The Department of Public Safety (PSD) received 61 OCCC inmate test results. Of the 61 results reported, 30 were positive and 31 were negative. The facility received testing reports on 80 staff. Of that number, 4 were positive and 76 were negative. Halawa Correctional Facility also reported a positive test result for an employee. The employee last worked on 8/17/20. The department is working with DOH on contact tracing at the facility. The total number of active inmates is 79 and recovered is 208. There are currently no inmates hospitalized. The total number of active PSD staff is 49 and recovered is 15. Professional deep-cleaning/sanitization services are underway to address several housing units. All units that housed tested positive inmates will be addressed through this process. This necessary measure is for the safety and well-being of staff and inmates alike and will be an ongoing process as needed. The inmate releases directed through the Hawaii Supreme Court (HSC) orders are on-going. The lists of names/criminal case numbers for defendants from OCCC, MCCC and KCCC, released 8/28/20, per HSC court order, are attached.The HSC order requires that PSD provide a list of all inmates released under the order no later than the next day following the release. The HSC order requires that PSD provide a list of all inmates released under the order no later than the next day following the release. All transports to court from all Oahu facilities are suspended through Friday, September 4. Video hearings will still be accommodated to the extent possible and as legally permissible. PSD is in constant contact with the Judiciary to assure the safety of all staff and inmates involved. PSD will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 and make additional operational and preventative decisions as the situation evolves. 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/

The Kaua‘i District Health Office today reports that a Kaua‘i resident who is currently on O‘ahu has tested positive for COVID-19. Health officials confirm that the resident has been on O‘ahu for several weeks. Due to the timing of illness, this individual poses no risk to Kaua‘i residents and no Kaua‘i close contacts have been identified. This case is not considered an active case for Kaua‘i but will be counted toward the island’s cumulative total, bringing the total to 57. There are currently no confirmed active cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i. For local updates, visit the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency page at www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.

The State of Hawaii is implementing its new, mandatory online Safe Travels system, beginning Sept. 1. The Safe Travels System will modify the current County of Maui application process. “This modified process enforces travel quarantines and protects our communities from the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “This new procedure is a welcome step toward a more efficient, streamlined process to speed up traveler processing at airports. We want to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy while traveling, and I appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as our quarantine screening and enforcement procedures evolve.” Travelers to Maui County airports are reminded that they must submit applications for limited travel quarantine online at mauicounty.gov by clicking on the “requested for limited quarantine form” icon. Requests should be completed at least 3 days prior to the requestor’s departure. For those applying for a Limited Quarantine Exemption, the application should be completed BEFORE submitting the separate online Safe Travels application. The new state form has a field to input a traveler’s limited quarantine application number. This is provided to a traveler after applying for it online. All air travelers need to fill out the online Safe Travels application at https://travel.hawaii.gov, regardless of whether they are seeking a limited quarantine. Travelers between Lahaina and Manele harbors will continue to use paper mandatory travel form. A traveler seeking a limited quarantine for home-to-work exemption must first go to mauicounty.gov. Click on the orange “Request for Limited Quarantine Form.” Please read all the information carefully, and be sure to provide ALL necessary documentation. Needed information, including what travelers need to prepared to provide, specifically: A medical letter from a treating physician Essential Work Letter from employer on business letterhead, including dates of travel, jobsite/workplace in Maui County Copy of a government-issued ID If traveling for medical reasons and returning to Maui for an essential job, travelers must submit both of the above documents. Travelers need to take pictures of needed documents for uploading as a photo on the Request for Limited Quarantine Form. (Only .png and .jpg photo types can be uploaded. The system does not accept .pdf files.) The address sought is the location of a jobsite or location of place of lodging for quarantine. Requests for limited quarantine that do not qualify include: Trips to see family and/or friends or attend funerals COVID-19 negative test Travel identified as personal errands

Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, made the following statement today praising Governor David Ige for signing HB 1819 into law to legalize the growing, processing, and sale of industrial hemp in Hawai‘i: “Given the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our economy, the signing of HB 1819 is a bright spot that has big potential for local agriculture. Soon, we’ll have local farmers applying to the USDA for licenses to finally move forward with commercial hemp operations. It’s been a long time coming since former Governor Ben Cayetano declared Dec.14, 1999 as Hawai’i Industrial Hemp Day and unfortunately our government fell asleep, as it tends to do sometimes. At the request of a dear friend who passed away recently, I introduced four bills from 2014 to 2018 that became law, which included a U.H. hemp research study and setting up a pilot hemp research program. Hemp is an amazing crop that can create over 25,000 products. The key is developing a cottage industry with Hawai‘i branding that will set us apart from the global competition. I’m hopeful hemp will help diversify our economy and create opportunities amid and beyond these extremely difficult times. Hemp, hemp, hooray!” Governor Ige signed the bill into law as Act 14 on August 27, 2020.

