General News

Updated: 8/22/2020, 4:05 p.m.

Where we stand

The Hawaii Department of Health reported 1 death and 284 new COVID-19 cases today. That brings the state's total to 6,356 and total deaths to 47. Of the new cases, 259 are on Oahu, 10 in Maui County, and 15 on Hawaii Island.

Plans to welcome dozens of elderly World War II veterans for ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II while Hawaii is facing a surge in coronavirus cases have been canceled and limited attendance and a virtual presentation are in the works instead.

The National Science Foundation has launched an informal outreach to Hawaii about possible funding efforts for the stalled Thirty Meter Telescope project.

HONOLULU — Hawaii's unemployment rate declined slightly last month but large numbers of people continue to be out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Updated 8/21/20, 1:45 p.m.

Governor David Ige extended his COVID-19 emergency order until September 30. This extends the state's requirement for facial coverings in compliance with county rules, the 14-day quarantine for transpacific and certain interisland travel, and rental eviction moratorium.

HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Supreme Court ordered the temporary release of some detainees and inmates at the Oahu Community Correctional Center because of the coronavirus.

Updated 8/20/20, 4:22 p.m.

Governor David Ige issued his twelfth supplementary emergency proclamation -- extending the emergency period until September 30. This extends the state's requirement for facial coverings in compliance with county rules, the 14-day qurantine for out-of-state travelers and the inter-island travel quarantine, and rental eviction moratorium.

After mounting criticism, the state Department of health has scaled up its contact tracing efforts. It includes a streamlined process with new protocols in the contact tracing method.

HONOLULU — The Hawaii attorney general's office denies threatening a Republican state House of Representatives candidate with arrest for violating a traveler quarantine mandated to protect the islands from the spread of the coronavirus.

Updated 8/19/20, 3:45 p.m.

Governor David Ige is again postponing the plan to welcome back transpacific travelers due to the large spike in local COVID-19 cases. Daily case counts have been in the triple digits since the beginning of the month and have only declined somewhat in the past two days.

HONOLULU — Customers of Hawaii's only regulated interisland cargo company will pay 46% more to ship goods under a new regulatory ruling.

As Hawaii struggles to control its soaring COVID-19 numbers, it might turn to Austin, Texas where researchers built a model to forecast how different actions can affect levels of infection in the area. It could give Hawaii insights into using hospital cases to determine when it’s time to lock down.

Updated: 8/18/2020, 12:31 p.m.

No social gatherings larger than five will be allowed on Oahu starting Aug. 20 under the latest restrictions aimed at curbing the explosive increase in COVID-19 cases in the state's largest county.

Hawaii public schools today begin a month of distance learning to kick off the new school year.

But for many students -- and some parents -- it will be back to campus to learn in person how to use online technology and meet the teachers.

The teachers’ union opposes that plan. It says it’s not safe to hold in-person training while COVID-19 cases are surging.

At Kauai High School, about half the students, several hundred of them, are expected on campus to attend all-day classes for one week.

Updated: 8/17/2020, 6:06 p.m.

Where we stand

The Hawaii Supreme Court is allowing cerain felony defendants to seek release from Oahu Community Correctional Center as the number of inmates testing positive there reached 181 today.

The chairs of the Hawaii legislative judiciary committees called for action to prevent the state's highly successful mail-in balloting from being disrupted by President Trump's moves against the U.S Postal Service.

Updated: 8/16/2020, 7:58 p.m.

Where we stand

The Hawaii Department of Health reported 220 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the state's total to over 5,000 at 5,042. These include 4,591 on Oahu, 148 on Hawaii Island, 226 in Maui County, and 54 on Kauai. Twenty-three cases were diagnosed out of state. The death toll stands at 40. 

KAHULUI, Hawaii — Kahului Airport on Maui has completed the second phase of its thermal screening project meant to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Days before the first day for public school students across Hawaii, the statewide teachers union filed a complaint with the state Labor Relations Board over working conditions from increasing COVID-19 infections.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said he is working to find out whether the federal government would fully pay for $300 in weekly supplemental unemployment benefits President Donald Trump announced under an executive order last weekend or whether the state would wind up having to foot the bill if it participated in the program.

Updated: 8/15/2020, 7:43 p.m.

Where we stand

The number of Oahu Community Correctional Center inmates testing positive has reached 166 along with 28 OCCC staff, the state Department of Public Safety said this afternoon. The Hawaii Department of Health also reported 284 new COVID-19 cases today. Of the new cases, 273 are on Oahu, 7 in Maui County, 3 on Hawaii Island and 1 on Kauai.