As part of Hawaiʻi’s first virtual bill signing event, the Governor signed HB1678 - Truth in Music Advertising Act into law today. The bill is designed to help protect the livelihood of legacy musical groups and artists by preventing “imposter” performers from improperly using the legacy act’s name. For decades, imposters have been performing under the name and likeness of legacy recording groups despite having no connection or legal rights to the original band or artists. HB 1678 prohibits advertising or conducting a live musical performance or production through the use of a false, deceptive or misleading affiliation, connection, or association between a performing group and a recording group. In addition, it authorizes the State Attorney General and parties with a claim to take civil action. Rafael Fernandez, Senior Vice President of State Public Policy and Industry Relations for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) applauds Hawaiʻi’s legislative leadership in passing this important measure. “The music industry is grateful for the hard work of Senate President Ron Kouchi, Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and Hawaiʻi House Speaker Scott Saiki in passing this critical measure,” said Fernandez. “HB1678 will protect the legacies of Hawaiʻi’s greatest musicians, while protecting the state’s consumers from paying to see fraudulent groups.” Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English, a major champion of the bill believes that HB1678 will also help to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s musical heritage. “This bill make will make a meaningful difference to so many of our state’s musical performers and to our economy’s entertainment sector,” noted Sen. English. “The key strength of this bill is its simple premise: Don’t take something that is not yours and don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Imposter performers violate both of those simple rules. This measure will put a stop to this destructive activity and strengthen Hawaiʻi’s musical heritage.”

New rules go into effect on October 1st, a first for Hawai‘i’s Natural Area Reserves System Starting October 1st, 2020, ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve will charge non-Hawai‘i residents a user-fee of $5.00 per vehicle. Two machines in the reserve’s parking lot accept credit or debit cards and produce the receipts that must be displayed on their dashboard while using the area. Use-fees paid by visitors will pay for infrastructure costs or projects that protect the reserve’s unique natural resources. Hawai‘i residents will not be charged but must still display a daily pass that will be generated from the same machines. In 2018-2019, roughly 1,200 people each day visited the open portion of the reserve at Kanahena, with an additional 1,200 passing through the reserve on their way to Keone‘ō‘io (La Perouse Bay). It’s the third-most visited outdoor area on Maui, after Haleakalā National Park and ‘Īao Valley State Monument. Like those sites, the reserve must deal with the impacts of being so well-loved. Fees collected will pay for portable toilet maintenance and trash collection at Kanahena as well as Keone‘ō‘io, because the gravel parking lot Keone‘ō‘io sits on the reserve’s boundary. Fees collected at the Kanahena parking lot will go directly into the Natural Area Reserve Special Fund, which supports natural resource maintenance and protection projects.  Potential projects include re-planting native dryland forest plants to reduce storm runoff onto coral reefs, and excluding non-native goats and deer along the eastern, or mauka border of the reserve. Jeff Bagshaw of DLNR shares: “During one survey, we estimated about 50 honu (sea turtles) in ‘Āhihi bay that day. Compare 50 sea turtles to our daily average of 600-900 people in reserve waters. That means one sea turtle could be exposed to about 12-18 people every day. That’s a lot of underwater traffic. We tell people, when the parking lot is full, the ocean is full.” The management plan for the reserve was developed with input from a community advisory board, and it includes limiting the number of cars that can park as well as implementing the use-fee plan. A public hearing regarding the proposed fee plan was held on November 10, 2016 on Maui. After replying to public comments, the proposed rules were reviewed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) on March 10, 2017 in a public meeting, then signed by the Governor on September 8, 2017. “Establishment of these fees was identified as a high priority by our citizen’s advisory group, and we are very pleased to now be able to have that system in place to support resource protection”, said Scott Fretz, Maui Branch Manager with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Maui residents and visitors are reminded they cannot park on the road or shoulder in the reserve for any length of time. Any cars parked on the reserve road, shoulder or outside the marked stalls at the Kanahena parking lot will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Created in 1973, ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u was Hawai‘i’s first Natural Area Reserve and will now be the first to ask visitors to share the costs in preserving this resource into the future.  Natural Area Reserves are created to protect unique ecosystems and endangered species of Hawai‘i from threats and provide educational opportunities for users.  These sensitive areas can easily become overwhelmed by use. Because a road bisects ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u and numerous people use the open area, its budget must include monies that help deal with human impacts. Complete administrative rules governing all state natural area reserves can be found at: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/files/2018/02/Chp-13-209.pdf The management plan for ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u NAR can be found at: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/files/2013/07/Ahihi-Kinau-NAR-Management-Plan.pdf

