, a decrease of 73.7 percent from 2019. Visitor arrivals are forecast to increase to 6.2 million in 2021, 7.7 million in 2022, and 8.8 million in 2023. Visitor arrivals are not expected to reach 2019 levels until 2025. Visitor arrivals to the state from April to October 2020 totaled 171,136, a decrease of 97.2 percent from the same period in 2019. However, these visitors stayed longer in Hawaii with an average length of stay at 22.9 days. In 2019 visitor average length of stay was 8.6 days. Non-agriculture payroll jobs are forecast to shrink by 11.9 percent in 2020, then increase by 6.1 percent in 2021, 2.5 percent in 2022 and 1.9 percent in 2023. Like the GDP growth, non-agriculture payroll jobs are not expected to recover to pre-crisis level until 2025. The state unemployment rate is projected to average 11.2 percent in 2020, then decrease to 7.9 percent in 2021, 7.1 percent in 2022 and 6.6 percent in 2023. These rates are much higher than the average Hawai‘i unemployment rate of 2.5 percent between 2017 and 2019. Nominal personal income is expected to increase by 7.6 percent in 2020, mainly due to the federal assistance programs. The majority of the increase in personal income came from government transfers related to unemployment insurance payments and other transfers mostly related to the CARES ACT funds, which offset declines in wages and salaries. Nominal personal income is expected to decrease by 7.8 percent in 2021 due to the reduction in federal assistance programs. Inflation is expected to remain moderate. As measured by the Honolulu Consumer Price Index for urban consumers, inflation is forecast to increase at rates between 1.6 to 2.3 percent for the next few years. These growth rates are higher than those projected in the previous quarter. During the second half of 2020, Honolulu consumer inflation was 1.6 percent, with increases in items including Food & Beverage (2.7%), Housing (2.6%), and Apparel (4.9%) being offset by declines in Transportation (-4.5%) as fuel prices fell. Statement of Director Mike McCartney “We are happy to see the improvements in the economies of the U.S. and Hawai‘i. It is great to see the airlines adding flights to our state, especially those from Canada and Japan. With the expected distribution and use of the COVID-19 vaccine in December, I believe our tourism recovery will be accelerating in 2021,” said DBEDT Director Mike McCartney. “During the last three quarters of 2020 we faced unprecedented challenges while slowly restarting our economy and will continue to face more difficult times during the first half of 2021. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that we will see accelerated economic growth during the second half of 2021 due to increased visitor arrivals thanks to our Safe Travels program and the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.” The full report is available at: dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/qser/.

President approves Gov. Ige’s request to extend federal funding for Hawai‘i National Guard COVID-19 assistance The federal government has approved Gov. David Ige’s request for an extension of funding that will allow the Hawai‘i National Guard to continue with COVID-19 assistance across the state through March 31, 2021. The Hawai‘i National Guard’s citizen soldiers and airmen are performing critical missions such as contact tracing, working on mobile swab teams, health education for at-risk populations, screening, food and medical supply distribution and much more. In addition, the State of Hawai‘i anticipates the need for the Hawai‘i National Guard’s support in executing COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans. “The President’s approval of this funding extension will enable the Hawai‘i National Guard to continue to provide much needed assistance as we respond to this nationwide public health crisis and continue our effort to protect our communities, save lives and minimize human suffering,” said Gov. Ige. “President Trump’s approval of Gov. Ige’s extension request allows the Hawai‘i National Guard to continue the critical response missions in support of the state and counties,” said Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, adjutant general for the State of Hawai‘i. It costs approximately $8.5 million per month to fund National Guard emergency assistance activities associated with preventing, mitigating, and responding to the threat to public health and safety posed by the COVID-19 virus. Under 32 U.S.C. 502(f), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security will fund 75 percent of the cost, with the state funding 25 percent – or about $2 million per month. The funding would cover 800 soldiers and airmen, and the state has the ability to request additional funding for up to 1,300 soldiers and airmen. Hawai‘i is among 47 states and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to receive the funding extension. See the Presidential Memorandum here: Memo

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (D, Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau) offers his heartfelt condolences to the family of former Federal Judge Alfred Laureta, who passed away on November 16, 2020 at the age of 96. Judge Laureta was the first Filipino American to be a United State Federal Judge, the first Filipino American to be a state court judge, and the first Filipino American to head a state executive cabinet agency. After retiring from the bench, Judge Laureta continued his public service through active volunteering and community involvement. “Hawaii has lost a true living treasure who refused to be limited by circumstances or situation. Judge Laureta had the courage and resolve to rise above societal norms and achieved excellence in all aspects of his professional career, from Department of Labor Director to Federal Judge to KIUC director,” said Senate President Kouchi.

