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Hawaii Health Department authorizes 2nd COVID-19 booster shot for persons over 50.

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Accessed on 30 March 2022, 2107 UTC.

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3.30.22

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Hawai‘i Health Department authorizes 2nd Covid booster for some
Effective immediately, people who are over the age of 50 and received their first booster shot at least four months ago may receive a second booster shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Vietnam veterans commemorated at Punchbowl
National Vietnam Veterans Day was observed Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in a ceremony attended by the country’s top military leader, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Ige’s new attorney general faces Senate questions over employee complaints
The lawmakers questioned Holly Shikada over personnel issues facing the department, including allegations from a top state investigator who said Shikada contributed to a hostile work environment at the office. Civil Beat.

New Hawai‘i law clarifies procedures for filing criminal complaints
The new law will give prosecutors across the state a chance to refile charges in more than 1,000 misdemeanor cases that were dismissed in the wake of a December ruling by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Bill to limit public access to government records is dying in the Senate
The bill would make it more difficult for the public to get access to “pre-decisional” government records. Lawmakers want to establish a working group to consider when those records should be made public, and when they should be kept secret. Civil Beat.

Smith & Wesson sues Hawai‘i over the high cost of public records
The AG’s office wanted as much as $27,000 for the records requested by the gun manufacturer and said it would take attorneys hundreds of hours to complete the request. The lawsuit says Smith & Wesson filed similar records requests in other states, but has not faced the same barriers to access. Civil Beat.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Hawaiʻi’s Best Places to Work 2022
There’s no magic formula: Creating an excellent workplace takes years of energy, effort and conscious planning. The medium companies that made the Best Places to Work list qualify if they have 50 – 249 Hawaiʻi Employees… read more.

OʻAHU

Honolulu Prosecutors office pushes for more funding
Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm wants to hire about 15 more attorneys to help with the caseload. Currently, Alm says there are 89 deputy prosecutors on staff, but keeping them on the job is proving to be a challenge. KHON2.

Resolution calls for completing long-delayed land deal
A 1991 act of Congress called on the secretary of the Army to hand over to the state 87 acres of land that makes up the western end of Dillingham Airfield, a section of property that also includes the adjacent shoreline. But the conveyance, for unknown reasons, never happened. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Menor to run for Honolulu City Council, not lieutenant governor
The former councilman and state representative wants to return to Honolulu Hale, where he last served from 2013 to 2021. Civil Beat.

BWS chief engineer worries Red Hill fuel contamination could be spreading
Ernie Lau says the revelation came out in the last week or two through an Aquifer Recovery Focus Group attended by 80 stakeholders, including the Navy, state Health Department, Board of Water Supply and EPA. Hawaii News Now.

Feds checking new rail plan for potential problems
Federal transit officials are on O‘ahu this week asking questions about reducing rail construction to 19 stations over 18.75 miles at a cost of $9.8 billion. Star-Advertiser.

‘Complete Streets’ beacon aims to improve safety on Kailua Road
City officials Tuesday morning unveiled a new crosswalk with a flashing beacon to help pedestrians cross a busy thoroughfare in the heart of Kailua town more safely. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

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SPONSORED BY MARYKNOLL SCHOOL

Maryknoll Expands Program to Include Pre-Kindergarten for the 2022-2023 School Year – Still Accepting Applications for all Grade Levels

As Hawaii’s largest coed Pre-K through 12th grade Catholic private school, each student receives personalized instruction and guidance to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to thrive in a global society… read more.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Hilo anesthesiologist Rudolph Puana pleads guilty to one charge before drug trial
The brother of former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha pleaded guilty to one charge in an indictment alleging the doctor prescribed drugs to friends so they could sell them for cash. Puana’s drug-dealing trial on 53 other counts began Tuesday with jury selection. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawai‘i Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Groundbreaking for new HVO facility within the UH Hilo campus could happen next year
Ever since the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s previous facility was critically damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, the U.S. Geological Survey has been in the process of developing a new 60,000-square-foot facility within UH Hilo’s campus. Tribune-Herald.

TRO filed against ‘The Flash’ actor Ezra Miller a day after arrest at Hilo bar
A Hollywood actor who was arrested in Hilo on Monday had a restraining order filed against them Tuesday after a series of erratic incidents over the last few weeks. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

HAWAII BUSINESS MAGAZINE
2 Local Compensation Surveys Could Help Guide Your Business
Two surveys of Hawaii Employers Council members offers insights into best staffing practices for 2022 and how to navigate the ongoing challenges of recruiting and retaining... read more.

MAUI COUNTY

Hundreds on Maui assisted during Mexican Consulate visit
The Mexican Consulate handled about 480 appointments on March 26 and 27, helping individuals and families with their passports and other documentation. This was the first visit by the Consulate in two years due to the pandemic with brisk demand for appointments. Maui Now.

Kīhei roundabout causing headaches and concerns
A new project is underway to make crossing a busy highway in Kīhei safer for pedestrians. Construction on the state’s first two-lane roundabout started last week. KHON2.

Kū‘au landowner fined $60K over shoreline violations
Kuau Cove Properties, the landowner of Mama’s Fish House, will pay the county a $60,000 fine and conduct a project expected to cost upwards of $165,000 to resolve violations that occurred on the shoreline fronting the restaurant in 2019. Maui News.

Lahainaluna boys’ dorm to reopen Sunday
The boys’ dorm was closed for about a month due to a staff shortage. The school said two new dorm attendants have been hired to assist with supervision and ongoing support for the boarders. Maui News.

KAUAʻI

County seeking funds for Po‘ipū infrastructure projects
The county is taking another crack at a federal grant which would provide $26 million in funding for road projects in Po‘ipū. Garden Island.

DeCosta’s agriculture bills get pushback from local lawyer
A trio of proposed bills that would eliminate tax exemptions for large-scale tree farms, orchards and wasteland was met with some resistance at a public hearing last week. Garden Island.

Witnesses say fatal Kaua‘i flight was flying near mountain
U.S. safety regulators said Tuesday that a small plane that crashed on Kaua‘i earlier this month and killed two men on board had been flying close to a mountain in poor weather. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.