Maui Business

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.

Responding to a lawsuit from environmental groups, the Trump administration has ordered Hawaiʻi officials to examine the impact of plastic pollution on its waters, beaches and wildlife.

Pacific Media Group today announced that it has created a $2 Million Marketing Fund to be granted to Hawaiʻi businesses to assist with messaging to consumers across the state. Pacific Media Group designed this program to help local businesses connect with consumers looking for goods and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air arrivals to Maui totaled 63 on Sunday with four flights arriving from out-of-state. This included 16 crew members, 32 residents and 15 visitors.

A new radio feature launched last week featuring executives and doctors with Maui Health who are providing updates and answering questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s guest is Mike Rembis, Chief Executive Officer, Maui Health.

A new radio feature launched last week featuring executives and doctors with Maui Health who are providing updates and answering questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Friday’s guest was Dr. David Ulin, Chief Medical Director at Maui Health.

The remote community of Hāna in East Maui will move forward with sanitation of businesses and public places on Tuesday and then transition to a new shopping process once stores reopen, according to an update on Sunday evening provided by Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe).

Launched in March of this year, The Show Aloha Challenge focuses on serving vulnerable, homebound seniors nutritious meals from locally owned restaurants.

The County of Maui is committing $1 million for the program.