Gov. David Ige today announced the appointment of Max Otani to serve as the director of the Department of Public Safety, effective Dec. 1, 2020. Otani replaces Nolan Espinda, who retired in September. “With Max taking the helm at Public Safety, I am confident that we can continue moving forward with initiatives set in motion by PSD’s previous director, Nolan Espinda and acting director Fred Hyun,” said Gov. Ige. Otani is currently a board member for the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority (HPA). He has worked in a variety of positions in the state’s corrections and judicial systems for more than three decades. Otani began his criminal justice career with the Judiciary, as a Family Court officer and Circuit Court probation officer from 1985 to 1987. From there, he served more than two decades with the HPA in various positions. Otani became the Oahu Intake Services Center manager from 2003-2005, before he was promoted to Intake Service Center Division Administrator from 2011-2013. He then moved on to become PSD’s deputy director for Corrections from 2013-14, before returning to his previous position as administrator of the Intake Service Center Division, where he remained until his retirement from PSD in 2016. “During his career in corrections, Max initiated evidence-based practices with the incarcerated, parole and pretrial populations in efforts to reduce recidivism,” said Acting Director Fred Hyun. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the job and I look forward to working with him in his new position.” “I would like to thank Governor Ige for the opportunity to return to work with the Department of Public Safety. I look forward to working with staff, other agencies and community partners to address the needs of the department,” said Otani. Acting Director Hyun will return to his position as the chair of the HPA, effective Dec. 1, 2020. He will remain on board as Special Master, appointed by the governor, until Dec. 30 — to complete the assessment of the Department of Public Safety. “I’d like to thank Fred for stepping in to oversee the department during this transition period. COVID-19 is putting a huge burden on PSD’s overcrowded and aging correctional facilities. Once Fred reports his findings, I am confident he and Max will work together to address areas of concern and prioritize mitigation measures that will enable the department to operate more effectively,” said Gov. Ige. Otani’s was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i. He is a graduate of Hilo High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Otani also attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa where he earned a master’s in social work. Otani’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Four bird species and one plant species living within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), have been given Hawaiian names. Developed by PMNM’s Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group (CWG), facilitated by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and comprised of community members, and cultural practitioners and researchers, the names reflect Hawaiian cultural perspectives of the birds and plant species, as well as their characteristics and behaviors. “Researching old names and developing new ones for species in Papahānaumokuākea that have either lost, or never had, a Hawaiian name is an important step towards honoring Hawaiian traditions and maintaining a living culture in the Hawaiian Islands,” said OHA Ka Pouhana and CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey. The four Hawaiian bird names are nunulu (bonin petrel), ‘akihike‘ehi‘ale (Tristam’s storm-petrel), ʻaoʻū (Christmas shearwater), and the hinaokū and manuohina (blue noddy). The name ʻahuʻawakua has been given to Bryan’s Flatsedge. “Our naming process comes from our experiences in seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and feeling with our naʻau, the relationships created from engaging with these organisms, and the realms in which they reside,” said the members of the Cultural Working Group in a joint statement. Nunulu (bonin petrel) Nunulu is the name chosen for the bonin petrel. Nunulu means growling, warbling, or reverberating. The word nunulu can be found within the chant Nā ʻAumākua; specifically “Nunulu i ka lani.” This line refers to a sky that is immensely filled with activity, causing it to reverberate. Nunulu was chosen because of the annual migratory return flight home of the bonin petrels to the islands where on the first couple days of their return, the skies are so filled with birds that it blackens the sky. This imagery was an important aspect to preserve with this species, as the birds’ habitat is threatened by climate change. Photo Courtesy Lindsay Young The nunulu is one of several birds being actively translocated to the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku, Oʻahu, from PMNM to help combat this threat. ‘Akihike‘ehi‘ale (Tristam’s storm-petrel) The name for the Tristram’s storm-petrel is ‘akihikeʻehiʻale, which translates to “the bird that steps on water.” This is an old name found in the writings of Hawaiian historian Kepelino and other Hawaiian language newspaper sources from the 1800s. After reviewing historical information and current photos and videos describing its foraging behavior, physical features, flight, and sound, it was believed that the ‘akihikeʻehiʻale, spoken of in the historical documents was the Tristram’s storm-petrel. Photo Courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The akihikeʻehiʻale is another bird actively being translocated from PMNM to