The Kaua‘i District Health Office reported Kaua‘i’s first on-island fatality from COVID-19 on Monday. The elderly male was a Kaua‘i resident who had no history of travel. Another Kaua‘i resident died of the disease earlier in July while on the mainland. “It is heartbreaking to report this news especially as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches this week,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “As a community, we share in this painful loss together and we extend our sincere prayers, love and aloha to the family and loved ones of this individual.” This latest death occurred during a period of significant rise in case levels on the island, most of which are related to travel. However, a small number of the new cases were not directly travel-associated. This means there is now community transmission of COVID-19 on the island for the first time since July. Health officials also reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, one adult resident and three adult visitors. One of the four new cases is awaiting final confirmation, which is expected tomorrow. All of the cases are travel-related. One of the travelers had taken a pre-travel test but did not receive the positive test report until after arriving on Kaua‘i. Close contacts are being identified, directed to quarantine and offered testing. The island now has 23 confirmed active cases, all in isolation. There are now 101 individuals in health department-directed quarantine. The number of close contacts in quarantine may increase as the investigation continues. Kaua‘i now has a cumulative case count of 117, of which 103 are confirmed locally, one is a probable case, and 13 are positive cases that were diagnosed elsewhere—with tests taken on the mainland whose positive results did not arrive until they were on Kaua‘i. For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com. For more information on the county’s voluntary post-travel testing program, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more information on the county’s surge testing program, visit kauai.gov/test.

Governor Ige issues 16th COVID-19 emergency proclamation, tightening restrictions for trans-pacific travelers heading to Hawai‘i Gov. David Ige signed a 16th COVID-19 emergency proclamation requiring all transpacific travelers to have a negative test result from a trusted travel partner before their departure for the State of Hawai‘i, in order to bypass the 14-day quarantine. The new policy takes effect tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 24. “We are implementing this added layer of safety in response to the dramatically increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the continental United States and around the world. The health of our residents and visitors is our primary concern, especially as more people travel to our state during the holidays,” said Gov. Ige. Travelers heading to Hawai‘i must upload their negative test result to the Safe Travels system prior to departure or, as an alternative to uploading, bring a hard copy of their negative test result with them when boarding their flight. The State of Hawai‘i highly recommends that all transpacific travelers departing for Hawai‘i carry a hard copy of their negative test result as a backup. The policy change means that test results will not be accepted once a traveler arrives in Hawai‘i. Travelers who did not have a negative test result prior to departing for Hawai‘i, must self-quarantine for 14 days, without exception. Post-arrival testing and results will also not be accepted once a traveler has arrived in the State of Hawai‘i. This policy change applies to domestic transpacific flights and flights from international locations in which pre-travel testing programs are in place. It does not apply to inter-county travelers. The 16th emergency proclamation is posted at https://governor.hawaii.gov/emergency-proclamations/

Public invited to learn more at virtual community meetings, Dec. 2 and 3 Hawaiian Electric’s proposal to launch shared solar or Community-Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) programs and projects on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi featuring solar photovoltaic (PV) paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be the topic at separate community meetings. In consideration of the pandemic safety precautions, both meetings will be held virtually, Dec. 2 and 3, 5:30 – 7 p.m., on www.webex.com Callers can dial 1-844-992-4726 (Toll-Free) and enter the appropriate meeting number below: • Wednesday, Dec. 2, Molokaʻi program WebEx meeting number: 146 449 2132 Password: 2qqQjCYmr52 • Thursday, Dec. 3, Lānaʻi program, WebEx meeting number: 146 539 5042 Password: EvvdtFJG548 The live format will include a presentation by company officials followed by audience questions. The public also can tune in via Facebook Live (www.facebook.com/hawaiianelectric) and Akakū Maui Community Media Channel 54. Questions may be sent in advance to MolokaiCBRE@hawaiianelectric.com or LanaiCBRE@hawaiianelectric.com for the respective projects. Shared solar allows utility customers who cannot or do not want to put solar panels on the rooftop of their home or business to benefit from renewable energy savings through a subscription to a generation facility on their island in exchange for credit offsets on their electricity bill. Eligible participants include homeowners or businesses not currently enrolled in any other Hawaiian Electric solar program such as Net Energy Metering. On Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Electric’s proposed self-build project – that is, a project developed, constructed and owned by the utility – will be sized up to 2.5 megawatts (MW) of solar PV paired with a 4-hour BESS. The project would be located on approximately seven acres at Hawaiian Electric’s Palaʻau Power Plant in Kaunakakai. Hawaiian Electric’s proposed self-build project for Lānaʻi will be sized up to 17.5 MW on approximately 73 acres near Hawaiian Electric’s Miki Basin Power Plant. The project will supply enough energy annually to meet the electricity needs of the entire island. Up to 3 MW of the facility’s capacity will be available to subscribers. “Community feedback is essential to helping us create programs that provide the most benefits to our customers,” said Jack Shriver, Hawaiian Electric’s self-build team lead. “We believe shared solar has the potential to stimulate the local economy, reduce fossil fuel use, and help us accelerate achievement of Hawaiʻi’s clean energy goals. Holding these meetings will provide us with keener insight into community concerns and issues, as well as the type of subscription models, fees and savings that will be attractive to our customers if our projects are selected.” If selected through the RFP process, the Lānaʻi project will still need approval from the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Shared solar projects under 2.5 MW on all islands except Oʻahu will not need PUC review. For more information about shared solar, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com/sharedsolar