The City and County of Honolulu and State of Hawaii will be partnering to provide a surge testing location to the Oahu community that will minimize impacts to the public and improve safety. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department, City and County Department of Transportation Services, and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) are coordinating a full closure of the H-3 Freeway between the Halawa Interchange and the Halekou Interchange to facilitate COVID testing on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. The closure must be coordinated with the federal government and notice will be provided once this is confirmed. The closure of H-3 in both the Halawa bound and Honolulu bound directions would begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue to 6 p.m. on both days to allow time to set up the closure. During testing hours the inside lanes of the H-3 at the Harano Tunnels will be used to queue vehicles of those seeking to be tested for the COVID-19 virus. The outer lane would serve as access for emergency vehicles. To maximize testing efficiency, test stations will be set up on both the Kaneohe and Halawa sides of the tunnel to service both the north and south bound directions. After testing, drivers will be asked to continue on H-3 to the end of the closure, and can use alternate Koolau routes if necessary. “This surge testing will help us flatten the curve once more,” said Gov. David Ige. “We’re all working together for the health and safety of our whole community. Use of the H-3 will provide space to allow as many people as possible to be tested.” “One of the most important parts of this surge testing effort is making sure everyone who wants a test has access to a testing site,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Testing on the H-3 is a historic, first ever endeavor that will make a significant difference in getting more people tested. This will be made possible by all of our Federal, State, and County teams working together to make sure traffic in and out of these sites can flow smoothly. It’s not a small task to coordinate these sites, and I want to thank our partners at HDOT for clearing a path for as many of our residents as possible to get tested for COVID-19.” HDOT has reached out to emergency services, TheBus, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) to notify them of the planned closure. The queuing will be monitored by City and State personnel at the Joint Traffic Management Center (JTMC), and information will be provided to the public on closure times and anticipated wait times. HDOT encourages motorists to take alternate Koolau routes such as Likelike Highway or Pali Highway. Estimated travel times and camera views for all Koolau routes can be found on GoAkamai.org

The State of Hawaii is announcing that the new online Safe Travels form will be mandatory for all travelers on Sept. 1. This new digital form, which collects the required health and travel information, is critical to protecting the health of our residents and visitors alike. Safe Travels is one part of a multi-layered screening process which includes arrival temperature checks, and secondary screening for those with symptoms or temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The digital form can be found at https://travel.hawaii.gov. “I am pleased to launch this digital form which will allow our travelers to provide their required health and travel information before they arrive at the airport,” said Gov. David Ige. “It will also help us keep in contact with those who are required to be in quarantine. This is an important step in preparing to reopen our economy.” Safe Travels digitizes and simplifies the current paper-based process. Currently, there are two different types of forms – one each for interisland and transpacific – for travel to and within Hawaii. This platform provides a one stop shop for both type of travelers. This new online form will provide the State Department of Health (DOH) access to the mandatory health information that passengers need to provide to monitor and protect public health in real-time. It can also be used by the Dept. of the Attorney General and county law enforcement officials to enforce the quarantine rules. Travelers are encouraged to enter their information and trip details well in advance of their flight. Once their health information is entered 24 hours before departure, travelers receive a QR code via email. The QR code on their mobile device or printed on paper gets scanned by the airport screener upon arrival. “Compared to paper processing, this digital form will save travelers time at the airport and will speed up distribution of information to state and county officials who need it to keep us all safe,” said Douglas Murdock, chief information officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, State of Hawaii. This new digital platform was developed in partnership with Google and its premier partner, SpringML, at a cost of $638,000 for the initial implementation. A platform to collect, aggregate, display, and analyze data is provided by ESRI. Funding for this project is provided by the Federal CARES Act. Key features of the new app include: The ability to login using Email, Google or Facebook logins. A highly secured platform built on Google cloud. The verification of passenger contact information before arrival to speed up their processing at the airport. Collection of health and contact information needed for arrival screening and public health monitoring. Creation of a QR code which airport screeners scan to review the traveler’s information for clearance or secondary screening. Automated generation of quarantine check-in reminders as emails and text messages. New features and data elements will be added in future phases, as the Safe Travels process and State travel requirements evolve. Travelers without smart phones or computers can ask a friend or relative for assistance or receive assistance at the arrival airport. Travelers without email addresses will need to create one on an email service to comply with the conditions of quarantine. This project is being spearheaded by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Transportation, DOH, Dept. of the Attorney General, Hawaii Tourism Authority and the counties. Broll: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k4385cx2c2yiimx/AAAk0mCxntwOfDNLawN8y5sMa?dl=0 Courtesy: Hawaii State Department of Transportation For more information on Safe Travels: https://ets.hawaii.gov/travelhelp/ https://ets.hawaii.gov/travelhelp/additional-safe-travels-faqs/ If you need further assistance: Safe Travels Application Service Desk (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. HST): 1-855-599-0888 Calls outside of working hours will go to voicemail and be returned the next business day. You may call our partners at Aloha United Way, 2-1-1. There are multiple ways you can reach them from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. HST In Hawaii, you may call 2-1-1 Out of State: Toll free number: 1-877-275-6569 Chat: www.auw211.org Email: info211@auw.org Search their online database 24/7 at auw211.or/Search.aspx For State Quarantine Information: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/coronavirus/ For Travel to Hawaii: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/ https://www.gohawaii.com/special-alerts-information 1-800-GO-HAWAII