Oʻahu where it was once present to help mitigate threats from climate change. ʻAoʻū (Christmas shearwater) The name ʻaoʻū was chosen for the Christmas shearwater based its call, where the sound ʻao is repeated six times followed by a long ʻū sound. “ʻAo” means a new shoot, leaf, or bud, especially of taro, and “ao” also refers to clouds, the light of day or daylight as well as enlightened; to regain consciousness. ʻŪ means to growl, grunt, groan, moan, sigh, hum, coo; to hold the breath. Naming birds from their sound is a common practice for many sea and shorebirds in Hawaiʻi. Hinaokū and Manuohina (blue noddy) A similar bird to the manu o kū (white tern) seen in urban Honolulu, the blue noddy was given the names hinaokū and manuohina. Both names speak to the birds’ physical features and foraging behavior as well as provide a “hina” balance to the manu o kū. Hina is often paired with Kū in many Hawaiian moʻolelo, or stories, to express duality and balance. Hinaokū means “Hina of Kū” and refers to the ʻāhinahina color (gray), whereas the kū portion of the name maintains the idea that this particular bird continues to forage in a “kū” form (similar to manu o kū) -- by surface-dipping and hover-dipping. Both names reflect the relationships, identity, and function of the bird and their relationship to traditional concepts of duality. The members of the CWG expressed that both names should be used when referencing the bird, linking the use of each name to the habits of the bird in the wild. ʻAhuʻawakua (Bryan’s flatsedge) Finally, the Bryan’s flatsedge grass was given the name ʻahuʻawakua. The plant is similar to the ʻahuʻawa (Javanese flatsedge) in the main Hawaiian islands with the ʻahuʻawakua found only on Kamole (Laysan island). “Kua” was added to delineate the two species and can usually refer to things that are a support or backbone (akua--god, ʻaumakua--guardian, makua--parent, kaikuaʻana--older sibling). Since the plant is located in PMNM, where the islands are affectionately called the kūpuna islands in reverence to their place as an older sibling, it was suggested to give the name ʻahuʻawakua. Through the research of the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group, numerous other bird, plant, limu, and coral species unique to PMNM now have Hawaiian names. A free live webinar is scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m. to share insights on the naming process. The public is invited to register for the webinar at www.oha.org/papahanaumokuakea

Kaua‘i mayor to impose temporary moratorium on its participation in state’s pre-travel testing program All transpacific, inter-county travelers to Kaua‘i subject to 14-day quarantine starting Dec. 2 Gov. David Ige has approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to place a temporary moratorium on Kaua‘i’s participation in the state’s pre-travel testing program. Effective Dec. 2 at 12:01 a.m., all transpacific and intercounty travelers arriving in Kaua‘i are subject to the 14-day quarantine regardless of testing. “The unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases on the mainland and the rise in community spread on Kaua‘i are of significant concern for the Garden Isle. We must protect Kaua‘i residents and visitors and ensure that Kaua‘i’s hospitals do not become overwhelmed,” said Gov. Ige. “Kaua‘i county currently has the fewest number of ICU beds in the state, and private providers are seeking ways to increase capacity. This moratorium aims to stabilize the situation on Kaua‘i.” “I’d like to thank Gov. Ige for approving Emergency Rule 23, temporarily pausing Kaua‘i’s participation in the state’s pre-travel testing program. Given the national surge of COVID cases on the mainland, Kaua‘i is unable to adequately protect itself by utilizing the Safe Travels program at this time,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Our travel related cases are now leading to community spread across our island. This temporary pause in travel will allow us to remain in Tier 4 as long as possible, keeping youth sports playing and businesses open as we conduct surge testing and contact tracing. I will gladly repeal the moratorium once we have the virus under control again.” The County of Kaua‘i’s modified quarantine program will remain in place for critical infrastructure workers, essential medical travel, or other special circumstances. To apply for a modified quarantine, please visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19 and click on the “modified quarantine request” button at the top of the page. The pre-travel testing program remains in place for all other counties. Rule 23 will be posted at www.kauai.gov/COVID-19

The Department of Public Safety announced the appointment of William “Billy” Oku Jr. as the State Sheriff. Oku leads the department’s Sheriff Division, effective December 1, 2020. “Billy will bring valuable experience in his new role as Sheriff,” said PSD Acting Director Edmund “Fred” Hyun. “Billy has a wealth of law enforcement and security management experience going back over 30 years. He will provide effective leadership, accountability, and will strive to obtain accreditation and certification through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA) which requires a comprehensive and uniform written directive that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibility.” “The Department welcomes State Sheriff Billy Oku and looks forward to the professionalism and leadership qualities he will bring to the Sheriff’s Division.”, said Deputy Director for Law Enforcement Jordan Lowe. Oku began his career in law enforcement in 1981 as a state