New Hawaii law lowers unemployment insurance tax rates | Hawaii News
By AUDREY McAVOY, Associated PressHONOLULU (AP) -- Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed legislation Tuesday temporarily lowering the rate of unemployment insurance that employers must pay for their workers.The surge in the number of unemployed…
Arizona governor signs abortion ban over genetic issues
PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a sweeping anti-abortion law Tuesday into law, outlawing the procedure if the woman only wants it because a fetus has a genetic abnormality like Down syndrome.
Doctors who…
FDA says patients can receive the abortion pill via telemedicine
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Patients seeking an abortion pill do not need to visit a doctor's office or clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials said Tuesday in the latest reversal in an ongoing lawsuit over…
Biden begins reversing Trump-era abortion ban
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Biden administration on Wednesday began reversing a Trump-era ban on clinics referring women for abortions, a policy that pushed Planned Parenthood out of the federal family planning program and…
EXPLANATION: EVERY law is critical to making abortion access a reality for all
Washington, DC — This week, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will introduce the Equal Access to Health Insurance Abortion Coverage Act (EACH) in the US House and Senate. Jamille Fields AllsbrookDirector of Women's…
The “fetal heartbeat” in US abortion laws speaks to emotions, not science
NASHVILLE-Dr. Michael Cackovic has covered his share of pregnant women. When Republican lawmakers in the US began enacting abortion bans at what they call "the first detectable fetal heartbeat," he was angered.…
Monday, May 24, 2021 | Kaiser Health News
India nears 300,000 Covid deaths and battles deadly fungal infections
Mucormycosis, usually rare, is suddenly a growing problem in India.…
Hawaii joins list of states allowing some nurses to perform abortions when doctors are in short…
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Gov. David Ige signed legislation Monday that would make Hawaii the…
California sees COVID-19 baby bust what causes it
California is poised to ditch its mask mandate for a vaccine-filled summer of lust — but when it comes to protection, Angelenos like Jahkara Smith won't rely solely on antibodies. "A lot of my friends have been getting IUDs lately," said…
The state is working on a system that will allow vaccinated travelers to skip quarantine
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -- In a bid to boost Hawaii's travel industry and ease some restrictions, the state is reportedly moving closer to a system that would allow vaccinated individuals to travel to and within Hawaii without…
The Hawaiian Catholic Church made an appearance
Photo: Hale O Meleana Facebook page
LEGISLATION REPORT
What would Jesus do?
In this summary report at the conclusion of the Hawaii State Legislature, there are not enough words to describe the impact Hawaii's faith community has had over…
Make sure Hawaii’s tax policies are fair
New tax proposals are brought to the legislature every year, and in this session tax policy deserves closer scrutiny than ever before.
In the last 12 months, COVID-19 has transformed work, school, home and our entire economy.…
With business down 95%, Hawaiian entrepreneur hopes her company and town survive
Due in large part to the state's economy's reliance on tourism, an industry that's been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, Hawaii's unemployment…
Tourists are returning to Hawaii, so why aren’t there jobs in tourism?
Signs that tourists are returning to Hawaii are hard to miss: crowded beaches, queues at tourist eateries, increasing foot traffic along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
The return is hardly an illusion: Data shows that there were…
Ige: Hawaii is still on track for reopening to tourism on October 15
Hawaii plans to move forward with a plan to reopen to tourists on October 15, Gov. David Ige said Wednesday, ending days of uncertainty over the governor's plan amid a storm of objections from mayors of the neighboring island and…
OluKai ramps up support for Hawaii’s economy hit hard by the pandemic
OluKai is supporting The Chef Hui Group in providing meals for Hawaii residents during Covid-19 ... Pandemic.
OluKai
Hawaii's economy relies heavily on tourism. As a result, the state has been hit harder…
Amid pandemic, Ige looks to expand Hawaii’s digital economy | News, Sports, Jobs
Governor David Ige delivers his State of the State address Monday in the Governor's Ceremony Room. Ige said he is focused on the digital economy to boost Hawaii financially,…
The continued clout of Hawaii’s public labor unions
In 2018, the US Supreme Court dealt a deathblow to public worker unions, some have said. However, recent events show that predictions of the unions' demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Last month, after Governor David Ige…
Hawaii is one step closer to exempting travelers from vaccinations
HONOLULU (KHON2) - Fully vaccinated travelers are one step closer to being able to skip quarantine.
Gov. David Ige on Friday, April 9, gave the green light to a vaccination exemption program that could begin as early as May.
on…
$1.2M for UHERO COVID-19 Economic Recovery Research. 2M for UHERO COVID-19 economic recovery…
Critical University of Hawaii Economic Research Institute (UHERO) research to help Hawaii received $1.2 million in private support on its path to economic recovery.
AH president David Lassner said: “We…
The pandemic gave locals a glimpse of a tourist-free Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) -- Line-Noue Memea Kruse lives on Oahu's famed North Shore, where admiring sea turtles, epic waves and sunsets that turn the sky orange and purple are must-sees for many Hawaii tourists.After the islands required a two-week…
Hawaii’s pandemic-related rental car shortage – that’s what the data shows
Visitors are increasingly returning to Hawaii as the light beckons at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, but the influx has been met with an unwelcome side effect of the pandemic -- a shortage of rental cars.
