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| A humpback off Maui. Join in the 80th Advisory Council meeting of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, held virtually on Tuesday, July 14. See more below. NOAA image |
See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.
To keep students safe and healthy on campus, DOE worked with public health officials to develop guidelines. They include:
Meals: individually plated meals are to be consumed in classrooms or at designated outdoor locations, or distancing precautions must be instituted in cafeterias.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
COVID-19 IN HAWAIʻI, FACTS & INSIGHTS is the study released by Bank of Hawaiʻi Foundation and Anthology Research today. The study's survey shows that 25 percent of households are delinquent in paying some bills, 20 percent dealt with food security in the last three months, 13 percent sought food from a food drive or food bank, and 45 percent saw household incomes decline since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The study also notes that "Hawaiʻi residents remain worried about contracting COVID-19, citing personal health and the health of members of their households as their top priority." It also finds that many people expect economic recovery to take years. It concludes that, "Neighbor Island residents seem to be in a better state of mind than their Oʻahu counterparts." Download the report here.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
MORE PAYCHECK PROTECTION MONEY, with a deadline to apply by Aug. 8, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. The loans go to businesses to pay to keep people working and for basic expenses. The loan can be forgiven if at least 75 percent is used to pay people to work. The bill passed the Senate earlier this week. The House adopted it with unanimous consent. The President is expected to sign it. The money comes from $130 billion that remained in the Pay Check Protection fund. The application deadline is extended from June 30 to Aug. 8.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, "With COVID-19 cases surging across the country, the hard truth is that this pandemic is far from over. We need to make sure that emergency programs like the Paycheck Protection Program continue to serve our communities as they cope with this crisis." PPP has been critical to keeping many of our small businesses afloat and helping workers. Extending the program is necessary as we continue to focus on defeating this virus. We need more testing, contact tracing, and other common-sense methods to prevent the spread of this disease."
Gabbard invited the public to a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events, including public officials and community leaders to provide updates and directly answer constituent questions.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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HAWAIʻI'S UNEMPLOYMENT COFFERS can be refilled, in part, through an $850 million loan from the federal government. It plans to lend some $23 billion to unemployment insurance trust funds around the country, which are running dry with the overwhelming number of furloughs during the pandemic. Hawaiʻi is one of 11 states approved for the loans, according to Pacific Business News, today, quoting the Kroll Report.
Department of Labor & Industrial Relations announced today that unemployment insurance has paid $1,853,823,044 in claims since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. DLIR Deputy Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio said, "Despite nearly a thousand new claims a day over the past week, the department has managed to maintain a 93 percent level of payouts of the valid unemployment insurance claims that have come in since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We also reduced the number of clean claims without certification by 950 so we still have 10,455 clean claims ready for payment of benefits by filing weekly claim certifications at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/."
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN FOR FALL SEMESTER ON AUG. 4 with face-to-face instruction at Nāʻālehu, Pāhala, Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences, and around the state. Hawaiʻi's School Superintendent, Dr. Kristina Kishimoto, made the announcement this evening, saying, "Please know that we are not returning to business as usual. While we aim to improve and expand on our online learning option, onsite classes are critical for students who need in-person learning and for those in hard to reach communities as well as for families who need to work." She said the Department of Education's "priority will always be the health of our students and of all of our staff."
Kishimoto said, "We know that the delivery of instruction in Hawaiʻi, across the nation, and globally is going to look very different. Our DOE ʻohana has been diligently working on plans for the new school year, growing from our experience navigating a global pandemic and applying lessons learned toward our commitment to high-quality learning and equity of access."
She joined Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park and state Director of Health, Dr. Bruce Anderson, in making a video presentation for families of students, teachers, and the public. See their presentation at hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/school-year-2020-21.aspx.
DOE also released its Return to Learn: School Reopening Plan to "safely welcome back students and staff in the fall. It details elementary, middle/intermediate, and high school models for reopening. School days will include face-to-face learning where all students are on campus daily for instruction, and blended learning models to combine in-person learning and structured online distance learning.
