Maui Business

Bill 50, was introduced by Councilmember Michael J. Molina and seeks to double current penalties. The bill would increase penalties for a lack of prominent display of the permit to “not less than $20 nor more than $100” and increase penalties for operating without a permit to “not less than $200 nor more than $1,000.” Both fines double the current penalty amounts.

Today’s guest is Jim Diegel, Chief Strategy Officer, Maui Health. Diegel spoke with KPOA’s Shane Kahalehau, discussing testing efforts in Maui County, caregiver isolation rooms, and volunteer work through Maui Health.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations released improved software to apply for and track unemployment claims. The IRS has launched a Get My Payment application where the public can check on the status of Economic Impact Payments.

The loans are available to 7,500 companies across the islands.

Named “Building Bridges, Not Walking on Backs: A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19,” organizers say it is the first effort of its kind in the nation. 

A new online platform is asking Hawaiʻi residents to contribute information that will help experts monitor the spread of COVID-19 in real time.

Air arrivals to Maui totaled 22 on Saturday with a single flight arriving from out-of-state. This included 6 crew members, 8 residents and 8 visitors.

Premiere Medical Group’s Dr. Scott Miscovich speaks with Annalisa Burgos of KITV4 this morning, detailing COVID-19 testing efforts on Maui, protocols for frontline workers, concerns among hospital employees and frustrations with leadership at the state level. 

Mokulele Airlines expanded its Grocery Airlift on Friday to include flights to Lāna‘i, Hāna and Waimea.  The offer for free shipping is good for up to 50 pounds of groceries per customer and is valid for the rest of the April.

The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is currently reviewing requests for assistance under the COVID-19 Emergency Farmer Relief Program which offers some financial assistance to qualified farmers, ranchers and producers who have experienced damage to their operations due to COVID-19.

The state launched a new web-based app called “Safe Travels.”  It is being rolled out as a way to monitor travelers who are subject to the 14-day quarantine in the State of Hawaiʻi. State officials say they believe the process will expedite and improve the ability of counties to conduct enforcement related to quarantine violations. 

State Health Director Bruce Anderson says one of the three deaths in Maui County is being investigated to determine if there were any ties to the cluster of COVID-19 positive employees identified at the Maui hospital.

The cluster of COVID-19 positive cases at Maui Memorial Medical Center increased from 15 to 19 today with news that there are three additional employees and one patient confirmed to have the virus. Maui Health tested 126 patients, caregivers and physicians this week, for COVID-19 infection.

A total of 663 people arrived in Hawaiʻi from out-of-state on Thursday, including 107 visitors, 171 residents, 241 transit, 45 intended residents and 99 crew members, according to new data compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Dr. David Ulin, Chief Medical Director at Maui Health discussed differences between rapid testing and testing conducted at pop-up drive-through test sites, mask usage, how many COVID-19 positive cases have since recovered, and if the virus can survive in ocean waters where people surf and swim.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i is set to receive more than $130 million in new federal funding to help local hospitals and health care providers respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We hope this donation to HCF’s Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund will make a significant impact by allowing us to help our community in the broadest way possible.”

Diegel spoke with KPOA’s Shane Kahalehau, discussing how residents with no health insurance can get treatment, how Maui Health is preparing for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients, coordination efforts with the County of Maui, alternative care mobilization efforts, MEDB’s efforts to produce bridge ventilators on island, and how the community can help.

During this morning’s interview, the Mayor Victorino discussed details of a food distribution effort in Central and South Maui planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The effort will involve the distribution of about 1,000 bags of produce to residents in need.

In less than a week’s time, local families got on board with Central Pacific Bank and Central Pacific Bank Foundation’s #KeepHawaiiCooking initiative to achieve its goal of 10,000 meals shared with the community.