If those arriving on the…
‘What about us?’: Retailers are struggling to find their way through the pandemic
As throngs of tourists have returned to Hawaii and hotel, restaurant and bar workers have been brought to the front row for COVID-19 vaccinations, Tina Yamaki, President of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, heard a common question from…
Kauai business owners say the expanding resort bubble is a major blow to the economy
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Kauai has extended its Resort Bubble program through Spring 2021. The Garden Isle currently requires visitors to participate in the state's Safe Travels program and take a pre-test 72 hours before their flight.…
Hawaii is welcoming back Japanese visitors as part of a pre-trip testing program
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -- Hawaii reopened to Japanese visitors on Friday as part of the state's pre-travel testing program.Out-of-country travelers can now waive a two-week quarantine if they provide evidence of a negative…
Letters: The restaurant menu won’t help the Hawaiian economy; Don’t let rich, famous…
The state of Hawaii is billions of dollars in debt, so what is the state doing? It sends out $500 credit cards to unemployed people who spend them in restaurants, pretending to boost the economy.
Sure, restaurants might see a small bump in…
The pre-trip testing program is slated to begin October 15, a key step in restarting tourism in…
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -- After a months-long delay, a much-vaunted pre-travel testing program will begin on Oct. 15, which authorities say is a key step in restarting the tourism industry, allowing transpacific visitors to forego…
Bill spares Hawaiian companies from UI trust fund replenishment – for now
Like most local businesses, The Pizza Press has had to muddle, adapt and improvise to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pearl City facility drastically reduced hours for its 25 employees and relied on a "skeletal crew"…
A Hawaii vaccination card could open doors to weddings, concerts and more tourism
New York state has used electronic COVID-19 "vaccination cards" to open New York Rangers games to fans at Madison Square Garden.
People in Israel can circumvent restrictions at businesses like gyms by showing a paper or electronic…
REITs hold a valuable place in Hawaii’s economy
Public discussions on important issues should always be based on facts. It is therefore disappointing that misleading information and innuendos about real estate mutual funds in Hawaii continue to be disseminated.
A recent…
Hawaii’s visitor industry urges the governor to ease travel restrictions under the latest CDC…
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Following the Centers for Disease Control's announcement, there was a quick and resounding response from Hawaii's visitor industry, urging the governor to open travel.
Hawaiian Airlines even says it will help…
New UH report shows 25,000 jobs could return in Hawaii this year
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Experts say Hawaii's economy is doing better than expected.The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization's latest report, released Friday, estimates there will be thousands more visitors and tens…
Hawaii welcomes Japanese visitors in November with pre-trip testing
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Japanese visitors will be able to take advantage of Hawaii's pre-trip testing program starting next month, the governor announced Tuesday.Officials said they don't expect an "avalanche" of Japanese…
Hawaii’s economy faces a ‘long, slow way back’
When Hawaii finally opens up to tourism, it will likely be years before the visitor base is anywhere near what it was before the COVID-19 crisis shut down the state's travel industry, experts in the business say.
Meanwhile,…
Hawaii wants you to work from home during pandemic – on Oahu | Best conditions
Remote work has become the new reality for many in the US, but some work-from-home environments are more desirable than others. As the winter months creep in, Hawaii offers a new opportunity to escape the cold weather for telecommuters…
Rising visitor numbers during spring break are a sign that the tourism industry is on the mend
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -- Hawaii has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers over the past two weekends. They're not pre-pandemic tourism numbers, but experts say they bode well."You can see when you go to Waikiki, you can…
Ige assumes that public schools can be fully reopened for in-person learning by the fall
Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he expects public schools to fully reopen for in-person learning this fall.
"That's definitely the goal, and I don't see any situation where we can't achieve that," Ige said during a multi-issue phone interview…
The lack of a clear plan to replace tourism leaves Hawaii’s economic future in doubt
The Hawaiian economy needs a restart, and COVID-19 has provided the opportunity to do so.
Almost everyone agrees that the state needs to diversify and be less dependent on tourism. There's also a growing sense that tourism is out of…
David Y Ige | OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PRESS RELEASE: HAWAII VACCINATED INTER-COUNTY TRAVELERS CAN…
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PRESS RELEASE: HAWAII VACCINATED INTER-COUNTY TRAVELERS CAN BYPASS PRE-TRAVEL TESTING, QUARANTINE STARTING MAY 11
Posted on April 20, 2021 in COVID-19, COVID-19 News Releases, Latest Department News, Newsroom,…
Gov. David Ige is calling for the economy to turn to technology
Gov. David Ige wants Hawaii to develop a more resilient digital economy -- "a linchpin for Hawaii 2.0" that would expand broadband connectivity to rural communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has choked tourism.