law enforcement officer under the Attorney General’s Office and in 1983, transferred to the State of Hawaii Sheriff’s Division as a Deputy Sheriff. In 1988, Oku joined the Honolulu Police Department, working in Patrol, Specialized Services Division (SWAT), Crime Reduction Unit, and Criminal Investigations Divisions Gang Task Force. In 2000, Oku laterally transferred from the Honolulu Police Department to the State of Washington and worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. In 2001 he moved on to work as a Nuclear Officer for Pacific Gas and Electric’s Nuclear Power Plant in California. Upon return to Hawaii in 2003, Oku continued his career as an Assistant Security Director for Ala Moana Center and then Operations Manager for Akal Security and Investigations. While at Akal, he served as the regional operations branch manager responsible for oversight of the armed officers assigned to the U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, as well as those assigned to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) K-9 Unit at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and at Hickam Air Force Base. In 2010, retired HPD Chief of Police Lee Donohue appointed Oku to serve as his Chief of Staff in the Honolulu City Council. Up until his appointment as State Sheriff, Oku served as Senior Special Assistant in the Office of the Governor and was also tasked as the lead for the State Law Enforcement Coalition (SLEC), working with State and County entities addressing COVID-19 initiatives under Major General Kenneth S. Hara. The current Sheriff Al Cummings is retiring on December 1, 2020, after 40 years of service to the state.

Mayor Kawakami requests to opt-out of Safe Travels program after dozens of known COVID-19 cases reach Kaua‘i On Tuesday, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami forwarded to Gov. David Ige proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule 23, which would temporarily pause Kaua‘i’s participation in the state’s Safe Travels pre-travel testing program and require incoming travelers to Kaua‘i to quarantine for the full 14 days regardless of testing. “We are facing alarming COVID-19 numbers on our island as well as across the nation,” said Mayor Kawakami. “This is not just a tourist problem. Nearly half of our recent travel cases are Kaua‘i residents who returned home. We know that a single, pre-travel test has not stopped the virus from reaching our island and we are saddened to report our first on-island death. We must take action to prevent the further spread of disease here.” In an attempt to avoid reverting back to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, Mayor Kawakami proposed Rule 21 last Monday, which would have required incoming Kaua‘i travelers to take a post-travel test after 72 hours on island with a shorter quarantine period. However, this second-test proposal has not received approval, further prompting the Mayor to propose Rule 23 to temporarily opt-out of the state’s Safe Travels program. “Since the launch of the single pre-travel testing program on October 15, we have confirmed 58 new cases and our first on-island death,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “Forty-eight of those cases were travelers—27 visitors and 21 residents. Most of them had a negative pre-travel test, but still came down with COVID here on Kaua‘i. The other 10 cases, in residents who did not travel, are an even greater cause for alarm. Four of these are residents who were in close contact with travelers. The other six are residents for whom we cannot identify any link to a traveler—these are cases of community transmission. We have not seen sustained community transmission in our county since July, so these cases are very concerning. It is clear that the Safe Travels program is not adequately protecting Kaua‘i from an alarming rise in cases.” Mayor Kawakami added that a temporary opt-out of the Safe Travels program would allow the island to remain in Tier 4 – the least restrictive tier – for as long as possible. “Opting out of the Safe Travels program would be independent of our tier system, which means we could stay in Tier 4 for a longer period of time,” said Mayor Kawakami. “It makes no logical sense for us to move tiers while still allowing more travelers. We shouldn’t penalize our local people by restricting activities, such as youth sports, when that’s not the current source of infection.” “I don’t propose to know how to best manage the other counties or the state as a whole. But our small, rural community here on Kaua‘i needs to take pause from an influx of travelers, and once again gain control of this virus as we had for so many months before. I will gladly repeal the rule once we achieve this goal,” added Mayor Kawakami. If approved, Rule 23 would take effect on December 1, 2020, at which point all incoming travelers, including residents and visitors from the mainland and neighboring counties would be subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine, regardless of testing. The county’s modified quarantine program would remain in place for critical infrastructure workers, essential medical travel, or other special circumstances. To apply for a modified quarantine, please visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19 and click on the “modified quarantine request” button at the top of the page. To view the Kaua‘i COVID-19 tier tracker, post-travel testing information, and general information, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more State of Hawai‘i case tracker and information on the Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.

