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Union workers at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser offered a proposal to the company Thursday in the hopes of reaching an agreement to stop layoffs at Hawaiʻi’s largest newspaper, which are set to go into effect on Monday.

There are 17 new COVID-19 case reported for Hawaiʻi today–14 of them on Oʻahu, one on Kauaʻi and two Hawaiʻi residents who were diagnosed outside of the state–pushing the statewide count to 866 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic. To date, 705 people (83%) have recovered including 113 (97.4%) recovery in Maui County. There are currently 144 active cases in the state, including three on Maui.

Within the last week Maui Humane Society exhausted its supply of donated and supplemental food, by providing 2,500 pounds of pet food to pet owners in financial distress.

There are 81 units in the completed first phase. Another 83 units will be built in a second phase on the same property directly across the street from Foodland at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului. County officials say residents are expected to move in soon.

“I anticipate that once this testing gets in place, that people can come and feel safe here, and our residents feel safe.  Those numbers will climb quite substantially and so we’re gearing up our airport security, our airport checkpoints to make sure we don’t let anyone slip through without being checked,” said Mayor Victorino. 

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has detected $15,829,889 of potentially fraudulent claims paid out as of June 24.  In addition, the department reportedly blocked $76,644,808 in “possible fraudulent PUA payments.”

There are 16 new COVID-19 case reported for Hawaiʻi today–12 of them on Oʻahu, and four on Kauaʻi–pushing the statewide count to 850 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic.

The local access restriction for Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Kapakalua Road and Hāna Town will remain in place through June 30, 2020, according to an update issued today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Full access will be allowed on July 1, 2020.

County officials say the Governor’s announcement gives the visitor industry and businesses time to implement proper health and safety measures.

Minit Medical Urgent Care continues a series of drive-through testing events this week–today in South Maui and tomorrow in Central Maui. About 80 people were tested on Wednesday by Minit Medical at the Lahaina Aquatic Center in West Maui.

Governor David Ige today announced that as of Aug. 1, the state will implement a pre-travel testing option for travelers to Hawaiʻi as an alternative to the 14-day travel quarantine.

There are 16 new COVID-19 case reported for Hawaiʻi today–13 of them on Oʻahu, one on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, and two Hawaiʻi residents who were diagnosed outside of the state–pushing the statewide count to 835 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic. To date, 686 people (83.8%) have recovered including 113 (97.4%) recovery in Maui County. There are currently 132 active cases in the state, including three on Maui.

Mayor Victorino said a “definitive timeline” related to travel from out-of-state will be announced today.   The governor’s media briefing starts at 2:30 p.m. *Check back here for a live stream.

According to the data, Maui County hotels reported RevPAR at $15 (-94.5%), with declines in both ADR to $117 (-66.4%) and occupancy of 12.6 percent (-63.7 percentage points) in May. The Lahaina/Kāʻanapali/Kapalua region had RevPAR of $4 (-98.1%), ADR of $70 (-76.1%), and occupancy at 5.8 percent (-69.5 percentage points).

The senators urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randal Quarles to ensure banks conserve capital now so that they can continue lending if the economic fallout from the pandemic turns more severe.

Fire crews and medics are on the scene of a traffic accident involving multiple vehicles in Pāʻia reported at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.  Clean up crews were caring debris from the Hāna Highway east of the Baldwin Avenue intersection. Vehicles involved were moved to the side of the road, but delays in traffic were reported.

The planet, named “AU Mic b” after its host star, AU Microscopii, was discovered using the NASA TESS planet-finding satellite and confirmed by observations at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility atop Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island.  

The committee voted to provide $19 million for Maui Health System operating costs, $21.6 million for Hawai‘i Health System Corporation operating costs, and $750,000 to the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority to maintain the State’s existing rent supplement program.

In its statement of interest, the United States claims that Hawaiʻi’s self-quarantine requirement “effectively discriminates against out-of-state residents.” Meantime, Special Assistant to the Attorney General for Hawaiʻi, Krishna Jayaram responded to the claims saying “the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation for COVID-19 and the subsequent proclamations were properly and lawfully issued pursuant to the Governor’s statutory authority and his determination that an emergency exists due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the danger and threat it poses to Hawaiʻi.”

The County of Maui reminds residents that rental assistance may be available to those who have lost their job or have reduced income by more than 25% as a direct result of COVID-19.