According to the Plan, priority for daily face-to-face learning will be given to K-2 students and vulnerable students. All schools are preparing for the possibility of future school closures by increasing device accessibility to students, building teacher capacity for virtual engagement, and expanding course offerings for credits toward graduation. Schools will offer options for students who prefer to do solely online learning.
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| Nāʻālehu Elementary STEAM events might be held but with masks, fewer people in groups, and more distancing. Read the plan for reopening schools on Aug. 8. Photo from Nāʻālehu Elementary |
She joined Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park and state Director of Health, Dr. Bruce Anderson, in making a video presentation for families of students, teachers, and the public. See their presentation at hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/school-year-2020-21.aspx.
DOE also released its Return to Learn: School Reopening Plan to "safely welcome back students and staff in the fall. It details elementary, middle/intermediate, and high school models for reopening. School days will include face-to-face learning where all students are on campus daily for instruction, and blended learning models to combine in-person learning and structured online distance learning.
According to the Plan, priority for daily face-to-face learning will be given to K-2 students and vulnerable students. All schools are preparing for the possibility of future school closures by increasing device accessibility to students, building teacher capacity for virtual engagement, and expanding course offerings for credits toward graduation. Schools will offer options for students who prefer to do solely online learning.
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| Volcano School of Arts & Sciences on a field trip to see the Hōkūleʻa in person. Whether field trips will be held this year, and with what protocols, is being worked out as schools reopen. Photo from VSAS |
Cohorts: for on-campus learning, the same group of students should be kept with the same staff throughout the day; all day for younger students and as much as possible for older students.
Physical distancing: a distance of six feet between students and staff members should be maintained whenever possible.
Face coverings: face coverings should be worn by employees, students, and visitors, especially when physical distancing is difficult or impossible.
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| Holding in-person group events, like this one in the historic Kaʻū gym, years ago, depends on the course of the pandemic. Photo by Julia Neal |
Ventilation: windows should be opened for greater natural air circulation when possible.
Monitoring health: employees, students, and visitors should be screened for overt signs of illness in a safe and respectful manner.
Hygiene: adequate cleaning supplies, including soap, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitizer, will be made available to schools and offices.
Sanitation: campuses, classrooms, and offices will be cleaned and disinfected on a routine and frequent basis. High-touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.
School buses: students, drivers, and anyone else riding the bus should wear face coverings, and physical distance should be maintained between students on buses.
As the situation evolves and as new guidance becomes available, DOE says, it will adjust as necessary to uphold its commitment to providing a safe learning and working environment. View the full reopening plan here. |
| See the Bank of Hawaiʻi Foundation and Anthology Research Report here. |
COVID-19 IN HAWAIʻI, FACTS & INSIGHTS is the study released by Bank of Hawaiʻi Foundation and Anthology Research today. The study's survey shows that 25 percent of households are delinquent in paying some bills, 20 percent dealt with food security in the last three months, 13 percent sought food from a food drive or food bank, and 45 percent saw household incomes decline since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The study also notes that "Hawaiʻi residents remain worried about contracting COVID-19, citing personal health and the health of members of their households as their top priority." It also finds that many people expect economic recovery to take years. It concludes that, "Neighbor Island residents seem to be in a better state of mind than their Oʻahu counterparts." Download the report here.
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| From the report released today from Bank of Hawaiʻi Foundation and Anthology Research. See it here. |
MORE PAYCHECK PROTECTION MONEY, with a deadline to apply by Aug. 8, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. The loans go to businesses to pay to keep people working and for basic expenses. The loan can be forgiven if at least 75 percent is used to pay people to work. The bill passed the Senate earlier this week. The House adopted it with unanimous consent. The President is expected to sign it. The money comes from $130 billion that remained in the Pay Check Protection fund. The application deadline is extended from June 30 to Aug. 8.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, "With COVID-19 cases surging across the country, the hard truth is that this pandemic is far from over. We need to make sure that emergency programs like the Paycheck Protection Program continue to serve our communities as they cope with this crisis." PPP has been critical to keeping many of our small businesses afloat and helping workers. Extending the program is necessary as we continue to focus on defeating this virus. We need more testing, contact tracing, and other common-sense methods to prevent the spread of this disease."
