Category: kamaainas

Local news for Hawaii

Honolulu Mayor signs bill to recover lost Transient Accommodations Tax revenue

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In a significant move forward, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 40 (2021), CD2 FD1, into law, which is anticipated to generate between $75-85 million a year. The bill as signed will not only restore lost Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) revenue, but it will support our valuable natural resources by addressing the impacts of tourism on O‘ahu and ensure Honolulu has a functional rail system. “Bill 40 restores much-needed revenue and... Read More
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Hawaii 2022 Property Tax Assessments in the mail

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The City and County of Honolulu’s Real Property Assessment Division has prepared the 2022 real property notice of assessments applicable to the 2022-23 tax year. On or before December 15, 2021 the City will distribute approximately 302,000 notices via the United States Postal Service or by email (for those who have subscribed to electronic delivery). The aggregate assessed valuation of all real property on O‘ahu increased from $279.29 billion to $305.79... Read More
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Kaumualii Highway Detour Due to Overpass Installation on Kauai

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs Kauai motorists of a two-lane closure on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) at its intersection with Eleele Road and Waialo Road on Monday night, Dec. 20, as part of the Pedestrian Overpass Project in Eleele. Work crews will be erecting the steel structure for the pedestrian bridge over Kaumualii Highway between the hours of 10 p.m. Monday night and 5 a.m. Tuesday morning. Traffic will... Read More
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5 Deaths and 282 New Hawaii COVID-19 Cases: 12/15

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In the latest COVID-19 report from the Government of the Aloha State, there are 282 new cases bringing the total cases to date to 89,875. Of those total cases, 5,138 required hospitalization. The total cases reported in the past 14 days was 1,905. Total deaths to date are 1,063. CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION To avoid mandatory quarantine, the Vaccination Exception Program is an option for those who have been vaccinated in the... Read More
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Lahaina Sports Bar Reopens

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s (DOH) Food Safety Branch issued Lahaina Sports Bar a green placard and approved its reopening on Dec. 10 after a follow-up inspection found that all the critical food safety violations were corrected. Lahaina Sports Bar, located at 843 Wainee St., completed professional pest control treatments on December 8, 9 and 10. The establishment will continue to complete treatments at least weekly to ensure any potential cockroach... Read More
Hawaii News kamaainas 

Wilson Tunnel Lane Closure for Repairs

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announced a 24/7 closure of the left lane of Likelike Highway in the Honolulu-bound direction in the Wilson Tunnel beginning Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. The closure will remain in place until emergency repairs are completed. To safely setup the 24/7 closure, there will be a full closure of Likelike Highway in the Honolulu-bound direction beginning at 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 13. The right lane of... Read More
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214 New Hawaii COVID-19 Cases: 12/14

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In the latest COVID-19 report from the Government of the Aloha State, there are 214 new cases bringing the total cases to date to 89,593. Of those total cases, 5,127 required hospitalization. The total cases reported in the past 14 days was 1,721. Total deaths to date are 1,058. CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION To avoid mandatory quarantine, the Vaccination Exception Program is an option for those who have been vaccinated in the... Read More
Hawaii News Global news for Hawaii Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas News for Visitors 

150 New Hawaii COVID-19 Cases: 12/13

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In the latest COVID-19 report from the Government of the Aloha State, there are 150 new cases bringing the total cases to date to 89,379. Of those total cases, 5,126 required hospitalization. The total cases reported in the past 14 days was 1,583. Total deaths to date are 1,058. CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION To avoid mandatory quarantine, the Vaccination Exception Program is an option for those who have been vaccinated in the... Read More
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8 Deaths and 189 New Hawaii COVID-19 Cases: 12/11

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In the latest COVID-19 report from the Government of the Aloha State, there are 189 new cases bringing the total cases to date to 89,014. Of those total cases, 5,112 required hospitalization. The total cases reported in the past 14 days was 1,400. Total deaths to date are 1,053. CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION To avoid mandatory quarantine, the Vaccination Exception Program is an option for those who have been vaccinated in the... Read More

Omicron spreading deeper in Hawaii

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) has detected 12 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, also known as the Omicron variant, on O‘ahu. “Most of the infected individuals have no known connection with one another. This indicates the Omicron variant is spreading deeper into our communities,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “People who have tested positive should isolate themselves. Close contacts and people with symptoms should get... Read More
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NextHealth Issued Cease & Desist Order for Unauthorized COVID Testing

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has ordered NextHealth to immediately cease and desist performing COVID-19 tests in the State of Hawai‘i without a license, permit or written approval. DOH also levied a $58,000 administrative penalty. NextHealth performed COVID-19 testing beginning from October 11, 2021 at the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea located at 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kihei, Hawai‘i. Approximately 982 patients were tested during that time. Laboratories are... Read More
Hawaii News kamaainas 

Honolulu Dept. of Health expands booster authorization to 16 and 17-year-olds

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is adopting expanded guidelines from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on COVID-19 booster vaccinations. Hawai‘i residents ages 16 and 17 may receive a booster dose if it has been at least six months since the completion of the initial series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.  DOH reminds all eligible residents they can receive a booster dose if it has been at least two months... Read More
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5 Deaths and 170 New Hawaii COVID-19 Cases: 12/10

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In the latest COVID-19 report from the Government of the Aloha State, there are 170 new cases bringing the total cases to date to 88,825. Of those total cases, 5,102 required hospitalization. The total cases reported in the past 14 days was 1,367. Total deaths to date are 1,045. CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION To avoid mandatory quarantine, the Vaccination Exception Program is an option for those who have been vaccinated in the... Read More
Hawaii News kamaainas 

No need ask Alexa when you can ask Akamai

Linda Hohnholz - editor
The Department of Customer Services has rolled out a chatbot on its website to instantly answer the simplest and most frequently asked questions from thousands of O‘ahu residents. The chatbot named Akamai is the first of its kind for a department in the City and County of Honolulu, and has been equipped to deliver quick voice or text responses to more than 100 questions primarily related to motor vehicle and personal... Read More
Hawaii News kamaainas 

Monsanto Company to pay $22.2 million for illegal use of pesticides in Hawaii

Linda Hohnholz - editor
In court documents filed today in Hawaii, Monsanto Company agreed to plead guilty to 30 environmental crimes related to the use of a pesticide on corn fields in Hawaii, and the company further agreed to plead guilty to 2 other charges related to the storage of a banned pesticide that were the subject of a 2019 Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Monsanto admitted in a plea agreement filed today that it committed... Read More