Maui News

In response to the urgent need for personal protective equipment or PPEs, Bank of Hawaiʻi announced that the company will be donating more than 1,200 face shields and masks, as well as making a $100,000 contribution to the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi.

At Maui Memorial Medical Center, there are 24 ventilators out of 561 statewide.  Across the state, there were 78 ventilators in use on Wednesday out of 431 ventilators that were activated.

“Temporarily releasing inmates or suspending jail sentences could create risks of harm to victims and other persons in the community,” said Attorney General Clare E. Connors

Hawaiʻi Island Police arrested a Kailua Kona woman for Prohibited Acts after she violated Governor’s David Ige’s Emergency Order to stay-at-home.  

The US Army Corps of Engineers in Hawaiʻi is moving forward with a FEMA mission to look at buildings across the state that could be quickly converted to alternate care facilities if medical needs outpace the current facilities available, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 162 samples were taken over the course of two days at the drive-through testing site, earlier this week. Monday’s drive-through testing, which will have 100 test kits, is a collaboration between the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Maui District Health Office, the County of Maui, Kaiser Clinics, Maui Memorial Medical Center and Clinical Labs of Hawaiʻi.

As of noon on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the state total count of positive coronavirus cases was 106, including 8 new cases on Oʻahu; one new case on Maui; and two cases of residents of the state of Hawaiʻi who were diagnosed outside of the state.  Maui’s island count is now 14.

Two Maui companies are joining the fight against COVID-19 by teaming up to produce hand sanitizer in order to best support those on the front lines of the pandemic. Pau Maui Vodka and Maui Gold Pineapple are focusing on maximizing impact by providing sanitizer directly to healthcare workers, government employees and community entities. The companies have produced their first run of hand sanitizer which will be available by the end of the week.

The data shows there were 4,131 arrivals in the state on Tuesday, March 24.  The majority, 3,334 were to the island of Oʻahu. While neighbor island totals were not provided, the remaining arrivals within the state (outside of Oʻahu) totaled 797 passengers. 

A wind advisory for Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe remains in effect until 6 p.m. today. The National Weather Service anticipates northeast to east winds blowing at 20 to 30 mph, with localized gusts near 50 mph.

Funds made available by the first emergency relief bill that passed in Congress are now being allocated to Hawai‘i, including over $750,000 granted to 14 community health centers across the state.  

Effective Monday, March 30, 2020, Maui County Federal Credit Union will have new hours to include the following: Kahului branch – closed; Wailuku and Lahaina branches – Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The University of Hawaiʻi is extending the deadline to apply for admissions to UH Mānoa, UH Hilo, and UH West Oʻahu to Aug. 1, 2020, the same deadline as the seven UH community colleges.

The first closure is slated to run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from March 30 to April 3.

This wide-ranging legislation will inject $2 trillion into boosting funding to our medical system, providing economic support to workers, small businesses, and state and local governments that are bearing the brunt of the necessary but difficult measures being put in place to combat the coronavirus.

Maui non-profit organizations Aloha House, (including Maui Counseling Group), Mālama Family Recovery Center, and Maui Youth and Family services, are seeking the public’s help to obtain personal protective equipment, so their staff can help clients with critical substance abuse and mental health treatment needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched with $75,000, the safety net funding will respond to the following areas impacting residents of Maui County: food, rental and utility assistance, education and medical. These funds will be offered in individual grants to non-profits supporting these specific areas within Maui County.

Effective now, all DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation restrooms statewide at small boat harbors and boat ramps across the state will reopen, to observe CDC guidance for ensuring availability of toilets and hand washing facilities for people experiencing homelessness during this COVID-19 emergency.

The percentage drop of arriving passengers is down 87 percent from the same period last year (4,131 arriving passengers as of 3-24-20 compared to 32,330 on the same day in 2019).

The Victorino administration has already requested a Fiscal Year 2020 budget amendment for an appropriation of $4 million from the Emergency Fund and $2 million for the HELP program. The HELP program will help residents meet their basic financial needs.