Hawaii’s economic recovery

81K vaccine doses expected to arrive as early as next week
Hawai‘i health officials say the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are expected soon, launching what may be “the largest immunization campaign in the history of our state,” Governor David Ige said Thursday. Health care workers, staff and residents in long-term care facilities, first responders and essential workers are slated for the first doses, while the general population could get vaccinated by summer. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. Tribune-Herald. KHON2. KITV4. Garden Island. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

DOE reveals furlough plan for teachers, other employees
The Department of Education’s 21,900 full-time, salaried employees, including 13,000 teachers, will have to take six to 10 days of unpaid leave next year, school superintendent Christina Kishimoto said Thursday. The governor had earlier ordered statewide furloughs in a bid to balance the budget. Civil Beat.

Public worker unions urge Ige to halt furlough plan, citing confusion
State department heads were given a “very short window” to determine which employees will be furloughed or exempt, and they are unsure how to execute the program, according to the statement from the unions, which included United Public Workers and the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly. Experts say the furlough fight is likely to wind up in court unless lawmakers step in. Civil Beat. KHON2.

$22M left on Hawai‘i Restaurant Cards needs to be spent by Tuesday
With just days left before the deadline, restaurant owners are begging people to come eat. Hawaii News Now.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs names Carmen Hulu Lindsey chairwoman
Lindsey, who has represented Maui on the board for eight years, replaces former chair and veteran OHA trustee Colette Machado, who lost her reelection after 23 years on the board. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.

How Hawai‘i became a training ground for the Indonesian military
The state’s politicians and military commanders have pushed for strong defense ties with Jakarta for two decades, but Indonesia’s bloody history in the Pacific casts a shadow. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he won’t furlough workers
But he cautions that if things don’t improve, the incoming mayor could have to consider furloughs for City and County of Honolulu employees. KITV4.

Restaurants get 90-day delay of ban on plastic utensils
Restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and other businesses that serve prepared food on O‘ahu are getting an extra three months to use up their plastic forks, spoons, knives and other utensils. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Moving to Tier 3 by Christmas is unlikely but still possible 
In a press conference Thursday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said it would be very difficult, but that there is still hope Honolulu could get to Tier 3 by Christmas if virus numbers decrease. KHON2. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Despite millions in federal funds, HPD’s tent city at Ke‘ehi Lagoon sits mostly underutilized
The Honolulu Police Department’s large tent city at Ke‘ehi Lagoon Beach Park is a highly visible symbol of its efforts to combat COVID-19 and homelessness. But the rising cost of the emergency shelter is raising red flags among members of the Honolulu City Council and within the community. Hawaii News Now.

Featured in this special promotional section are winners and entrants in AIA Honolulu’s 62nd Annual Design Awards. AIA Honolulu received 41 professional entries and a record amount of 26 student award entries this year, proving that architects are nimble, resilient, and well prepared to face adversity in their quest to improve our public and private spaces… read more.

Observatory installs solar photovoltaic system
The W. M. Keck Observatory announced Thursday that it has successfully installed the system on the rooftop of its telescope facility on the summit of Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Keahuolu Courthouse employee tests positive 
The Hawai‘i State Judiciary announced the COVID-19 result on Thursday. The employee was last at work on December 8 and does not work in a courtroom. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Maui’s Family Life Center receives $1.25M Bezos grant 
The nonprofit organization serving the homeless in Maui and Kauaʻi counties was selected to receive a $1.25 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund created by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. Maui Now.

Surfer who died following Honolua Bay shark attack is named
Maui authorities initially said 56-year-old Robin Warren of Napili was in stable condition when he was hospitalized on Tuesday. He underwent surgery, but his condition quickly deteriorated and he died on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.