State Has Issued $2.9 Billion in Benefits Since March 1 HONOLULU — The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced updated unemployment insurance claims information, including paying $2,918,251,462 and 2,874,671 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: 275,621 No. of invalid claims filed statewide: -95,367 No. of valid claims awaiting claimant to verify: -9,520 No. of valid claims requiring DLIR action 180,254 No. of claims paid: 169,882 No. of claims requiring DLIR action 8/26/20 10,372 With the assistance of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), the DLIR yesterday applied to participate in a new unemployment insurance plus up program called the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program. The program, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was created by the President via a memorandum earlier this month in response to the July expiration of the unemployment $600 weekly benefit. “We’re diligently building a new program within the unemployment computer system to implement and pay LWA benefits as soon as possible,” said Acting Director Eustaquio. “To qualify for the $300 plus-up, recipients must be eligible for at least $100 in weekly benefits and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Payments would be retroactive to August 1, 2020.” The DLIR continues to experience a high volume of attempts at fraud in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. As of August 24, the department received 112,874 applications and processed 102,165 or 91% of the applications. The department has denied 72,212 claims or 64% of the claims filed and has 15,676 or 14% of the applications pending for ID verification, COVID-19 eligibility, or both. For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues please visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.

PLEASE NOTE: Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting. — KUHIO HIGHWAY (ROUTE 56) — 1) KAPAA (24-HOUR WORK) Traffic on Kuhio Highway (Route 56) near mile marker 10 is shifted to the temporary Kapaa Stream Bridge 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. For safety during the shift to the temporary bridge, right turns off Kuhio Highway onto Mailihuna Road are not permitted. Access to Kapahi is recommended via the Kawaihau Road or Hauala Road detours. 2) ANAHOLA (NIGHT WORK) Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56) in both directions between mile markers 15.5 and 16.7, Papaa Road and Kahiliholo Road, on Sunday evening, August 30, through Friday morning, September 4, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., for rumble strip installation and striping work. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane. 3) KILAUEA (NIGHT WORK) Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56) in both directions between mile markers 21.5 and 24.5, Wailapa Road and Koolau Road, on Sunday evening, August 30, through Friday morning, September 4, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving work. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane.

Mayor announces CARES Act collaboration to create new healthcare jobs and expanded services for kupūna and families Mayor Michael Victorino announced today a new countywide collaboration with various organizations to create healthcare jobs and expand services for kupūna and families using CARES Act funds. The County of Maui’s new HealthCARES Hui is the first initiative that has emerged from Mayor Victorino’s Economic Recovery Task Force, which was comprised of industry leaders to help identify opportunities for relief through CARES Act funds. The County is allocating roughly $1.5 million for the program, which will be spent on hiring and training staff, expanded nutritious food delivery and providing resources and care management. The program also will assist nurses and healthcare workers earn certifications and licenses to allow them to begin working at local medical providers. Administered by Hale Makua, the effort is in collaboration with Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center, Habitat for Humanity, Hale Mahaolu, Kula Hospital, East Maui Kupūna Hui and Maui Medical Group. “COVID-19 has rocked Maui County’s economy to its core and left us among the highest unemployment rates in the state,” Mayor Victorino said. “Through this new collaboration, we plan to create approximately 50 full-time positions for certified nurses, community health workers and other jobs for our displaced workers and school graduates. The partnership also focuses on taking care of our kupūna, who are extremely vulnerable to this virus and are still in need of services.” “We want to mahalo the HealthCARES Hui organizations and all our partners for their work to plan and prepare this program for our community.” The HealthCARES Hui has three primary goals: Create job opportunities for recent high school grads and displaced workers to start a healthcare career to earn a living wage. Expand food delivery options with local, nutritious, prepped meal delivery to high-risk families and kupūna. Adapt the care management model by expanding home health services, personal care programs and home improvements. The full-time positions to be created include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Community Health Workers (CHW), and positions in housekeeping, dietary, nutrition, social work and resident aides. Workers would be trained and hired by agencies in the HealthCARES Hui. More information on the job opportunities will be posted as it becomes available. Meal delivery service expansion will focus on kupuna in Hawaiian Homes and families and kupuna in affordable housing developments who may not be able to attend grab & go food pick-up locations. Meal prep will be done by local chefs/restaurants and include Maui ingredients and produce. Along with meal delivery, other care management resources will be provided including health assessments, critical home repairs, unemployment services, COVID-19 prevention and other assistance. Hale Makua CEO, Wesley Lo, closed the announcement saying, “On behalf of this hui of Maui organizations, we want to thank Mayor Victorino, his staff and the community volunteers who have been working around the clock to support all of us during this difficult time. We are hopeful that as we come together to care for each other, the health and well-being of our Maui community will be rebuilt and will emerge stronger than ever.”

