DOE wants students in classrooms

New single-dose vaccine raises hopes for overall effort
Nearly 12,000 doses of the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine are en route to Hawai‘i, boosting a state-run vaccination campaign beset by delays from inclement weather and national supply shortages. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.
Health officials are preparing to open vaccinations to people 70 and older around March 15, and 65 and up a couple of weeks later. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i’s economic assessment is less dire than expected
Last year’s dismal economy may not have been as bad as previously estimated, and recovery this year should be a bit stronger, a new state report says. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

231 employees will be laid off when Love’s Bakery shuts down 
A staple of Hawai‘i’s food industry for nearly 170 years, Love’s Bakery announced Monday that it will end operations at the end of this month. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

A fight is growing over the future of Hawai‘i’s aerospace industry
Hawai‘i has a lot going for it when it comes to aerospace development, including its location in the middle of the Pacific. But research on rockets and innovation of high-tech equipment can be costly, and some state leaders feel that money should go elsewhere. KITV4.

Diamond Head State Monument to increase access next week
The popular hiking trail will be open six days a week instead of four, starting next week, according to the Division of State Parks. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Marijuana-related bills are progressing in the Legislature
Five bills related to marijuana remain alive in the state Legislature and will be heard in committee this week. West Hawaii Today.

Catch-and-release policies create revolving door of crime as pending cases pile up
Crime victims and witnesses fear suspects are growing more brazen under a catch-and-release policy that some say has turned parts of Honolulu into lawless zones. KHON2.

HPD sets quota for speed program, requiring officers to make more stops
Honolulu police officers who are participating in a speed enforcement grant program this month will have to pull over at least four drivers every hour. Hawaii News Now.

Here’s what happens when social workers, not police, respond to mental health crises
More cities are adopting a model for de-escalation that has the potential to benefit people with mental illness, allow police to focus on serious crime and save taxpayer dollars. Civil Beat.

Downtown eatery fined $4,000 
The state Health Department said it has fined Doner Shack a total of $4,000 for removing a red “closed” placard it received after a mask violation and for operating without a permit on three occasions. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Internships jump-start construction careers for O‘ahu students
While the pandemic has disrupted job prospects for many teenagers, Hawai‘i’s construction industry is still buzzing along and seeking students for paid summer internships at job sites. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

With a fleet of 10 vehicles, the local nonprofit was gifted CARES Act dollars and a grant by Hawai‘i Community Foundation to expand their mission-driven work of providing access to quality vision care in rural and remote communities, as well as to the houseless, to administering COVID-19 tests and vaccination services… read more.

The state wants to give away COVID-19 tests, but not for Big Island airport screening
In January, The Department of Health provided tests from its large stockpile for the Big Island program — credited by county officials for keeping case numbers low — but now says it’s not a suitable use. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers want fastest and cheapest option for restoring Pohoiki boat ramp
The Department of Land and Natural Resources discussed three options last week for restoring ocean access, but only one made sense: a plan to dredge sand from the front of the boat ramp, which would take about nine months and cost $2.5 million. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Gusty winds topple under-construction Waikoloa Plaza building
High winds with gusts upward of 50 mph lashed portions of the Big Island over the weekend, toppling at least one under-construction building in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Maui Health vaccine clinic appointments now available on VAMS
The federal Vaccine Administration Management System portal for Maui Health has officially reopened. The portal can be accessed by all current VAMS-registered Phase 1A and 1B residents. Maui Now.

Reorganization planned for DOTAX Kaua‘i 
The state’s Department of Taxation plans to reduce staff and reorganize the Kaua‘i District Tax Office, eliminating some on-island services by the end of the year. Garden Island.