Gabbard invited the public to a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events, including public officials and community leaders to provide updates and directly answer constituent questions.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
HAWAIʻI'S UNEMPLOYMENT COFFERS can be refilled, in part, through an $850 million loan from the federal government. It plans to lend some $23 billion to unemployment insurance trust funds around the country, which are running dry with the overwhelming number of furloughs during the pandemic. Hawaiʻi is one of 11 states approved for the loans, according to Pacific Business News, today, quoting the Kroll Report.Department of Labor & Industrial Relations announced today that unemployment insurance has paid $1,853,823,044 in claims since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. DLIR Deputy Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio said, "Despite nearly a thousand new claims a day over the past week, the department has managed to maintain a 93 percent level of payouts of the valid unemployment insurance claims that have come in since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We also reduced the number of clean claims without certification by 950 so we still have 10,455 clean claims ready for payment of benefits by filing weekly claim certifications at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/."
DLIR reports that fraudsters are targeting state unemployment insurance systems "through various schemes and identity theft. Bad actors are using stolen personal information from sources outside of the department, such as from massive external data breaches like the Equifax breach, to apply for benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and attempt to route payments to their own bank accounts. As of June 24, the department has blocked $95M in possible fraudulent payments and detected a potential of $18M paid out in PUA benefits. Investigations are ongoing and will confirm the exact total of erroneously paid benefits.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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YOUNG BROTHERS' PLEA FOR FUNDING TO KEEP IT GOING has been rejected at the Hawaiʻi Legislature. The House Finance Committee held the bill this week. Young Brothers asked for $20 million in loans through the state Department of Transportation to keep it operational next year, with the condition that at least one county would lend the company $10 million. The proposal also called for transferring oversight of rates for Young Brothers to the state Department of Transportation through 2021. The money would come from federal CARES Act funding.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION introduced by Rep. Ed Case is recommended in a report released this week by Congress' first committee dedicated exclusively to climate change. Case said, "Our House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, formed last year at the outset of our current two-year Congress, came out with a revolutionary report today on the realities of climate change and the best ways forward. I'm reassured that the role of our world's oceans was prominent, including adoption of two of my bills: H.R. 3384, the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019, and H.R. 6738, the Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020."
Case said the Committee's Climate Crisis Action Plan calls on Congress to enact legislation and implement other recommendations in four areas: Grow Our Economy and Put Americans Back to Work in Clean Energy Jobs;Protect the Health of All Families; Make Sure Our Communities and Farmers Can Withstand the Impacts of Climate Change; and Protect America's Land and Waters for the Next Generation.
According to an independent analysis, said Case, the Climate Crisis Action Plan would save more than 60,000 American lives every year by 2050 as a result of reduced air pollution, as well as nearly $8 trillion saved through 2050 as a result of health and climate benefits. "Our Select Committee's plan would put the country on a path to net-zero carbon pollution by 2050, if not earlier," said Case. "It would power economic recovery through clean energy investment and family-sustaining jobs and address the legacy of environmental injustice harming America's low-income communities and communities of color."
The Select Committee highlighted the importance of protecting ecologically important areas, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The plan urged the federal government to build on the foundation of states' actions, calling out Hawaiʻi's laws to utilize 100 percent renewable energy and be carbon neutral by 2045. Page 471 of the Action Plan report highlights the measures introduced by Case.
The Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019 would support practices to preserve, sustain, restore, monitor, understand, and research coral reef ecosystems by directing the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to fund and administer a coral prize competition.
Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020 would reauthorize and modernize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, including strengthening response to coral bleaching and other impacts; expanding grants for local coral reef conservation projects; and authorizing DOI to research and conserve coral resources.
The Action Plan highlights Hawai‘i's efforts to deal with climate crisis in the following ways: "Congress should establish a national goal of protecting at least 30 percent of all U.S. lands and ocean areas by 2030, prioritizing federal and nonfederal lands and waters with high ecological, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration value. Currently, just 12 percent of U.S. lands and 26 percent of the U.S. ocean — primarily marine monuments in the remote Western Pacific or northwestern Hawaiʻi — are permanently protected."
Under Building on a Foundation of State and Local Leadership, the Action Plan notes that "Hawaiʻi passed legislation requiring 100 percent electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2045 and setting an economy-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2045."
Under Building Block: Ensure Diverse Participation in Department of Energy RDD&D Programs, the Action Plan recommends that Congress "direct DOE to ensure that grant recipients for existing and new Research, Development, Demonstration, & Deployment programs represent a variety of types of institutions of higher education by broadly disseminating grant information and conducting outreach to minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions."
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was created by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the outset of the 116th session of Congress, to make science-based policy recommendations to the standing committees of jurisdiction on how to solve the climate crisis. The Committee's Action Plan is designed to be the overall big-picture roadmap for specific legislative and other policy initiatives. The Select Committee report is here. Find Case's measures here.
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Public comment starts at about 10:30 a.m. To provide comment during the virtual meeting, sign up in advance. The line-up of speakers will be based on date and time of registration. Selecting "yes" is consent to being unmuted and having communications, including name and audio comment, recorded and maintained by the Council as part of its administrative record. This record may be subject to release pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. To provide public comment anonymously, email cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov or type a comment into the Question box and ask for it to be read anonymously during the assigned time.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Case said the Committee's Climate Crisis Action Plan calls on Congress to enact legislation and implement other recommendations in four areas: Grow Our Economy and Put Americans Back to Work in Clean Energy Jobs;Protect the Health of All Families; Make Sure Our Communities and Farmers Can Withstand the Impacts of Climate Change; and Protect America's Land and Waters for the Next Generation.
According to an independent analysis, said Case, the Climate Crisis Action Plan would save more than 60,000 American lives every year by 2050 as a result of reduced air pollution, as well as nearly $8 trillion saved through 2050 as a result of health and climate benefits. "Our Select Committee's plan would put the country on a path to net-zero carbon pollution by 2050, if not earlier," said Case. "It would power economic recovery through clean energy investment and family-sustaining jobs and address the legacy of environmental injustice harming America's low-income communities and communities of color."
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| Tawhiri Windmills in the South Point pastures are a building block toward 100 percent renewable energy for Hawaiʻi by 2045. Hawaiʻi is given as an example in the federal Climate Crisis Action Plan, supported by Rep. Ed Case. Photo by Peter Anderson |
The Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019 would support practices to preserve, sustain, restore, monitor, understand, and research coral reef ecosystems by directing the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to fund and administer a coral prize competition.
Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020 would reauthorize and modernize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, including strengthening response to coral bleaching and other impacts; expanding grants for local coral reef conservation projects; and authorizing DOI to research and conserve coral resources.
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| The Climate Crisis Action plan names Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument for its protection of coral reefs, with recommendations to expand local reef protection programs in Hawaiʻi and along the coasts of the U.S. Marine Monument photo by James Watt |
Under Building on a Foundation of State and Local Leadership, the Action Plan notes that "Hawaiʻi passed legislation requiring 100 percent electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2045 and setting an economy-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2045."
Under Building Block: Ensure Diverse Participation in Department of Energy RDD&D Programs, the Action Plan recommends that Congress "direct DOE to ensure that grant recipients for existing and new Research, Development, Demonstration, & Deployment programs represent a variety of types of institutions of higher education by broadly disseminating grant information and conducting outreach to minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions."
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was created by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the outset of the 116th session of Congress, to make science-based policy recommendations to the standing committees of jurisdiction on how to solve the climate crisis. The Committee's Action Plan is designed to be the overall big-picture roadmap for specific legislative and other policy initiatives. The Select Committee report is here. Find Case's measures here.
VIRTUALLY ATTEND A MEETING ON HUMPBACK WHALES. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will meet for its 80th time via GoToWebinar on Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will introduce new and returning members; have presentations on advisory council guidelines, sanctuary updates, and discussions on potential council action topics; and address questions from members and the public.
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| Taking action on Humpback whale protection will be part of the discussion during the virtual Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting on July 14. NOAA photo |
Register in advance here. A confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar will be emailed after registration. To participate in the virtual meeting outside of meeting times, send comments to cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov.
The Advisory Council meeting will be audio-visually recorded for the purposes of accurately developing meeting minutes. No member of the public will be video recorded. The recording of this public meeting will not be published but may be subject to release pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Minutes of the meeting, including all public comments and any associated names, will be available to the public at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
The Sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawaiʻi through the Division of Aquatic Resources. The Sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation, and stewardship.
Learn more on Facebook; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, sanctuaries.noaa.gov; State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com. |
| Breaching whales in Hawaiian waters. Give input on protecting the great cetaceans at the July 14th virtual meeting of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. NOAA photo |
THE POLICE ASK FOR HELP REGARDING A SINGLE-VEHICLE TRAFFIC FATALITY IN KAʻŪ at the intersection of Coral Parkway and Ginger Blossom Lane , in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, early Sunday morning, June 21. Pāhoa resident Angel Nohelani Leialoha Ano, 31, died when a vehicle driven by Kona resident Bernard Kahalehili Antoque, 38, passed through a stop sign and into a lava field.
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HPD arrested Antoque on a warrant for Negligent Homicide in the 2nd degree and Driving with a Revoked Driver's license. His bail was set at $3,000 pursuant to the warrant of arrest. After police conducted further investigation, and conferral with Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor's Office, Antoque received charges of Manslaughter, Negligent Homicide, Driving Without a License While Suspended/Revoked, Drug Paraphernalia, Unsafe Vehicle on Roadway, Promotion of a Harmful Drug in the 3rd degree, False Certificates of Inspection, No Vehicle Insurance and Promotion of a Detrimental Drug in the 3rd degree. Antoque is in police custody, awaiting arraignment.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Kelsey Kobayashi at 326-4646, ext. 229 or via email at kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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According to a statement from Hirono's staff, "Though Governor Ige has extended the state eviction moratorium through July, Hawaiʻi families will continue to face housing insecurity. More than 40 percent of Hawaiʻi residents are renters, according to the 2017 American Community Survey. The
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THE FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR RENTERS should be extended, says Sen. Mazie Hirono. She cosponsored the Protecting Renters from Eviction and Fees Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren this week to extend and expand the federal eviction moratorium for renters set out in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The bill would extend the existing moratorium on evictions from properties with federally-backed mortgages that is set to end July 24, through March 27, 2021 and expand it to include nearly all renters. It also prohibits extra charges, fines, or fees related to the nonpayment of rent. This legislation is a component of the House-passed HEROES Act. University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization
Hirono said, "Yesterday, once again, families in Hawaiʻi, unfortunately, joined millions of families across the country in making heartbreaking decisions about whether they should pay their rent or their bills. The Senate should act quickly to provide certainty that families won't lose their homes while they continue social distancing. This is no time to take a pause on helping families."
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TWENTY NEW COVID-19 CASES IN HAWAIʻI are reported today. Three of those cases are on Hawaiʻi Island. There are six active cases on-island, and one of the patients is hospitalized. The other five patients are being monitored by Department of Health. Three cases are travel-related; the cause for the three new cases are mostly "associated with identified cases or clusters, says a statement from DOH.
Oʻahu reported 17 new cases today. The state's new case total is 310 in 27 days.
Hawaiʻi Island recorded its six active cases over the last two weeks. All other 84 confirmed COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two other hospitalizations on-island; those patients have been released.
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| Department of Health infographic encourages the public to watch out for the "Three Cs." |
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 676 cases, Kauaʻi 38, and Maui County 125. Seventeen victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 946 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Eighteen people died.
Due to the July 4 holiday weekend, DOH reminds "everyone to wear masks and to continue practicing physical distancing. One reported cluster the DOH is monitoring involved people that had gathered and shared food at a potluck. This serves as a reminder that COVID-19 is still in our communities and everyone should follow proper guidelines to reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said, "During this long 4th of July holiday weekend, many people will be celebrating with family and friends. As we do so, we all need to remember to keep protecting our community by maintaining safe practices. We should wear our masks and stay six feet from others outside our household or those we don't normally see and interact with every day. Hawaiʻi has kept COVID-19 case numbers manageable thanks to all of us diligently following infection prevention measures – and please keep up those efforts even during times of celebration."
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases. Hawaiʻi Department of Health map |
Other things to keep in mind include washing your hands properly and staying home if you're sick, says DOH.
To remind people to practice physical distancing, DOH has released infographics the public can share on social media, to remind family and friends to "Avoid the 3 Cs" of Closed spaces with poor ventilation, Crowded places with many people nearby, and Close-contact settings such as close-range conversations.
The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says the three on-island cases being travel related "emphasizes the importance of exercising caution of traveling.
"As reported, the majority of states in our country are continuing to see an increase of large numbers of people being infected by the Coronavirus. Hawaiʻi remains in a very good place because of your care of following preventive measures. You are asked to continue and even get better in following the health policies of keeping Hawaiʻi safe. This is a community issue and we need your help. Please follow the preventive measures of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness while you celebrate on this Fourth of July weekend. It is all of our responsibility to keep Hawaiʻi safe. We must all do our part to keep our community safe as we celebrate our Independence Day. Thank you for listening. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 2,735,554 cases have been confirmed – an increase of about 57,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 128,684.
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com. |
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
After-School All-Stars Free Virtual Summer Program runs through Friday, July 17. For students going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Classes offered are cooking, baking, fitness, arts & crafts, sports, gardening, and more. Every activity earns one entry in a prize drawing. All materials provided; pick up on Monday mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, or Ocean View. Register at tinyurl.com/KauSummer2020. For more info, contact Chrysa Dacalio, kau@asashawaii.org, 808-561-3710.
Eco-Tour at Shaka Forest Farms, Friday, July 3 at10 a.m. in Volcano Village
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Virtual Cultural Festival runs from July 5 through July 11 on social media. Hawaiian culture will be shared with a wide audience free of charge. Instead of gathering the community and visitors together in person, the Park will share short videos and other mana‘o (knowledge) about Hawaiian culture virtually. #FindYourVirtualPark" Go to facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps/.
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Facebook Watch Party for the documentary, Saving ‘Ōhi‘a. At noon on Wednesday, July 8, grab lunch and join the virtual gathering for a free screening of the Emmy-award winning 28-minute documentary, Saving ‘Ōhi‘a. This 2018 film explains the significance of the ‘ōhi‘a tree to the people of Hawai‘i and environment, and the threat that the new disease called "Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death" poses to these values. Park ecologist David Benitez, park botanist Sierra McDaniel, and filmmaker Annie Sullivan will answer questions in real time in the comments. The documentary was filmed partially in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
After-School All-Stars Free Virtual Summer Program runs through Friday, July 17. For students going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Classes offered are cooking, baking, fitness, arts & crafts, sports, gardening, and more. Every activity earns one entry in a prize drawing. All materials provided; pick up on Monday mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, or Ocean View. Register at tinyurl.com/KauSummer2020. For more info, contact Chrysa Dacalio, kau@asashawaii.org, 808-561-3710.
Eco-Tour at Shaka Forest Farms, Friday, July 3 at
Independence Day Community Barbecue, Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. , or as long as supplies last at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village
Dine In or Grab-and-Go at Crater Rim Café inKīlauea Military Camp on Saturday, July 4. Ready-to-Go Family BBQ Special will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes 8 BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, 16 pieces of Local Style Fried Chicken, 8 pieces of 6 oz. Corn on the Cob, 2 lbs. of Coleslaw, 2 lbs. of Steamed Rice, and 2 lbs. of Mashed Potatoes, all for $55.95. Individual To-Go Lunches will also be available for purchase at $12.95 per person. Reservations for dine-in and take-out are required, call 967-8356. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Celebrate 4th of July with OKK at its Market space in Nāʻālehu from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. ʻO Kaʻū Kākou will offer shave ice, hot dogs, and watermelon, free to the public, either grab-and-go or during the event. See the Lawn Mower Parade and listen to the music of Keoki Sereno, Sonny Ramos, Tui Masaniai, and Shootz band. Attendees must observe social distancing, sanitize hands at the entry, and wear face masks. OKK will thank Brawny for naming OKK Pres. Wayne Kawachi a Brawny Giant and donating $10,000 to the non-profit group.
