Deciding damages in Hawaiian homestead case; Sounds from a naturalization ceremony; Election registration deadline nears; Substitute teachers in unemployment insurance limbo; Reopening Waikiki Aquarium
Deciding damages in Hawaiian homestead case
The issue of damages in the class action lawsuit Kalima v. The State of Hawaii has been the subject of court proceedings for more than a decade. The lawsuit, filed in 1999 on behalf of more than 2,700 beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust, claimed the state breached its trust obligations by not awarding them a homestead in a timely manner. The trial itself only lasted six months, ruling in favor of the claimants in 2009. However, finding common ground on damages has taken 11 years.
Sounds from a naturalization ceremony
Due to the pandemic, naturalization ceremonies swearing in new U.S. citizens have been limited to small groups in Hawaii, and drive through ceremonies on the mainland. The U.S. District Court last held a naturalization ceremony in Hawaii in February, and HPR was there.
Election registration deadline nears
Election officials are making a push to reach senios as there lots of questiosn about how the voting by mail process is going to work. Brickwood Galuteria with Kupuna Power talks about a campaign to make sure seniors understand the process. The state Office of Elections will be conducting drive-through voter registration at sites on Hawaii Islands, Maui, Kauai and Oahu on July 8 and 9. Click here for more info.
Substitute teachers in unemployment insurance limbo
Public schools depend on substitutes to help deal with a statewide teacher shortage, but their eligibility for summer unemployment insurance is in limbo. Civil Beat reporter Marcel Honore tells us how these high demand teachers are falling through the cracks. Click here to read the story at CivilBeat.org.
Reopening Waikiki Aquarium
The Waikiki Aquarium has joined a handful of other attractions across the state in the slow, careful process of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The aquarium closed its doors in mid-March over ongoing safety concerns, and in the months following its temporary closure reported spending roughly $2 million just to keep the facility operating. As the iconic attraction begins welcoming back visitors, aquarium director Andrew Rossiter hopes that new health and safety guidelines will offers a safe, socially distanced experience.