On Nov. 17, 2020, by interim rule, the chairperson of the Hawai`i Board of Agriculture (board) designated Maui and Hawai`i Island as areas infested by coffee leaf rust (CLR), Hemileia vastatrix. This authorizes the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) to restrict the movement of coffee and other CLR carriers from Maui and Hawai`i Island. The interim rule goes into effect today, Nov. 20, 2020. CLR is a devastating coffee pathogen and was first discovered in Sri Lanka in 1869 and can cause severe defoliation of coffee plants resulting in premature defoliation and greatly reducing photosynthetic capacity. Depending on CLR prevalence in a given year, both vegetative and berry growth are greatly reduced. There are multiple long-term impacts of CLR, including dieback, resulting in an impact to the following year’s crop, with estimated losses ranging from 30 percent to 80 percent. The interim rule restricts the movement or transport of coffee plants and parts, including green (unroasted) coffee beans, used coffee bags, and used coffee harvesting, processing or transporting equipment, from a CLR-infested area to an area that is uninfested, except by permit issued by the HDOA. For additional detail about the restrictions, the interim rule may be found at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Final-Interim-Rule-20-1-Nov.20.2020.pdf A permit may be issued for the transportation of: coffee beans for roasting, or other non-propagative plant parts, that are shipped to an approved facility located in an uninfested area that is located at least two miles away from a commercial coffee growing area, or are subjected to a treatment approved by the PQB chief; plants from HDOA certified nurseries, green coffee beans for roasting, or other non-propagative plant parts, that are transshipped through an uninfested area of the State with a final destination outside of the State; previously used equipment for harvesting, processing or transporting coffee plants or plant parts that has been subjected to treatments and/or mitigation measures approved by the chief; coffee plants and plant parts for scientific or diagnostic purposes at a PQB approved facility, provided the contents and packing materials used for shipping are subjected to a treatment approved by the PQB chief after the contents are unloaded; coffee plants, beans for roasting, other non-propagative plant parts, used coffee bags, and previously used coffee harvesting, processing, or transporting equipment, that are shipped between infested areas; and for limited quantities of coffee plants for propagation from an infested area to a non-infested area, subject to a one-year quarantine in a state-run facility, provided that the board may reduce the quarantine period. This rule will not affect export (out-of-state) shipments f coffee plants and plant parts, green coffee beans, used coffee bags, or other CLR carriers, provided that they are exported directly from a CLR infested area and are not transshipped through a CLR uninfested area in the State. This interim rule does not affect the movement of roasted coffee. For a copy of the permit application, go to https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/files/2012/12/pq-7_fillable.pdf. There is no fee for the permit. If you need assistance or have questions about the permitting or inspection requirements, please call the PQB at 808-832-0566 or email Lance.S.Sakaino@hawaii.gov. If you believe you may have a possible CLR infestation, call HDOA’s Plant Pest Control Branch at (808) 973-9525. For more information on CLR go to the UH-CTAHR webpages at: https://www.hawaiicoffeeed.com/clr.html http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/Type/h_vasta.htm Or, the HDOA Field Guide at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/ppc/new-pest-advisories/

City and County of Honolulu - Serving his community was the core of Breene Harimoto. The list of organizations through which he worked to realize an astonishing amount of accomplishments is extraordinary; though his humility was unmistakable. This ability to work seamlessly in the pursuit of improving our island is but an example of the reasons we proudly announce the renaming of Mānana Community Park to the Breene Harimoto Mānana Community Park in honor of the late State Senator, City Councilmember, Deputy Director, Board Chair and incomparable community leader. Today, a small ceremony was held at this popular park location to unveil three new signs bearing the name of the Waipahū High School graduate. Joining Breene’s family in this ceremony were Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Councilmember Brandon Elefante, Honolulu Parks and Recreation Director Michele Nekota and park staff. “Today is but a small token of appreciation we can make in honoring this gentle but committed, dedicated, and diligent civil servant,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “Already his legacy in