The Hawai'i State Senate Hawaiian Caucus today released the following statement on demonstrations related to the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea: We stand with the people engaged in peaceful demonstration on Mauna Kea and around Hawai‘i. The Thirty Meter Telescope controversy underscores critical issues in our community, and calls for the highest levels of care and mutual respect. While we support the Governor's commitment not to deploy the national guard, we ask that the Governor rescind his emergency proclamation in order to deescalate tensions. It is vitally important that people on both sides continue to engage in kapu aloha and use non-violent means to express themselves and seek redress. #Hawaiistatesenate #HawaiiStateSenateMajority #MaunaKea #thirtyMeterTelescope #ThirtyMeterTelescope #TMT

ArcGIS map allows road users to visualize full, lane, and shoulder closures for freeways and highways on Oahu. Neighbor Island closures will be added in March/April. HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the availability of a map for the public to view scheduled roadwork on state highways. The map was created by HDOT staff using ArcGIS tools provided through the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program. The Lane Closure Public Access Map is meant to replace the lane closure listings currently sent out by HDOT every Thursday and Friday and can be accessed by going to the HDOT roadwork page at http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/ or by visiting http://arcg.is/1HaWvi “We wanted to create a visual of all of our planned closures to help the public plan their commutes,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen. “We also want to hear what the public thinks about this tool versus the written lists we currently send out.” Members of the public can fill out a quick survey through https://hidot.granicusideas.com/ to let HDOT know if they prefer to view closures on the current list, the new map, or both. Neighbor Island closures will be added to the Lane Closure Public Access Map in March and April. HDOT will send out news releases as the lane closure map for each island becomes available. #DOT #ArcGIS #Transportation #HawaiiState

State Has Issued $3 Billion in Benefits Since March 1 The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced updated unemployment insurance claims information, including paying $3,081,193,375 and 3,155,245 weeks claimed since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic on March 1, 2020. No. of claims filed statewide: 282,897 No. of invalid claims filed statewide: -98,550 No. of valid claims awaiting claimant to verify: -9,755 No. of valid claims requiring DLIR action 184,347 No. of claims paid: 174,233 No. of claims requiring DLIR action 9/10/20 10,114 The DLIR also today announced that it is launching a self-certification modification to the unemployment insurance portal on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. This will allow claimants to enroll in the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program by certifying their unemployment was due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. “Were deploying this feature as part of our efforts to provide additional relief to claimants as soon as possible,” said Acting Director Anne Eustaquio. “We’re diligently building a new program within the unemployment computer system to implement and pay LWA benefits.” Claimants are required to sign into their accounts on the unemployment insurance portal and answer a pop-up page that allows them to self-certify that they were partially or wholly unemployed due to COVID-19. A graphic demonstrating the process is available at https://labor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/How-LWA20200906.pdf. The DLIR will start processing payments in October and the payments will be staggered for each week you are eligible. Payments will be retroactive for all the weeks for which you are eligible. With the assistance of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), the DLIR has received approval to pay five weeks of benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program will pay $300 a week to all eligible claimants that receive at least $100 per week in unemployment insurance benefits. The program excludes those with a weekly benefit amount of less than $100 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits. Payments will be retroactive for the weeks ending 8/1/2020, 8/8/2020, 8/15/2020, 8/22/2020 and 8/29/20. Individuals with pending issues preventing payment will not receive the additional $300 per week if they are allowed benefits after the program has ended. Unlike the FPUC program ($600 plus-up) that ended in July, LWA is a grant with a finite amount of funding. When FEMA exhausts its grant funding, it will no longer have the resources to provide LWA payments and the program will end. Please visit FAQs about the LWA program at http://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/main/faq-lost-wages-assistance-lwa/. The State of Hawaiʻi is not allowed to use CARES Act or any local funds to supplement those individuals with a weekly benefit amount of less than $100 to make them eligible for the program pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum. For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit the recently revised FAQs at https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.

