Maui Business

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino says he is asking the Governor to reinstate the mandatory 14-day quarantine on interisland travel due to the large numbers of COVID-19 cases occurring on the island of Oʻahu. 

The location has changed for a Maui Planning Commission public hearing set for July 28, 2020. The public hearing will take place only via the BlueJeans videoconferencing platform from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

As Hurricane Douglas approaches the islands with the potential for high winds and heavy rains, Hawaiian Electric is proactively preparing to respond, and customers should have their emergency plans in place. 

The County of Maui has now allocated $5 million in general funds for the H.E.L.P. program, up from the initial $2 million when the program was launched. The program provided assistance to 11,775 individuals through the end of June.

Upcountry Maui State Farm agent, Liza Souza, fed first responders and helped a local small business at the same time. Liza bought lunch for the Maui County Fire Department from local entrepreneur, Kristin Moore, and her eatery.

On Friday, two groups organized distributions: Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui handed out over 1,250 enrichment bags to children, which contained healthy snacks and workbooks; and Roselani Ice Cream celebrated National Ice Cream day by preparing 1,000 free bowls of Paʻuwela Sunrise flavored ice cream for a drive-through distribution at St. Anthony School.

The task force aims to make short-term recommendations to Mayor Victorino by the end of July with long-term strategies presented by the end of August. After holding their first meeting the task force came up with three areas of focus: (1) family and well being; (2) advocacy and access; and (3) resources. 

Cumulative CDC data from March 1 through July 10th, shows 2,973 COVID-19 or COVID-like illness cases on cruise ships, in addition to 34 deaths.  These cases were part of 99 outbreaks on 123 different cruise ships. 

Here in Maui County, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 22.6% in June, an improvement from the 34% rate reported last month, but still significantly higher than the 3% rate reported at the same time last year. 

The thermal temperature screening equipment will be installed immediately at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Kahului Airport, Līhuʻe Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole and Hilo International Airport. Phase 3 expects to have the facial imaging equipment installed by Dec. 31, 2020.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Laulima Partnership program or H.E.L.P. has announced a second round of funding available as financial assistance for Maui County residents to pay for essential needs due to a layoff, reduction in hours or loss of income related to COVID-19.

The latest list was updated on July 10, 2020; however, three days later, the governor announced plans to move back the state’s pre-travel testing program to Sept. 1.  Many hotels had planned to reopen on Aug. 1, however those dates may be revised to adjust to the governor’s announcement.

“We have not had a positive patient with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital for over 70 days–that’s over two months… As of this morning, our census is only 77%.  All together, we have 31 ICU beds and our capacity right now–we have 17 occupied and 12 available… We are licensed for 219 beds and we have a plan that can increase our capacity to 300 patients a day,” said Maui Health CEO Mike Rembis.

The presentation features discussion from the Hawaiʻi National Guard – Joint Task Force, which consists of soldiers and airmen deployed in support of state and county COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts.

A second survey geared toward understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hawaiʻi’s businesses is taking place. Results from the first survey, conducted in April 2020 revealed the hardest hit industries were accommodations (hotels), down 83 percent in full-time employee reductions, and retail businesses, down 76 percent.  

“With so many unforeseen difficulties in our daily lives with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, we want to use this opportunity to do something small in hopes that it might make someone’s day a bit easier and a bit more fun,”  said Roselani Ice Cream Operations Manager, Buddy James Nobriga.

The Hawai’i Medical Service Association is offering more financial relief to local businesses in the form of a one-month 15 percent premium credit.

The Hawai‘i State Senate passed a bill that would prohibit the Public Utilities Commission from extending or renewing any contracts to generate energy from coal and phase out the use of coal in Hawai‘i by the end of 2022.

Maui United Way announced that it now accepts vehicle donations.  Pickup of donated vehicles is free, and most vehicles can be picked up within 24-72 hours.

Gov. David Ige this afternoon announced he is delaying the launch of the state’s pre-travel testing program by a month to Sept. 1, 2020. The governor has faced mounting concerns amid reservations from county mayors.  The pressure also comes as spikes in cases occur on O‘ahu; and three deaths were reported among Hawai‘i residents today. Mayor Victorino has said that spikes on the mainland have resulted in delays in testing capabilities and the amount of test kits available for Hawai‘i.