Hawaii News Digest

A new UH medical school report says Hula and other cultural programs can improve Hawaiian health.

Views expressed in this Hawaii State News update are those of the reporters and correspondents.

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Accessed on 17 December 2020, 2124 UTC, Post 22,038.

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12.17.2020

TOP STORIES

Report: Hula, other cultural programs can improve Hawaiian health
A new report from researchers at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine found that culturally based programs are effective in addressing longstanding health inequities among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Hawai‘i’s travel quarantine reduced to 10 days to match health guidelines
Gov. David Ige announced yesterday that, starting today, passengers entering the state of Hawai‘i and traveling between counties will only have to quarantine for 10 days instead of 14. Ige’s proclamation also extended the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent to Feb. 21. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Vaccine skepticism grows in Hawai‘i
Public health agencies have been slow to launch campaigns to counter vaccine skepticism, a trend that could thwart efforts to halt the pandemic. According to a survey, health officials say less than half of the general public are willing to take the vaccine. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Elections officials want to tweak the state’s mail-voting law next year
Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago plans to ask the Legislature for changes that could make it easier for officials to open more in-person voting sites and give voters more time to complete their ballots. Civil Beat.

Kahele resigns state Senate seat, opening call for replacement candidates
U.S. Congressman-elect Kai Kahele has formally resigned as state Senator for District 1, allowing Hawaiʻi County Democrats to officially seek three prospective appointees to fill the seat. Big Island Video News. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. KHON2. Maui Now.

HAWAII BUSINESS
Today’s Lesson: No Wi-Fi=No Learning
Disparities in internet access have long made learning more difficult for some students, from kindergarten to college. And with students learning from home now more than ever, that digital divide has widened… read more.

OʻAHU

Bar owners ask court to let them open
A federal judge may rule Friday on whether bars on O‘ahu can reopen. Since March, they have been shut down for all but a few weeks. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Proposed Home Lands casino would allow golf course, theme parks, sporting events
The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants a lone exception to Hawai‘i’s ban on gambling to create a destination resort in Kapolei. The proposal is facing heavy opposition from some community leaders and lawmakers. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Conditions at Halawa Correctional Facility are unsafe, union says
With the state’s largest prison currently battling an outbreak of COVID-19, the union representing more than 300 employees says the state isn’t doing enough to improve hazardous conditions there. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The year’s final mass food distribution event to take place Friday
The city is offering one more mass distribution of food on O‘ahu — the last large one for the year — at Aloha Stadium this coming Friday. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

What did HPD do to prevent another Kealoha scandal? Not much, chief says
In response to questions from City Councilman Tommy Waters on Wednesday, Police Chief Susan Ballard told a council committee that it would be “difficult” to prevent a similar scandal from happening again. She noted that the power of the police chief goes largely unchecked. Civil Beat. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

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The world has changed faster than we could have imagined, and for many, the future is full of uncertainty. See how these companies have transformed their businesses — anticipating trends and embracing innovation — to better serve their customers in a rapidly changing environment… read more.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Partnership ensures post-arrival testing will continue through mid-January
Mayor Mitch Roth announced on Wednesday that a partnership between Hawai‘i County and a private philanthropist will ensure trans-Pacific COVID-19 testing for those arriving on the Big Island will continue through Jan. 15. Tribune-Herald.

Big Isle hospitals prep to receive vaccines
As the highly anticipated COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out in other parts of the state, some Big Island hospitals are still waiting to receive their first doses. Kona Community Hospital hoped to start immunizing staff on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald. West Hawaii Today.

Shoppers flock to new Safeway store in Kailua-Kona
Yesterday marked the grand opening of the new Safeway location in the Niumalu Marketplace. The 63,000-square-foot supermarket is the first shop to open in the marketplace. West Hawaii Today.

HAWAII BUSINESS
Nominate an Outstanding Small Business
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2021 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Awards is Dec. 31. Winners will be profiled in the May print issue of Hawaii Business Magazine and all nominees will be posted online. Nominate today!

MAUI COUNTY

AlohaSafe Alert app officially launches
The app, developed to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, officially launched on Wednesday, making Maui County the first in the state to have this resource. KITV4.

UH-MC donates freezer to store Pfizer vaccine
With the vaccine expected to arrive on Maui by the end of the week, the University of Hawai‘i-Maui College has donated a freezer large enough to house thousands of doses. Maui News.

Officers cite Maui man for selling undersized ahi
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources cited a Kahului man, after finding him at a roadside stand with 15 ahi weighing between two and two-and-a-half pounds. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. Maui Now.

KAUAʻI

7.6% of CARES Act funds left unused on Kaua‘i
With the federal funds set to expire at the end of December, the county’s $28 million slice has a remaining balance of $2,190,512. Garden Island.

Kaua’i set to reduce its mandatory quarantine period to mirror the state
Travelers to Kaua’i must still quarantine, regardless of pre-travel testing results, but the length of quarantine will drop to 10 days from 14 days. KITV4.

EPA fines Kaua‘i tour company $45K for illegal cesspool
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has ordered a helicopter tour company to close an illegal cesspool and pay $45,000 in fines. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

DECEMBER ISSUE