Mayor Michael Victorino released the following statement today on a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Hāna. “The County of Maui has been notified that a test result has returned positive for a resident of Hāna. The person is asymptomatic and in self-isolation and has no recent travel history. The Department of Health is investigating and conducting contact tracing. “The person was among approximately 100 people who were tested for COVID-19 in Hāna on Wednesday as part of the County’s free testing programs for residents and visitors. The County provided this free testing event as a means to protect our Hāna community and preemptively address positive cases that may have gone undetected otherwise. “I want to reassure our residents of Hāna that the County of Maui is working closely with State Department of Health officials who are calling close contacts this individual might have had. We are hopeful that this has been caught early and can be contained quickly. “I urge Hāna residents to stay home as much as possible and practice aloha by taking all measures to limit the spread of the virus in our community. These include wearing face masks, practicing physical distancing and avoiding gatherings.” State Sen. J. Kalani English is working with State Rep. Lynn DeCoite to host a community meeting at 6:30 tonight via Zoom. Click on the following link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudumprT0uG9QYxYF-MXriX674VB_uJHnNR?fbclid=IwAR1SHqsqNFS9VPMM0tRbZR1zG8lgJEnRra4ZP5sMl3_Mz6Y0O_Vm9-0OCmo

The Hawai‘i State Senate in their second special session of 2020 has confirmed the judicial appointments of First Circuit Court Judge Todd Eddins to the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court and Stephanie R.S. Char to the District Family Court of the Fifth Circuit. Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Richard Pollack retired in June after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70, leaving a vacancy on the State's highest court. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Karl Rhoads (Dist. 13) stated, “After careful consideration by members of the Judiciary Committee and the entire State Senate, I’m confident that both Justice Eddins and Judge Char will serve our communities well in their new roles on the State Supreme Court and the District Family Court of the Fifth Circuit." Justice Eddins served as a judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit since 2017, where he primarily presided over criminal cases. Prior to that appointment, he was in private practice handling criminal, civil, and appellate cases for thirteen years. Previous to that, he was a Deputy Public Defender in the State Office of the Public Defender from 1992 to 2004. At the beginning of his legal career, he was a law clerk for then-Associate Justice Yoshimi Hayashi of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. Justice Eddins is a graduate of Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy, the College of William & Mary, and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. Judge Char has spent her legal career as a public defender in the State Office of the Public Defender, primarily on Kaua‘i, since 2003; most recently she served as a Supervising Deputy Public Defender. She is active in the Kauaʻi and legal communities, having been a member of the Kauaʻi Criminal Defense Bar, the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Advisory Board for Mediation Program, and the Hawai‘i State Board of Continuing Legal Education. Judge Char graduated from Kapa‘a High School and received her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Denver and her law degree from the University of San Diego Law School.