State releases updated unemployment insurance information State Has Issued $2.7 Billion in Benefits The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced updated unemployment insurance claims information, including paying $2,733,150,415 and 2,601,841 weeks claimed since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic on March 1, 2020. “We are still experiencing a significant increase of workers still attached to an employer being fully released from employment. These individuals will need to report the separation when filing a weekly claim certification. After filing a weekly claim certification, these individuals then reactivate their claim and select ‘Report Separation from an Employer’ in the online portal at huiclaims.gov/#/,” said Acting Director Anne Eustaquio. No. of claims filed statewide: 268,951 No. of invalid claims filed statewide: -92,596 No. of valid claims awaiting claimant to verify: -9,152 No. of valid claims requiring DLIR action 176,355 No. of claims paid: 165,852 No. of claims requiring DLIR action 8/12/20 10,503 “The Department has worked to hone and refine Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) data to more strategically target those with pending claims as well as to evolve processing operations.” said Acting Director Eustaquio. “We have released nearly 8,700 PUA claims for payment in the last two weeks by using predictive analytics to auto clear identity verification issues.” For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is facilitating COVID-19 surge testing at the Pier 2 Cruise Terminal in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The purpose of the testing is to protect those providing the islands’ crucial maritime services; however, this drive-through testing site will be open to everyone. To register or get details on available testing visit www.doineedacovid19test.com HDOT expects increased activity for the surge testing on Nimitz Highway/Ala Moana Boulevard near Pier 2 (vicinity of Punchbowl/South Streets) on Sept. 14 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those needing to travel on Nimitz Highway/Ala Moana Boulevard in the area are advised to check GoAkamai or the travel app of their choice prior to getting on the road for current conditions.

State Has Issued $2.8 Billion in Benefits Since March 1 The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced updated unemployment insurance claims information, including paying $2,829,332,666 and 2,737,142 weeks claimed since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic on March 1, 2020. “We are still experiencing a significant increase of workers still attached to an employer being fully released from employment. These individuals will need to report the separation when filing a weekly claim certification. Claimants can review the correct way to do this at https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/main/reactivate-your-claim-and-report-job-seperation/ before filing their weekly claim certification,” said Acting Director Anne Eustaquio. No. of claims filed statewide: 272,240 No. of invalid claims filed statewide: -94,084 No. of valid claims awaiting claimant to verify: -9,339 No. of valid claims requiring DLIR action 178,156 No. of claims paid: 167,870 No. of claims requiring DLIR action 8/19/20 10,286 “The Department has worked to hone and refine Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) data to more strategically target those with pending claims as well as to evolve processing operations.” said Acting Director Eustaquio. “We have released about 10,700 PUA claims for payment in the last three weeks by using predictive analytics and other information to auto clear identity verification issues.” The department has hired forty-nine staff to help process regular unemployment insurance claims since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department is currently interviewing and hiring an additional forty-one staff to process both regular unemployment insurance as well as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims. For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are being packaged in containers that may appear as food or drinks and may put consumers at risk of serious injury or death if ingested. The agency has discovered that some hand sanitizers are being packaged in beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and vodka bottles. Additionally, the FDA has found hand sanitizers that contain food flavors, such as chocolate or raspberry. “I am increasingly concerned about hand sanitizer being packaged to appear to be consumable products, such as baby food or beverages. These products could confuse consumers into accidentally ingesting a potentially deadly product. It’s dangerous to add scents with food flavors to hand sanitizers which children could think smells like food, eat and get alcohol poisoning,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Manufacturers should be vigilant about packaging and marketing their hand sanitizers in food or drink packages in an effort to mitigate any potential inadvertent use by consumers. The FDA continues to monitor these products and we’ll take appropriate actions as needed to protect the health of Americans.” In one recent example of consumer confusion, the FDA received a report that a consumer purchased a bottle they thought to be drinking water but was in fact hand sanitizer. The agency also received a report from a retailer about a hand sanitizer product marketed with cartoons for children that was in a pouch that resembles a snack. Drinking only a small amount of hand sanitizer is potentially lethal to a young child, who may be attracted by a pleasant smell or brightly colored bottle of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer can be toxic when ingested. The FDA continues to see an increasing number of adverse events with hand sanitizer ingestion, including cardiac effects, effects on the central nervous system, hospitalizations and death, primarily reported to poison control centers and state departments of health. For more information, consumers should refer to the FDA’s guidelines on safe use of hand sanitizer as well as a question and answer page. The FDA encourages health care professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of hand sanitizers to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (please provide the agency with as much information to identify the product as possible). The FDA continues to proactively work with manufacturers to recall potentially dangerous hand sanitizer products and is strongly encouraging retailers to remove these products from store shelves and online marketplaces. A list of hand sanitizer products the FDA urges consumers not to use, along with a description for consumers on how to use the list, has been posted to the agency’s website, which is being updated regularly. The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

