Maui News

Two Maui resorts donated more than 1,000 pounds of produce and provisions to local nonprofits as island hotels cope with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

HAPPENING AT NOON: A food distribution event at the Pukalani Pool parking lot starts at noon today. Upcountry residents can get food if they need starting at 12 p.m. They’ll be handing out food until it’s gone.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is providing updates on Pacific Media Group’s network of Maui stations this week.  Today, the mayor spoke with listeners of HI92 FM Maui, and shared his thoughts on preparedness, testing and ongoing measures to flatten the curve of the pandemic in the islands.

On Saturday, 1,207 people arrived in Hawaiʻi on the third day of the state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all incoming passengers, according to information compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.  Maui had a total of 81 passengers arriving on the Valley Isle, including 43 crew members, 28 residents and 10 visitors, according to new numbers compiled by the HTA.

Twenty researchers including Dr. Youping Deng with the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, found beneficial effects of an insomnia drug on clinical outcomes in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Homeowners with federally-backed mortgages can delay payments for a year. Moratorium on evictions for most renters until July.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides relief for small businesses that have trouble covering payroll and operating expenses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new study by Brookings Institute ranks the metro area of Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina on Maui at number two in the nation by share of jobs in industries at high risk from COVID-19.

Despite a reduction in the number of flights, Mokulele will not eliminate service to any of its airports.

President Donald Trump today said he anticipates the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States to happen in two weeks and is calling for an extension of national social distancing guidelines to April 30, 2020. Dr. Birx noted what she called a “large confidence interval,” in the model.  “And so, it’s anywhere in the model between 80,000 and 160,000, maybe even potentially 200,000 people succumbing to this–that’s with mitigation.”

As of noon on Sunday, March 29, 2020, the state total count of positive coronavirus cases was 175, including 11 new cases on Oʻahu; 1 new case on Kauaʻi; 2 new cases on Hawaiʻi Island; 4 new cases on Maui; and 6 cases pending residency determination. Maui’s island count is now at 20.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a flood advisory for the island of Maui until 1:15 p.m. 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with $19.57 billion in funding to ensure it has the equipment, tests, and support services necessary to provide veterans with the additional care they need at facilities in Hawaii and across the nation.

The bipartisan $2 trillion CARES Act is the largest aid package in American history and was signed into law on Friday.

A new radio feature starts Monday featuring executives and doctors with Maui Health who will provide updates and answer questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The feature runs daily at 7:19 a.m. on KPOA 93.5 FM, starting on Monday, March 30, 2020.

“Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause severe cardiac toxicity, and in high doses over a long duration, can cause retinal damage and lead to permanent blindness,” said Dr. Alvin Bronstein, DOH Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch Chief. “Individuals using these medications without physician supervision run serious risks of side effects and potential overdoses. Other medications are being touted, but nothing has been proven to be effective and may even do more harm than good.”

Drive-through testing for COVID-19 will take place again on Monday, March 30, at War Memorial Gym parking lot (700 Halia Nakoa Street in Wailuku).

Mayor Michael Victorino expressed his appreciation to members of the Maui County Council for final passage of bills to purchase land to expand the Central Maui Landfill and to acquire property to preserve open space on Maui’s north shore.

Maui had a total of 87 passengers arriving on the Valley Isle, including 49 crew members, 24 residents and 14 visitors, according to new numbers compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Association.

As of noon on Saturday, March 28, 2020, the state total count of positive coronavirus cases was 151, including 17 new cases on Oʻahu; 6 new cases on Kauaʻi; 3 new cases on Hawaiʻi Island; and 3 cases pending residency determination.  Maui’s island count remains at 16.  The Maui District Health Office notes that as test results come in (expected early this coming week), there may be a spike in the number of new reported COVID-19 cases in the Valley Isle.