Honolulu’s iconic Aloha Tower will turn purple this week as two important homelessness-related events take place. The tower will be lit up on Wednesday and Thursday to observe Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, which is typically held the week before Thanksgiving and is meant to raise awareness about the pressing issues of hunger and homelessness, as well as poverty. In Hawai‘i, there are an estimated 6,458 homeless individuals statewide on any given night, including more than half who are unsheltered and sleeping on the sidewalks, beaches, in their vehicles, or in other areas unsuitable for human habitation. Wednesday and Thursday are also the dates of the statewide 2020 Homeless Awareness Virtual Conference, Moving Forward Together: Our Resilient Community. The conference is sponsored jointly by the State of Hawai‘i; City & County of Honolulu; County of Hawai‘i; County of Kaua‘i; County of Maui; and Hawai‘i’s two Continua of Care: Partners in Care and Bridging the Gap. “This week is a time to recognize the hard work of all who work so hard to end homelessness throughout the year,” said Scott Morishige, Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness. “Despite the adversity of the pandemic, our homelessness system has transitioned nearly 3,400 individuals into permanent housing between March and September. Our community is resilient and has pulled together to keep a focus on permanent housing and helping the most vulnerable among us.” “2020 has been a difficult year for everyone in Hawai‘i, the United States, and around the world,” said Laura Thielen, executive director of Partners in Care. “As the year comes to a close and we reflect on the issue of homelessness and hunger, let us remember how we have come together in so many ways during this pandemic, and acknowledge that we do have the ability to overcome some of the issues that have plagued our community for years. “Despite the pandemic, we have gotten food to our neighbors on our beaches and on our streets, we have housed those who have been homeless for years, and we have shown compassion to our community. We are stronger than we realize and together we can make a better community for all. Let’s continue the amazing things that we have started during 2020 and carry them into the new year.” “Despite a worldwide pandemic, we still saw the Aloha Spirit alive and well in Hawai‘i, where people didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand to those in need,” said Brandee Menino, chief executive officer of HOPE Services Hawai‘i and chair of Bridging the Gap. “Our island community has been incredibly resilient this year, and I’m pleased that we continue to look out for each other. During this week and through the holidays, let us all continue to keep our most vulnerable residents in mind.” To find out more about Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, please visit https://homelessness.hawaii.gov/main/homelessness-awareness-week/. To find out more about the 2020 Homeless Awareness Virtual Conference, visit https://honolulu.gov/housing/homelessness/svch/. The conference is free, and will feature keynote speeches from Gov. David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and CEO Nan Roman from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

The newly released Hawai‘i Broadband Strategic Plan 2020 provides a fresh look at ways to strengthen Hawai‘i’s broadband infrastructure and programs at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is making clear how dependent Hawai‘i is on broadband connectivity for education, health, livelihood and economic prosperity. The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), with support from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and the Office of Planning (OP), published the plan, which is an update to the original Hawai‘i Broadband Strategic Plan released in 2012. The 45-page document provides information and a framework for the creation of policies and programs to address the challenges faced in meeting the state’s broadband goals. Since the original plan was published in 2012, the broadband landscape has changed dramatically. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on Hawai’i’s digital divide as stay-at-home orders required people to distance learn, seek healthcare and work from home. “Broadband connectivity is the critical infrastructure that builds resilience and ties all of Hawaii’s residents to the global economy -- from businesses in our urban centers to remote workers and content creators in our rural communities,” said Gov. David Ige. “Broadband and digital equity are the foundations upon which we can build a Hawai‘i for the future. I would like to extend my thanks to the many stakeholders who collaborated to create this new Broadband Strategic Plan.” “Due to the pandemic, there is even greater recognition that Hawai‘i’s competitiveness in the global digital economy, educational exchange, and digital competency is reliant on broadband infrastructure,” said DBEDT Director Mike McCartney. “Hawai‘i’s link to the rest of the world relies on transpacific fiber optic cables. Broadband is how the Internet traffic flows throughout the entire state from interisland fiber, terrestrial fiber, wireless services and rural connectivity This will be fundamental for Hawai‘i’s economic diversification and expansion.” Burt Lum, DBEDT’s Broadband Strategy Officer, said, “All of Hawai’i’s residents need to benefit from broadband in order for the state to thrive in the 21st century. This plan seeks to outline the steps to achieve digital equity throughout the state of Hawai’i.” Download the Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan Update: https://broadband.hawaii.gov/about/.

