Hawaii News DigestLessons from the pandemic

What Hawaii hospitals learned about their ability to handle a pandemic in a time of crisis.

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

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Accessed on 08 April 2021, 1914 UTC, Post 22,671.

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4.8.2021

TOP STORIES

What the pandemic taught Hawai‘i hospitals about their capacity to handle calamity
Health officials say the pandemic spurred investment in new equipment, such as monitoring technology for intensive care patients, but staffing shortages persist. Hospitals had to rely on expensive outside help from traveling nurses and respiratory therapists. Civil Beat.

House Speaker pulls the plug on statewide travel mandate
Scott Saiki has asked colleagues to kill a measure that would have established a statewide COVID-19 travel testing program, saying Hawai‘i’s counties have adopted the same testing regime without the need for a mandate. Civil Beat. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i’s transgender community pushes for better health insurance coverage
Experts say getting access to transition services is important, but there’s the debate over how much insurance companies should cover. Civil Beat.

Relief package will fend off “economic scarring,” says Schatz
Federal aid on its way to Hawai‘i will help the state avoid a prolonged economic downturn caused by the pandemic, said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Vaccines are now available for all veterans in Hawai‘i
The Department of Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Healthcare System is now offering COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans, as well as their spouses and live-in caregivers. Civil Beat.

It’s too early to tell how J&J snag will impact vaccinations in Hawai‘i
Although millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine manufactured on the Mainland had to be destroyed because of quality concerns, state health officials say they don’t know how it will affect allocations to Hawai‘i. Tribune-Herald.

Still-closed Waikīkī Aquarium holds Earth Month celebration
Although not admitting visitors, the aquarium is offering a few in-person, outdoor activities and virtual workshops in April, Earth Month, to celebrate its 14th Mauka to Makai Environmental Virtual Expo. The aquarium director says they hope to reopen in June. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
5 Steps to Creating a Culture of Innovation
New products, services and processes are a great way to increase your revenue and strengthen the bottom line. Management consultant Vino Mehta offers this guide… read more.

OʻAHU

Honolulu building plans examiner admits to taking bribes
Kanani Padeken was one of five current and former Department of Planning and Permitting employees charged in a federal corruption probe. She pleaded guilty to accepting at least $28,000 from architect William Wong between 2017 and 2020. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

David Ige, Rick Blangiardi agree to leave Tier 3 in place for now
Honolulu will remain in Tier 3 for at least the next four weeks under an agreement between the governor and the mayor that allows businesses and activities to operate under current restrictions, despite rising COVID-19 cases. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

O‘ahu to join other counties in opening vaccinations to residents 16 and older
Starting April 19, the state says it will meet President Biden’s mandate to allow all adults to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine. Hawai‘i is going a step further and including 16- and 17-year-olds. KHON2. KITV4.

Honolulu Police Commission slams chief for leadership failures, puts her on improvement plan
The commission said yesterday that Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard has embraced a “culture of blame,” in which she shirks accountability and neglects to communicate with officers and the public. Civil Beat. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Citing safety concerns, state seeks $20,000 fine against owners of Wahiawā dam
Engineers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources believe the dam’s concrete spillway isn’t large enough to prevent flooding downstream, and that owners Dole Food Co. and Sustainable Hawaii haven’t done enough to address safety deficiencies. Hawaii News Now.

SPONSORED

Hawaiʻi’s Top Employers 2021

Employees’ views about the workplace are changing rapidly – engagement, morale, life balance and community commitment now often play a bigger role in workplace satisfaction than compensation. Employees have spoken in the 2021 Best Places to Work Survey. Read on to find out where they work and why they love their jobs… read more.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Chun reiterates that UH support of astronomy on Mauna Kea is not a conflict of interest
Greg Chun, UH’s executive director of Mauna Kea stewardship, advised the Maunakea Management Board that an upcoming working group to explore alternative management structures could present “issues” for UH. Tribune-Herald.

Council rejects Leeward Planning Commission nominee
The County Council on Wednesday rejected Mayor Mitch Roth’s appointee to the Leeward Planning Commission, in what the mayor called “retaliation” over his attempt to have a commission member removed in an unrelated action. West Hawaii Today.

Study examines new way to predict the impact of future eruptions before they happen
A team of researchers, including UH volcanology professor Bruce Houghton, identified seismic signatures within earthquakes during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption that are thought to coincide with the viscosity of magma moving underground. Tribune-Herald.

Covered play courts are reopening across the Big Island
The courts at Pana‘ewa Park and Pāhoa District Park reopened on Monday, and Waimea’s will reopen next week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Time Warp: My Boss is Half My Age
I think I’ve met my match with my current boss. He doesn’t seem to think it matters that he was born the year I graduated from high school. He acts like he knows everything about banking and expects me to follow his lead... read more.

MAUI COUNTY

Maui to add mandatory second test for trans-Pacific arrivals
Visitors at Kahului Airport will soon be required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival, or face a 10-day quarantine. The proposed change to the Safe Travels program has been approved by the governor. Maui Now.

Court rules in favor of A&B, Land Board in Maui water dispute
In a setback for environmentalists and some Native Hawaiian farmers, a First Circuit Court judge on Tuesday sided with the state, Maui County and Alexander & Baldwin in a case regarding the use of stream water from East Maui. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Bill would reserve half of all beach parking for residents
Amid overcrowding concerns, the Maui County Council is considering measures that would reserve at least half of all public beach parking for residents and tack on parking fees for visitors. Maui News. Hawaii News Now.

KAUAʻI

Missile Defense Agency briefs Kaua‘i Council on proposed radar
The federal agency said an estimated 200 to 400 people may be needed to construct a proposed $1.9 billion defense radar on Kaua‘i, and more than 100 people will work at the facility. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i councilwoman in the hot seat after accepting paid trip to Russia
The Board of Ethics complaint against Felicia Cowden alleges that she used her status as a member of the County Council to secure a 2019 trip to Volgada, Russia. Cowden says the complaint against her is politically motivated. Civil Beat.

Tiki Iniki mandates that employees get COVID-19 vaccine
The owner of the Princeville establishment is requiring that everyone be vaccinated, including servers, bartenders and cooks. Garden Island.

MARCH 2021 ISSUE