The County of Kaua‘i’s compost bin distribution at the Kaua‘i Resource Center in Līhu‘e will be temporarily closed on Friday, Aug. 28, in order to accommodate the Salvation Army’s monthly donation event occurring that day. Compost bin distribution will resume weekly service on Friday, Sept. 4, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Distributions are free, and normally occur every Friday at the Kaua‘i Resource Center. Officials thank the public for their patience and understanding. For more information about composting on Kaua‘i, please visit www.kauai.gov/composting or call 241-4841.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) last night learned that one of its employees at the Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building on South Beretania Street, aka State Office Tower, tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked in an 8th floor office on August 16. The employee did not exhibit any symptoms during the rest of the work week and only began to feel ill over the following weekend, prompting a test on Monday, August 24. Upon knowledge of the positive test result last night, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) in Honolulu notified staff not to report to the office today and closed for the health and safety of everyone. The department is working with the Department of Accounting and General services to make arrangements for professional cleaning to properly sanitize and disinfect affected areas. The office will remain closed tomorrow, August 28, as a precaution. Staff will continue to telework and respond to public inquiries received by phone or sent via email to ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov during normal business hours. Other DCCA offices, including OCP’s Hilo and Maui offices, are unaffected by the positive case. “We appreciate the employee’s mindfulness to heed the public messaging and stay home at the onset of feeling ill,” said DCCA Director Catherine Awakuni Colón. “Our department took quick action and contacted the Department of Health to ensure proper protocols were followed as the health and safety of not only our employees, but also the visiting public has always been a primary concern. We wish our employee a speedy recovery.” While any possible exposure is believed to be limited to a small portion of the 8th floor office space, DCCA also alerted the Department of Human Resources Development, which offered assistance in notifying other tenants in the building of the positive case. In its June walk-in service reopening, DCCA implemented strict safety measures, increased cleaning, and abbreviated in-person hours at its offices to minimize the risk of spread. While DCCA continues to operate as an essential government office under the emergency order, the public is encouraged to utilize the department’s online services to reduce in-person contact during the pandemic. A list of the online services can be accessed at https://cca.hawaii.gov/covid19/.

The Department of Customer Services announced today that Honolulu City Lights will scale down this year’s festivities in an effort to eliminate crowds to support minimizing coronavirus outbreaks. The scaled-down version of the 2020 Honolulu City Lights program will feature holiday decorations fronting Honolulu Hale and along King Street for drive-by enjoyment. Key features will include the traditional 50-foot tree, Shaka Santa with Tutu Mele, and other large illuminated displays in celebration of the holiday season. Among the activities that have been canceled for the 36th year of the event are: opening night festivities, including Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s tree lighting ceremony; the holiday concert, and the public workers electric light parade. Other activities suspended for the duration of the event include the beloved department tree display in the courtyard and the public wreath display in Lane Gallery as well as all vendor booths and rides; nonprofit exhibits; and in-person photos with Santa. “The city employees are very saddened to not be able to share our holiday joy with the public as we have done annually for more than three decades, but the focus right now must be on the health and safety of our island,” said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services. “We realize how important it will be to lift spirits and instill hope, especially with what we are all going through, so we are seeking creative ways to share some elements of the program virtually this year to continue to connect our island families -- just in a different way.” For more information, visit the Honolulu City Lights webpage.