Today, the Department of Community Services and the Mayor’s Office of Housing celebrated the construction completion of the Pūnāwai facility and its key successes to providing care, compassion, and recovery to persons experiencing homelessness on Oʻahu. Pūnāwai is a four-story building in the heart of ʻIwilei designed to address the comprehensive needs of Honolulu’s homeless community, and it offers a diverse range of support. Named after the healing waters that run under the Kūwili Street location, Pūnāwai brings together community-based partners through a hygiene center (ground floor), clinic (mezzanine), respite (second floor), and permanent supportive housing component (third floor). Located at 431 Kūwili Street in ʻIwilei, the Pūnāwai blessing included City officials, with community advocates, staff and guests participating virtually. In addition to dedicating the building, the second anniversary of the Pūnāwai Rest Stop was celebrated with its operating partner Mental Health Kokua. The Rest Stop serves 2,500 unduplicated individuals each year, placing more than 100 people into housing annually, delivering more than 6,000 case management contacts and offering showers, toilet access, laundry services, veterinary checks for pets, and postal service. Pūnāwai Rest Stop has been instrumental in placing individuals into permanent housing, as well as providing employment and treatment. As of September 2020, 50 individuals have found employment through the services offered at Pūnāwai, and 97 people have entered into substance abuse treatment. Hale Pūnāwai located on the top floor of Pūnāwai will provide permanent supportive housing. In partnership with Steadfast Housing Development Corporation, the City anticipates leasing all 21 units by the end of the year. Finally, the Pūnāwai Clinic started renovation work to build out the clinic in the spring of 2020. However, efforts were pulled in other directions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pūnāwai Clinic and Respite is anticipated to open for modified service in January 2021, with the full clinic anticipated to open in the summer of 2021. Videos of Hale Pūnāwai can be found using the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nuBmncC0ZB9Ja4_TjL1d-QdEqeb1K95o?usp=sharing For use of the video, please courtesy: City & County of Honolulu. In addition to celebrating the completion of the construction of Pūnāwai, Mayor Caldwell and his team shared the City’s achievements of the Housing First program. The City funds 315 Housing First vouchers that are contracted in three increments. Mayor Caldwell reported that 326 persons have received Housing First services from December 2014 to 2019 via Increment I contracted to the Institute of Human Services. Of the 326 clients, 137 have exited (42 percent). As of December 2019, 189 people were enrolled in the program. The majority of clients who have exited to permanent housing, entered the Housing First program in year one and exited in year four or five, suggesting the time required to achieve housing stability is three to four years. Clients reported improvements in mental and physical health. Overall, 92 percent of all Housing First clients have not returned to homelessness. “When I came into office in 2013, addressing homelessness and its root causes became a key priority of our administration,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Projects such as the Pūnāwai facility, Housing First rental assistance programs, Hale Mauliola navigation shelter, mobile hygiene trailers, and with the pandemic, Temporary Quarantine and Isolation Centers, are some of the many tools the City developed and implemented to assist those most in need by providing them a hand up. These key initiatives, which are guided by our local upbringing of helping others with compassion, accountability and aloha, are only possible with community buy-in and the support of the City Council leadership.” “As the Councilmember whose district contains the most public housing units on island and which has been impacted most by persons experiencing homelessness, it would have been easy to have redirected a facility like Pūnāwai to another neighborhood,” Councilmember Joey Manahan said. “Our community decided that instead of ignoring the problems, we would face them head on and identify best practices from throughout the world and bring them home to help our neighbors in need. The Pūnāwai Rest Stop is an example of a Seattle model, and I thank the Mayor for embracing my concepts and making them happen.” “Understanding each individual’s story and journey to homelessness helps us as a society to assist the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Director Pam Witty-Oakland, Department of Community Services. “Pūnāwai offers physical, emotional and mental support in the form of compassion, counseling and basic human needs. The efforts of the Pūnāwai programs will result in housing, a reduction in substance abuse, and overall improvements of lifestyle. “The Pūnāwai Rest Stop, the Housing First program, and similar programs also ease the strain on our emergency rooms and inpatient hospitals throughout O‘ahu.”

