Rapid Rise In COVID-19 Cases – Hawaii News Digest

Surge in COVID-19 cases prompts Hawaii hospitals into crisis preparation mode.

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

Accessed on 22 December 2021, 2007 UTC.

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12.22.2021

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Today’s Hawai‘i News will not publish on Thursday or Friday of this week, but will resume Monday. The team at Hawaii Business Magazine wishes you a Merry Christmas.

TOP STORIES

Rapid rise in Covid-19 cases prompts Hawai‘i hospitals into crisis preparation mode
The seven-day statewide daily average of new cases jumped 540% over the past 14 days to 634, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday, and the average positivity rate grew to 7.0% from 4.2% Friday. Some health experts are expecting those numbers to rise even higher in the weeks ahead. Star-Advertiser.

Green urges other state officials to sign off on large-scale booster clinics ahead of Christmas
Lt. Gov. Josh Green believes the best way to knock back this latest surge is to make it as easy as possible for people to get a booster shot. Hawaii News Now.

Rep. Sylvia Luke’s district may be dissolved to help calm the reapportionment furor
After some intense lobbying by critics, the state Reapportionment Commission now wants to overhaul the proposed House district maps that might have set up primary election contests between as many as 10 incumbent Democrats. Civil Beat.

November hotel occupancy in Hawai‘i stays below 60%
Occupancy at Hawai‘i hotels in November was still significantly below the 2019 pre-pandemic level. Star-Advertiser.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
How Nine Women Broke Through Tech’s Glass Ceiling
These female tech leaders in Hawai‘i describe how they navigated through what has been a male-dominated industry and how other women can take advantage of the greater opportunities today… read more.

OʻAHU

Why the Navy doesn’t want to defuel the Red Hill tanks
Public pressure to remove jet fuel from more than a dozen Navy underground storage tanks on O‘ahu comes as the U.S. military feels increasing pressure from China to strengthen its presence in the Pacific region. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Navy now says release from Red Hill tank in May may be source of water contamination
A top Navy official now says that as much as 19,000 gallons of fuel may have been released from a Red Hill fuel tank May 6, eventually migrating last month into the Navy’s drinking water system and the faucets of thousands of military families. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Supreme Court rules forfeitures of sweepstakes machines improper
The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and the Honolulu Police Department may be forced to return hundreds of sweepstakes machines under a ruling by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. Hawaii News Now.

$120 million clinic will treat Leeward vets
The Department of Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Healthcare System officially broke ground Tuesday on its long-planned community clinic for the Leeward side. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

SPONSORED BY KAISER PERMANENTE

For a Healthy Hawaiʻi

Committed to improving the health of Hawai‘i’s communities, Kaiser Permanente gave $790,000 in 2021 to various Hawai‘i-based organizations to address housing and homelessness, including The Institute for Human Services (IHS), Project Vision, and Partners In Care… read more.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Water Board frustrated by slow PVC project
Oandemic lockdown orders and then delays getting permits from a backlogged Department of Public Works have led to a 382-day delay in the county Department of Water Supply being able to transition some of its electrical use to solar power. West Hawaii Today.

USGS: Eruption at Halema‘uma‘u Crater has paused, break could last several days
Geologists said based on the length of recent breaks, this one could last several days. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now.

SPONSORED BY SIMPLICITYHR
How to End 2021 HR Strong
If you’re struggling to manage all the HR aspects of running a business–compliance, payroll, training, benefits, risk management, employment law—you’re not alone. Here are some key year-end HR to-dos that you don’t want to overlook before 2022 rolls in... read more.

MAUI COUNTY

Amazon founder makes donation to Maui hospital
Maui Memorial Medical Center announced a donation from Amazon Founder and Executive Chair Jeff Bezos. The donation will be used to expand the hospitalʻs Emergency Department. Maui Now.

Kalama Intermediate dedicates long awaited outdoor playcourt
The newly covered playcourt will be used for Physical Education classes and will provide the school with a new outdoor space with rain protection. Maui Now. Maui News.

Monk seal fatally shot is third death on Moloka‘i this year
An endangered Hawaiian monk seal that was found dead on Moloka‘i in September was shot in the head with a gun, federal officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

KAUAʻI

Kipu Ranch Adventures turns over $7,170 in proceeds to Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i
The $7,170 total presented to Tisha Ruiz and Michelle Panoke of the foodbank represents what has been collected since the program got underway in June. Garden Island.

Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola begins Ulupono Anahola planting
As part of KKOA’s three-day ‘Aina to ‘Opu event, yesterday’s day two marked the first day of planting kalo on the Ulupono Anahola Makai site. Garden Island.

DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE