Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Explosive lava eruption in Leilani Estates during the 2018 Kīlaueaeruption. See below for  distribution of recovery grants for lower Puna. Photo by Andrew Richard Hara

TRAVELERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO HAWAIʻI without 14 days of quarantine beginning Oct. 15, provided they submit an approved negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Anyone without the negative test, will be required to quarantine, including those Hawaiʻi
residents returning to the islands.

     Gov. David Ige announced that Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD will spearhead the pre-travel testing program, which includes adding partners to administer the tests and sourcing new testing options and is also responsible for planning the state's COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

     Components include that all travelers either pre-test or go into 14-day quarantine upon arrival to the state. All travelers are required to have temperature checked and complete a health and travel questionnaire. As an alternative to quarantine, each traveler must produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 test no earlier than 72-hours prior to flight arrival in Hawaiʻi. FDA-approved NAAT tests, processed by a CLIA-certified laboratory are the only types of coronavirus tests currently approved. Green said that approved trusted testing partners will include CVS, Kaiser, and Walgreens.     During a news briefing this afternoon, Gov. David Ige said pre-testing is a key measure for revitalizing Hawaiʻi's visitor-centric economy, while providing protection for the spread of COVID-19. He also announced that interisland quarantine for anyone arriving on any island other than Oʻahu continues through Oct. 15 unless terminated or extended by a separate emergency proclamation.
     See the FAQs on pretesting for Hawai`i travel. 

New state Director of Health Dr. Libby Char

A NEW STATE LEADERSHIP TEAM OVERSEES RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. Gov. David Ige today announced that Maj. Gen. Ken Hara, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Director, remains incident commander, spearheading collaboration between federal, state and county resources to address the pandemic response. Dr. Libby Char, the new Director of the Department of Health
manages public health programs and collaboration between state, county, and private healthcare partners. Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD, oversses pre-travel stesting and the vaccination strategy. The governor said, "This new leadership team gives us a stronger operational structure, stronger leadership, and clears the way for stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors."
     Dr. Virginia Pressler, former director of DOH, is the new volunteer leader of Laulima Alliance, a cross functional team of public and private sector resources. The aim is to ensure that all have a voice in policy making and implementation of programs responding to the pandemic. Ige said, "Together with the progress we've made, and continue to make, in the fight against COVID-19, this new leadership team gives us confidence that the time is right to launch our pre-travel COVID-19 testing program, which is an important step toward reviving our economy while continuing to protect public health."

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou gave out food in Ocean View last Friday. Among those who volunteered is 97-year-old Hawaiian speaker and resident of Punaluʻu, Jeanette Howard (far right). The others pictured (left to right): Amy Krommes, Laurie Boyle, OKK President Wayne Kawachi, Lizzy Cwynar. OKK's ambassador, Hunnay DeMello, and her mother, Monica Akamu, also helped. Photo by Nadine Ebert

ʻO KAʻŪ KĀKOU WILL DISTRIBUTE FOOD on Friday at Its Nāʻālehu Market Grounds at 10 a.m. In a drive-through event, OKK will offer beef donated from MJ Ranch, TC Ranch, and more, similar to the last distribution

     On Saturday, OKK will go to Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home In Hilo.. OKK President Wayne Kawachi said today that the organization raised a few thousand dollars to help the staff members.

THE KĪLAUEA RECOVERY GRANTS PROGRAM HAS ANNOUNCED RECIPIENTS. The funding overseen by Hawaiʻi County's Kīlaueadisaster recovery team provides $3.7 million to assist with recovery in lower Puna. Eighteen grants to community nonprofit organizations support restoration and repairs of private roads; assist inundated or damaged farms with recovering; build affordable homes for displaced residents; support natural and cultural resou rces preservation; assist a public charter school destroyed by the eruption; and other initiatives.

     Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said, "The Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program was developed with community empowerment in mind. From projects that help people get back to homes and farms, to expanding successful programs or spurring innovative solutions, this important tool advances community-driven initiatives that support Puna's ongoing recovery and revitalization."

       The County Council authorized the Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program to allow recovery funding to be provided to private organizations through 501(c)3 nonprofits. Grants larger than $25,000 will be submitted to the County Council for approval via resolution.

     On Tuesday, the County issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a separate grantmaking and capacity-building initiative known as the Community-Based Disaster Management Grant Program. The RFP addresses design, management, and implementation of the program to continue providing grants to support community recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

     Douglas Le, the County's recovery officer, said, "The Community-Based Disaster Management Grant Program was developed to implement the concept of Puna Strong by providing capacity building and grant resources to residents and help support community initiatives. We look forward to partnering with the community on these grant programs and implementing other recovery strategies to increase resilience."

     Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program awards were selected for the following organizations: Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council – $500,000 to support infrastructure development for displaced orchid growers; Habitat for Humanity – $500,000 to build five affordable homes for families who lost their homes during the eruption; Hoʻoulu-Lahui – $500,000 to assist Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School with bringing its leased property into code compliance and Mālama O Puna – $375,000 for road repairs in Leilani Estates.

PāhoaLavaMuseum will receive $22,000 to restore road access to Kapoho Crater. USGS photo

     Also funded are: Food Security Hawaiʻi – $350,000 to assist farm damaged by the eruption; Fellowship for Perpetual Growth – $280,000 to assist farming cooperative damaged by the eruption; GrassrootsChurch– $275,000 to support job creation, sustainable agriculture and community engagement for the Kuleana Project in Pāhoa. Hawaiʻi Rise Foundation – $250,000 for Kapoho Vacationland project planning and Pāhoa Lava Museum – $175,124 to restore road access to 16 properties isolated by lava in Mālama Homesteads.

     More funding goes to O Makuʻu Ke Kahua Community Center – $154,000 to assist Hawaiian families move from subsistence to commercial farming, strengthen farmer's markets, and address safety and security issues; Ono Seeds – $120,000 to assist a farm damaged by the eruption; Kapono Red Road – $104,500 to support historical preservation, stewardship, and land conservation; Self Discovery through Art – $40,750 to support a recovery, resilience, re-creation facilitator training program and Yeshua Outreach Center – $25,000 to build capacity as a viable Red Cross shelter.

     Additional funding goes to Pāhoa Lava Museum – $23,584 to open Puamana Road; Pāhoa Lava Museum – $22,000 to restore road access to Kapoho Crater; Polestar Gardens – $7,500 to restore greenhouse, water, and irrigation systems for a farm; and Church of the Holy Apostles – $5,000 for repairs of water lines damaged by earthquakes.

     A special call to action for donors with type O blood has been added because Hawai‘i experiences a chronically low supply of this blood type. To stabilize the local supply, Blood Bank of Hawai‘i is rallying O-negative and O-positive donors. While all blood is needed, O-negative blood is the highest in demand because it's accepted by everyone, and O-positive blood can be used by anyone with a positive blood type – which is about 80 percent of local residents. For more information, download the O-Type People Unite tool kit here.

     In time for increased Neighbor Island registrations, Blood Bank of Hawai‘i launched a new, updated website this week. The new bbh.org "provides a more engaging digital experience for donors and supporters with many new features," says the announcement. Online redesign now allows donors to find and register for a drive on the home page; shares donor and employee stories; and includes a searchable list of the state's top donors.

     Donors interested in giving blood on Hawai‘i Island or O‘ahu may register at bbh.org or call 808-848-4770. In September, donors will receive a coupon for a free taco, courtesy of Taco Bell.

     Mayor Harry Kim said, "We are grateful for the good work that the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i does, and we're glad that in this time of the pandemic, that they are stepping up to provide their vital service to our community," said Mayor Harry Kim.

      Todd Lewis, Blood Bank of Hawai‘i chief operations officer, said, "We are exceedingly grateful to Mayor Kim for giving us permission to host our Hawai‘i Island drives this fall. Our staff is excited to return, and will do everything possible to make saving lives a safe and enjoyable experience."

     At all locations, additional COVID-19 protocols and procedures recommended by the FDA and CDC will be followed. As a reminder, an appointment is required, as walk-ins can no longer be accommodated. Individuals with questions about operations during the COVID-19 pandemic may visit bbh.org/COVID-19 or connect via social media, @BloodBankHawaii.