This is a Civil Defense message update from the County of Hawai'i. On today’s update of COVID-19, the number of active cases, on Hawaii Island, monitored by the Department of Health is sixty-three. There are nine new cases of Coronavirus on Hawaii Island. These cases are now isolated and monitored by the Department of Health. At this date, for Hawaii Island, ten are hospitalized. Hawaii Island has seen large daily increases of positive cases for the past three weeks. Health data shows the majority of these new cases have been identified as Hilo based gatherings where people are disregarding the policies of prevention. The situation in Hilo is a very serious one and we must all do our part to stop the spread of the virus. This is a serious situation we have in Hilo and only you can help stop the spread of this virus. We need your help in following the guidance of prevention. This is a community issue and community involvement and support is needed to protect our family, friends, Kupuna, and neighbors. With your help we will control the spread and stop the virus and make Hawaii a safe place. Thank you for listening and take care. This is your Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.

This is a COVID-19 informational update for Monday afternoon, September 7th. As of noon today, there are eleven (11) new cases of Coronavirus on Hawaii Island. At this date, for Hawaii Island, the Hilo Medical Center reports a total of eight deaths, all are from the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home. Our sadness, our respect, our condolences and appreciation goes out to their families. In efforts to control the spread of the Coronavirus on Hawaii Island, the following are in effect: • All beach and shoreline parks are closed through September 19th. Field reports reflect a tremendous cooperation by the community. Mahalo for doing your part. • Increased testing will continue throughout the Island and in the past two weeks testing has been increased by four times. Between the dates of September 2nd and September 5th, the County of Hawaii has sponsored 2 tests in Keaau, 2 in Pahoa, and 1 in Milolii. A warm thank you to the Milolii community for helping County task force members in your community. Remember the purpose of testing is to identify positive cases as early as possible and in this way help stop the spread of the virus and to provide early treatment. Mahalo for your participation. • The Hawaii County Police Department will continue their enforcement of the preventative polices of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. If we all follow these policies this virus can be stopped. Mahalo for your help. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community’s involvement, we can keep Hawaii Safe. Thank you for listening and have a safe Labor Day Weekend. This is your Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.

This is a COVID-19 informational update for Monday morning, September 7th. On today’s update of COVID-19, the number of active cases, on Hawaii Island, reported and monitored by the Department of Health is two hundred and eighty-one (281). There are fourteen (14) new cases of Coronavirus on Hawaii Island. At this date, for Hawaii Island, nine (9) are hospitalized. The Hilo Medical Center reports a total of eight deaths, all are from the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home. Prayers and condolences from the Island’s People go out to the families. In efforts to control the spread of the Coronavirus on Hawaii Island, the following policies remain in effect: • All beach and shoreline parks are closed through September 19th. Field reports reflect a tremendous cooperation by the community. Mahalo for your help in keeping Hawaii safe. • Increased testing will continue throughout the Island and in the past two weeks testing has been increased by four times. Between the dates of September 2nd and September 5th, the County of Hawaii has sponsored 2 tests in Keaau, 2 in Pahoa, and 1 in Milolii. A warm thank you to the Milolii community for helping County task force members in your community. Remember the purpose of testing is to identify positive cases as early as possible and in this way help stop the spread of the virus and to provide early treatment. Mahalo for your help in keeping Hawaii safe. • The Hawaii County Police Department will continue their enforcement of the preventative polices of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. If we all follow these policies this virus can be stopped. Mahalo for your help in keeping Hawaii safe. With your help, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. Thank you for listening and have a safe holiday. This is your Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.