this very park is cemented through the funds he helped appropriate to build park facilities and assist youth-oriented programs. I am encouraged that his legacy will continue through the work of Councilmember Elefante, who worked with Councilmember Harimoto during his time at the City. Breene built this foundation of unwavering civil service, and I hope future generations will know his name and follow his example of righteous service to one’s community.” The renaming of this park is in accordance with Honolulu City Council Resolution 20-190, introduced by Councilmember Brandon Elefante. To get a full idea of the many contributions and years of service provided by Breene, we recommend the public to read this resolution. “This is a great way to honor Senator Hairmoto’s lifetime of tireless service to the community” said Councilmember Brandon Elefante. “Parks are places of joy, places of fun, and places to play for family and community. That was Senator Harimoto’s life’s work---building better families and communities. We were all lucky to be a part of his journey. This beautiful park will sit forever in tribute to his dedication and perseverance in serving us all!” Located at 1310 Waimano Home Road in Pearl City, the Breene Harimoto Mānana Community Park features a variety of park amenities within its 14-acres, including: playcourts, a skate park, numerous ball fields, and recreation rooms. If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please call DPR at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov

Mayor Kirk Caldwell took action on the following bills today by signing them into law. These bills were passed by the Honolulu City Council on November 6. Bill 7, CD1, FD1 Relating to sewer systems. The purpose of this ordinance is to address unsewered properties with individual wastewater disposal systems within improvement districts. “This bill protects the investments made by homeowners, who took the initiative and upgraded from cesspools to a septic system, to recoup some of their investment, which may run upwards of $20,000 or more.” Said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “In recent years many homeowners in the Waimānalo beach lots were required to upgrade to septic systems at great expense,” said Councilmember Alan Texeira. “For many of our residents whom are already struggling with Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, requiring them to pay to connect to the city’s sewer system - when they have legal and functional septic system makes no sense. While we cannot override the State Department of Health’s mandate, we can do our best to ensure that economic impact on our families is kept to a minimum. I appreciate the work of the City’s Department of Environmental Services in helping us to reach a reasonable compromise. I further appreciate Mayor Caldwell and my colleagues’ support of this Bill.” Bill 17, CD1 - Relating to Real Property taxation. The purpose of this ordinance is to address the real property tax exemption for homes of totally disabled veterans. “This bill will provide assistance to approximately 1,728 disabled veterans who are eligible for these exemption claims,” said Mayor Caldwell. “We are honored to support a bill that provides care for those who were so willing to sacrifice everything that we may live in peace and comfort.” “I am glad that this bill will become law because it will provide needed financial relief to many of our disabled veterans with limited incomes,” said Council Chair Emeritus Ron Menor. “The enactment of this measure into law is also the right thing to do given the sacrifices that these veterans made on behalf of our country.” Bill 47, CD1. FD1 - Relating to crosswalks. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish requirements Concerning the City Administration’s provision or offer to provide a presentation to the affected neighborhood board prior to the removal or relocation of an established, marked crosswalk. “I will always support bills which create better information, collaboration, and outreach to Honolulu’s residents,” Mayor Caldwell said. “Bill 47 provides clear direction and process to notify neighborhoods before crosswalks are added, removed, or relocated in their community. Safe pedestrian crossings are an essential component of Complete Streets, and every effort should be made to install and maintain crosswalks to current engineering standards in coordination with community needs.” “We need to ensure that as communities age, our keiki, kupuna, and the public-at-large are able to safely walk from street to street,” said Councilmember Tommy Waters. “This bill will allow neighborhood boards and community members to be more informed about the rationale for any proposed changes to crosswalks, viable options for community members to cross the roadway, and steps incorporated to increase public safety.” Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be returning Bill 14, CD1 unsigned.