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As of noon on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, there are 635 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with one new case in the state on the island of Oʻahu. This new case involves an out-of-state resident who was screened at the airport and subsequently tested positive.

By taking the 99.9 Kiss FM Coronavirus Survey, participants will be entered into a random drawing for a $100 VISA card for the winner to keep for themself.   The winner will also be asked to pick a nonprofit organization of their choice to receive an advertising package worth $5,000 in credit with Pacific Media Group radio stations.

Unit demand in Maui County was 200,000 unit nights, resulting in 69.6 percent occupancy (-13.5 percentage points) with an ADR of $301 (+10.2%), according to the Hawaiʻi Vacation Rental Performance Report compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Aubrey Hord Photography and the Maui Food Bank are partnering to offer the Maui community a way to upgrade professional headshots while providing much needed support for those in need as part of the Maui Headshot Project.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is providing updates on Pacific Media Group’s network of Maui stations as the County continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, the Mayor spoke with Shane Kahalehau of KPOA 93.5 FM on Maui, and shared his thoughts on the progress of the phased reopening of businesses in Maui County.

Major General Kenneth Hara, Director of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency said he is concerned about civil unrest if economic conditions continue to decline; and asked for a consensus to determine when the state will move from one risk level to the next.

There’s a power outage in Pukalani and Makawao this morning due to Maui Police Department’s request to de-energize lines along Makawao Avenue.  There was a report earlier this morning of an individual on the top of an electric pole.  Police remain on scene.

Governor David Ige said Maui will split $175 million in federal funds with Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi counties as part of the CARES Act appropriation for the state.  

Six people were displaced by a residential fire at a Kaulana Street home in Kahului today.  The fire was reported at 2:41 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020. Fire officials say crews arrived on scene to find a working fire involving the rear portion of a single story home. Crews worked to clear the residence and control the fire.

The Maui Police Department is doing a live walk through at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului on the first day of Maui’s phased reopening of businesses.  Many retailers remain closed or are in the process of cleaning.  Among the businesses that are open include Ben Franklin, Camellia’s Seeds, Lens Crafters and Shapers. Pearl’s and Baduas at the food court for take out orders’ however the tables and chairs have been removed from the dining area.  

As of noon on Monday, May 11, 2020, there are 634 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with two new cases in the state on the island of Oʻahu. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health reports that there were 561 individuals released from isolation; and 81 cases (13%) that have required hospitalization. A total of 574 patients (91%) were residents Maui County’s count remains unchanged from yesterday. Of the 117 cases in Maui County, at least 91 have been released from isolation, and 22 have required hospitalization.

“I want people to understand–really, we want them to open up.  We believe it’s time–especially in the area of retail; however, be safe.  We cannot risk another outbreak.  That’s my biggest concern. If we don’t do it right, we could go back to where we were,” said Mayor Victorino.

The senators are calling for $2 billion in additional funding to the Rural Health Care Program, the only federal program that supports broadband deployment at urban and rural health care provider locations.

Until recently, DOH staff accomplished this element of contact tracing and contact monitoring largely through multiple phone calls daily to those at risk for infection. However, state officials report that a new, secure portal recently implemented by the DOH is improving the efficiency of data collection by allowing individuals being monitored to input and upload their health status information on their own.

“Our bill will make sure that Hawai‘i families who are struggling to get by during this crisis can still make their rent and keep the lights on,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. “We have to do everything we can to keep families in their homes.”

Lawmakers say the primary goal for the Legislature during this time is to revise the state budget bill “to avoid any draconian budget cuts to wages or services,” and to “plug a $1 billion hole in the budget” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  

On Saturday, May 9, a total of 857 people arrived in Hawaiʻi including 255 visitors and 334 residents, according to new information compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. While passenger counts continue to rise, there were no trans-Pacific flights to Maui on Saturday.  The island continues to see an average of 3 to 4 domestic flights from the mainland per week as a result of reduced flight schedules. 

To date, 561 people have recovered including 91 in Maui County. Maui County’s count remains unchanged from yesterday. Of the 117 cases in Maui County, at least 91 have been released from isolation, and 22 have required hospitalization. As of today, there were more than 37,785 individuals tested by clinical and state laboratories.  Of that number, 37,153 were returned negative. In Maui County, a total of 6,781 tests were returned negative to date.  There were 36 tests returned on Maui since yesterday.

In this Special Mother’s Day Edition of Talking Story we chat with two women, one who gave birth and one who is expecting during the pandemic. We discuss pregnancy, fears, anticipation, and giving birth at a hospital that had Maui’s largest cluster of Covid-19. An illuminating perspective of what it is like to be pregnant during such an uncertain time in our history. Talking Story is a collection of interviews where people share their experiences as it relates to the current state of the world.

While patrolling the long-closed Sacred Falls state park, DOCARE Officer Fagota Tataipu Jr. recalled the Mother’s Day tragedy more than 20 years ago.