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Douglas 5 p.m. Update: Rapid Strengthening, Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane by Thursday. Andaya advised residents to prepare for possible heavy rains and flash flooding.  Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, he said Maui County has limited shelter space available and needs more American Red Cross volunteers.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health today reported a COVID-19 related death in an Oahu resident.  No further details were immediately available relating to the case. This was was the 25th death linked to the pandemic reported in the state to date. Prior COVID-19 related deaths are posted here. Today there were a total of 17 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,435 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 17 on Oʻahu.  There are currently 297 active cases in the state, including 11 on Maui.

Maui police arrested a 64-year-old Kīhei man on Tuesday morning for allegations involving attempted assault against a police officer, first degree terroristic threatening, two counts of criminal trespass and resisting an order to stop.  

County officials say the violation involved water that was being tested for turbidity (clarity) before it went into a 3 million-gallon storage tank. Water in the tank was then disinfected with chlorine as part of the routine water treatment process. A notice advises that customers do not need to boil their water or take any other corrective actions; however, if there are specific health concerns, the department advises consultation of a doctor.  

Minit Medical conducts drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, with diagnostic and anti-body testing available. Minit Medical will call individuals with all results, which are expected to take one to three days.

The National Hurricane Center says Douglas is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, and there is an increasing chance that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday.

Update: 9:34 p.m. 7.21.20: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an update saying that based on all available data, the tsunami threat from a large earthquake in the Alaska Peninsula has now passed for areas covered by their bulletin.  No tsunamis were observed at nearby deep ocean gages and there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake.  The public is advised to “remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea. Otherwise, no action is required.”

Today there were a total of 25 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,418 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 21 on Oʻahu and four on Maui.  There are currently 310 active cases in the state, including 11 on Maui. Health officials say 21 of the new cases are adults and four are pediatric. Two of the cases on Maui are associated with a history of out-of-state travel. DOH is also investigating small clusters of cases in Hawaiʻi associated with out-of-state workers, who were exempt from mandatory quarantine as critical infrastructure workers. Department officials say there has been no spread beyond this cluster, as all involved workers were not interacting with the broader community as part of the exemption and are now in quarantine.

The HSTA president called the ʻohana bubble concept a “divorce from reality,” and said, “HSTA has no confidence that our school buildings are ready to open for our students.” The department is urging the state to “take its time and get things right.”

Beginning Wednesday, July 22, 2020 the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park will reopen for day-use only Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pīpīwai Trail and Kūloa Point Trail will also reopen.

Lucienne de Naie of Maui was awarded a grant for Mālama Hamakua Maui for her voice of advocacy to inspire more friendly environmental actions.

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Tropical Storm Douglas, located about 1260 miles SW of the southern tip of Baja California and 2035 miles East of Hilo, continues to strengthen and could become a hurricane later today or tonight.  Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Tropical Storm Douglas, located about 1260 miles SW of the southern tip of Baja California and 2035 miles East of Hilo, continues to strengthen and could become a hurricane later today or tonight.  

Here on Maui, 177 people arrived on three trans-Pacific flights, including: 106 returning residents, 50 visitors, two individuals planning to relocate to the islands, one passenger in transit to another location, and 18 flight crew members.

Hawaiian Electric continues to offer special payment plan options to customers, including extending payments over time, as residents and businesses continue to deal with the financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Maui Lani Roundabout will open earlier than planned, by July 30, if not sooner, according to Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, Director of the Maui Department of Public Works who spoke at an afternoon press briefing on Monday.

Maui police arrested a Kahului area man for allegedly threatening to kill a male and female “multiple times,” over the course of several days, according to police reports. Police say Caleb Carpenter allegedly utilized a machete while confronting the two individuals during the alleged confrontations.  

The charges stem from a June 16, 2019 crash on Hāliʻimaile Road that claimed the life of Teresa Pham, a 39 year old woman from Spring, Texas.  Police arrested a Maui woman on Monday afternoon following a grand jury indictment related to a fatal motor vehicle crash in Hāliʻimaile last year that claimed the life of a Texas woman.

The charges come nearly a year after the fatal crash, which was reported on July 21, 2019 on the Piʻilani Highway in Kīhei.  Mildred Jouvenat, 49, and her son, 14 year old Jacob Jouvenat suffered fatal injuries in the crash.  

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige  hosts a press briefing this afternoon, focused on the reopening Hawai‘i’s public schools on Aug. 4. During the briefing, Gov. Ige said, “The August 4 reopening date was one of the reasons we decided to delay the pre-travel testing program for trans-Pacific arrivals here in Hawaiʻi.”

Minit Medical will be conducting the drive-through from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with diagnostic and anti-body testing available. Minit Medical will call individuals with all results, which are expected to take one to three days.