Free drive-through COVID-19 testing will be provided on the following schedule through November 23. · Wednesday, November 18: o Keauhou Shopping Center, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. o Hilo at Civic Auditorium, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. · Thursday, November 19: o Waikoloa at Kamakoa Nui Park, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. · Friday, November 20: o Keauhou Shopping Center, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. · Saturday, November 21: o West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Kona, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. o Hilo at Civic Auditorium, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. · Monday, November 23: o Keauhou Shopping Center, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. No insurance is necessary to be tested, but please bring your insurance card if you have one. No co-pay for individuals being tested. You do not have to have symptoms in order to be tested. Please be sure to wear a face covering at all times, and observe social distancing. For further information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Solid Waste Service Closures at 11:00 a.m. Today, November 17, 2020 (Scrap Metal and White Goods/Appliances at East Hawai‘i Locations: Hilo, Pāhoa, Kea‘au and Laupāhoehoe) Hilo Scrap Metal and White Goods services at the Hilo Transfer Station will close today at 11:00 a.m. The Scrap Metal and White Goods services should reopen as regularly scheduled tomorrow, November 18, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pāhoa Scrap Metal and White Goods services at the Pāhoa Transfer Station will close today at 11:00 a.m. The Scrap Metal and White Goods services should reopen as regularly scheduled tomorrow, November 18, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Keaʻau Scrap Metal and White Goods services at the Kea‘au Transfer Station will close today at 11:00 a.m. The Scrap Metal and White Goods services should reopen as regularly scheduled tomorrow, November 18, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Laupāhoehoe Scrap Metal and White Goods services at the Laupāhoehoe Transfer Station will close today at 11:00 a.m. The Scrap Metal and White Goods services should reopen as regularly scheduled Friday, November 20, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding. Please visit our www.hawaiizerowaste.org website for future closure information and locations, or call the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division Office, at 961-8270. To register for Solid Waste notifications (via email or text), visit our website at www.hawaiizerowaste.org. Contact: Michael Kaha, Solid Waste Division Deputy Chief, County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Mgmt. (office main line 808-961-8083; Solid Waste Admin 808-961-8270)

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is accepting COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans from hotel operators in Hawaii as required by Gov. David Ige’s Fifteenth Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Emergency, which he signed yesterday. According to the proclamation, the plan “shall identify the measures the operator has enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what guests, customers, invitees, employees, contractors, vendors and other persons who enter the property’s premises may expect in terms of service, accommodations and required safety protocols.” In addition, the plan “shall address all applicable guidance from the CDC and it shall be the responsibility of the hotel operator of each property to accommodate guests who become positive for COVID-19 or are identified as close contacts of a person who is positive for COVID-19, either by accommodating these guests at the property or by securing alternative accommodations.” The proclamation requires that all “hotel operators shall publish the COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans of each property they operate, including by making it available on their websites and by submitting it to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.” HTA is accepting COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans from hotel operators in Hawai‘i by email at hotelcovidplans@gohta.net. They must be sent as a PDF. All other formats will not be accepted. HTA is not responsible for ensuring that the submitted plans comply with the requirements of the proclamation. Hotels are urged to review their respective plans to ensure compliance before emailing them to HTA. COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans that are received in the correct PDF format will be posted at https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/hotel-covid-plans/. HTA recommends that hotel properties contact their respective association for further guidance and assistance. For questions regarding the submission of the required plans, please email hotelcovidplans@gohta.net.

Mayor Michael Victorino announced a produce distribution will take place Wednesday, November 18, to provide produce for families impacted by COVID-19 on Lāna‘i. Produce distribution for the general public will take place in the County parking lot located between the County gym and school cafeteria. Cars may line up at 12:30 p.m. Distribution is from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. or until supplies run out. Bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize social distancing, produce distribution will be done in a grab-and-go drive-through (no walk up). Motorists will have the option of getting bags placed in their vehicle’s trunk or rear cargo area. Recipients must wear face masks. Mayor Victorino thanked Councilmember Riki Hokama, the Lāna‘i District Office of the Maui County Council, the Department of Parks and Recreation and Police Department for their assistance with the produce distribution event.