Hawaii News DigestDOE wants students in classrooms

The Hawaii Department of Education wants elementary students back in classrooms beginning on 22 March 2021.

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

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Accessed on 02 March 2021, 1856 UTC, Post 22,460.

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3.2.2021

TOP STORIES

DOE wants elementary students back in classrooms daily starting March 22
With nearly 180 lost in-person days, tens of thousands of public school students could return to regular in-person classes after spring break. The goal is to have elementary students back daily and more middle and high school students attending in-person learning. Hawaii News Now.

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.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Help! My Boss Keeps Changing Our Goals
Rapidly shifting goals is disorienting and wastes time, and I used to think this was a sign of a business in trouble or an inexperienced manager. But I’ve gained a new perspective after reaching out to Karl Prater, an expert in interpersonal and systemic issues, to help answer your question… read more.

OʻAHU

COVID-19 cluster reported at UH Mānoa student housing
UH contact tracers identified 10 students who may be part of the cluster. Of those, eight had contact with each other, according to a press release. The students have been moved to a hotel the university contracted with to provide isolation rooms. Civil Beat. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

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.

SPONSORED BY HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Project Vision Hawai‘i Uses Mobile Clinics to Bring COVID-19 Services to Remote Communities

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.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Mayor’s first budget plan reflects cutbacks, uncertainty at Legislature
Mayor Mitch Roth on Monday released the first proposed budget of his term, described by staff as a “bare bones” plan, as the county grapples with the fiscal aftermath of the pandemic. West Hawaii Today.

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.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Hawai‘i’s Most Profitable Companies in 2019
This report on profits provides a glimpse back to 2019, the year that capped a decade of economic growth in Hawai‘i. This sample of performance from companies in 13 different industries shows that 2019 was indeed a good time for many... read more.

MAUI COUNTY

Kahului project would include housing and civic center
A state agency is looking to transform the lot across from the Maui Beach Hotel into a civic center, with affordable housing units, a community center, government offices and the potential new home of the Kahului Public Library. Maui News.

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.

KAUAʻI

Work begins on new $21M gym at Kaua‘i High School
After a decade of planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new gym that will seat 1,600 people — double its current size. The facility is expected to be completed by April 2023. KHON2. Garden Island.

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.

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