Dine In or Grab-and-Go at Crater Rim Café in
Celebrate 4th of July with OKK at its Market space in Nāʻālehu from
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| At OKK Market space in Nāʻālehu on Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy free shave ice, hot dogs, and watermelon; watch the Lawn Mower Parade; and listen to the music of Keoki Sereno, Sonny Ramos, Tui Masaniai, and Shootz band. |
All virtual events will be posted at the listed time, but the content will be available any time afterwards:
Opening ‘Oli Komo will kick off the festival on Sunday, July 5 at 8:08 a.m. Park staff and ‘ohana will blow the pū (conch shell) and chant the ‘Oli Komo together, requesting permission to begin the Virtual Cultural Festival. The ‘Oli Komo, which expresses the intent to learn and do good, was gifted to the park by Kepā Maly. Ranger Kekoa Rosehill narrates.
Mo‘olelo & Places. On Monday, July 6 at 8:08 a.m. and 4 p.m. , learn the mo‘olelo (stories) of Pele the volcano goddess, Kamapua‘a the pig demigod, and others, on the Park's new Moʻolelo web page which debuts that morning. That afternoon, the Park will launch the new Places page, which shares mana‘o (knowledge) about the wahi pana (sacred places) protected within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Jaggar Museum
Learn to Make a Tī Leaf Lei on Tuesday, July 7 at 8:08 a.m. , with Ranger Leilani Rodrigues of the Kahuku Unit. Learn how to select tī leaves, prepare them for lei making, and how to twist them into a beautiful and easy-to-make garland.
Hawaiian Lua (Martial Arts) with Ranger Michael Newman and Olivia Crabtree on Thursday, July 9 at 8:08 a.m. Bone-breaking maneuvers and war clubs encircled with tiger-shark teeth are probably not the first things to come to mind when one pictures the Hawaiian Islands . The Hawaiian fighting style of lua is a formidable art form that requires skill, specific movement, and a host of deadly weapons. The rangers demonstrate this traditional fighting style.
Learn to Make a Pūlumi Nī‘au (Hawaiian Broom) with Ranger Dean Gallagher on Friday, July 10 at 8:08 a.m. Get swept up in gathering plant materials and learn to make a pūlumi nī‘au, or authentic Hawaiian broom.
Closing ‘Oli Mahalo will close the Virtual Cultural Festival on Saturday, July 11 at 8:08 a.m. Park staff and ‘ohana will blow the pū (conch shell) and chant the ‘Oli Mahalo together, requesting departure to close the festival. Gifted to the park by Kepā Maly, the ‘Oli Mahalo expresses gratitude. Ranger Kekoa Rosehill narrates.
Many areas in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that provide outdoor experiences like hiking trails, overlooks, and roads, are now open to the public, but services are limited. Visit the Current Conditions page on the park website for a complete list of what's open, and how to prepare for a safe trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, at nps.gov.
Apply for Small Grants to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, urges The Kohala Center. Deadline to submit a letter of interest is Friday, July 10. Visit the program website or refer to this fact sheet for more information.
Zentangle with Lydia 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
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Virtual 80th Meeting of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will introduce new and returning members; have presentations on advisory council guidelines, sanctuary updates, and discussions on potential council action topics; and address questions from members and the public. Public comment begins about 10:30 a.m. To provide comment, sign up in advance, email cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov or type a comment into the Question box. Register in advance at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5189333551313546256. Learn more on Facebook; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, sanctuaries.noaa.gov; State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar.
Grow Food From Wood: Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, separate workshops on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village
Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon . "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through 6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America , developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.
ONGOING
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo .
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden
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Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.
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