COVID-19…
We need targeted legislation to support the local economy
If you were expecting dramatic results in the 2021 legislature, you may be a little disappointed because the session largely failed to address the critical economic issues facing our state, particularly diversifying our economy and…
Here’s why transforming Hawaii’s tourism industry is so difficult
As recently as early 2020, before COVID-19 wrecked the state's economy, Hawaii was grappling with a problem very different from today's economic challenges. The question arose as to what to do against the ever-increasing masses of…
Hawaii has a lot of unemployed. But companies still can’t find help
Hawaii's economy is recovering faster than previously expected, according to the latest forecast from University of Hawaii economists, as accumulated savings, pent-up wanderlust and widespread immunizations in Hawaii and the US…
Can military spending prop up Hawaii’s flagging economy?
As Hawaii looks for ways to rebuild an economy devastated by the global pandemic, military spending takes on a more prominent role as other income streams dry up.
Tourism has collapsed, but defense spending in Hawaii has remained…
After more than a year, the Hawaiian economy is slow to diversify
After more than a year of talks about diversifying Hawaii's tourism-dependent economy, little progress has been made as island tourism thrives again.
"We have learned nothing from our troubled year," said Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the…
Dark clouds are gathering over Hawaii even though the economy appears to be improving
Despite recovering from the worst economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, Hawaii is facing major problems that existed before the pandemic and are likely to worsen, experts on Hawaii's economy and demographics say.
Hawaii's…
Signs of economic relief are plentiful as vaccination rates and visitor numbers soar
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -- With mass vaccinations and a recovering tourism market, some are feeling that Hawaii's economy is finally turning the tide."It's really becoming a much healthier, normal psychological environment," said…
“The support from locals is tremendous here:” Hawaiian entrepreneur founds Lyft’s…
As tourists return to Hawaii in record numbers, the rental car shortage has sent prices skyrocketing like meme stocks. In some cases, it can cost you as much as $700 to rent a car for the day, if you can get one at all. Tourists were so…
Work on converting Hawaii’s cesspools continues
Last July, in my IDEAS essay on Hawaii having the highest number of cesspools per capita in the country, I argued that the pandemic should motivate the state and counties to diversify our economies and increase the sanitation…
Unemployed people in Hawaii must find work in order to receive benefits
HONOLULU - Hawaii will once!-->!-->…
Maui May Coincide With Pre-COVID-19 Illness Arrivals In Summer | News, sports, jobs
Newcomers get off the Kahului Airport tram at the rental car center while other travelers rush on board in March. As travel continued to rise, an economist with the University of Hawaii Economic Research…
Ige sets nationwide “vaccination guidelines” to ease restrictions on restaurants and gatherings
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaiian restaurants cannot upgrade to 75% capacity until at least 6 out of 10 residents are vaccinated, the governor announced on Monday.With a vaccination rate of 60%, restrictions on social gatherings are also…
Labor shortages, influx of tourists into the state burden businesses
Hawaii's high unemployment rate may not have prepared it for the influx of tourists to come as the pandemic subsides, tourism industry officials said Friday.
"I don't think any of us, no one in the industry, expected tourism to recover as…
“Study all of our options”: Lassner talks about the impending budget cuts for UH
Although looming budget cuts will pose challenges for the University of Hawaii, President David Lassner said Monday that UH is considering its options and ways to deal with the cuts.
State lawmakers reduced the UH system's overall fund…
Paid summer internship for aspiring Hawaiian designers and storytellers
HONOLULU (KHON2) - Some say that entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Hawaiian economy, and how can you better learn while getting paid at the same time?
Hawaii residents will have this chance.
Get the latest news on the go…
The Hawaii bankruptcies are sustaining the downward trend
Nationwide bankruptcies fell for the fourth time in five months and fell to their lowest level in May in 15 years thanks to an improving economy that resulted in more people returning to work.
The 100 cases in May were down 10.7% from 112…
In the face of economic devastation, Hawaii is trying to revive tourism
Hawaii has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Unemployment rose to Great Depression levels in the spring after local authorities ordered closures in March.
In addition to…
Hawaii is experiencing a tourism boom. The governor isn’t sure if it will last.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii's economy is enjoying an unexpected surge in North American travelers flocking to the islands as vaccinations rise and restrictions wear off.But the governor doesn't think the boom will continue.In an…
Visit of Mover and Shakas to rebuild Hawaii’s economy
New Jersey web designer Dante Moore said he was "crazy in the middle of a pandemic" when he spotted a catchy headline in a web post in December that promised a free flight for a month's remote work in Hawaii.
“That was a totally selfish…
Hawaii ends COVID-19 restrictions on inter-island travel
With the world reopening, Hawaii makes it easier for Hawaiians to travel between the islands.Fully vaccinated Hawaiian residents will experience fewer travel restrictions starting Tuesday, June 15. For one, trips between the islands will…
How this special legislative committee worked to keep Hawaii’s economy afloat
As of early April, when Hawaii's economy was paralyzed by orders from Governor David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, a committee of business, politicians, and economists from the University of Hawaii began working out a plan…
Remote workers are flocking to Hawaii. But is that good for the islands? | Hawaii
Mike McConnell was afraid to go outside, even for a walk.After surviving a near-fatal sepsis infection, he tried to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but it proved difficult to make as the coronavirus spilled into his home in San Diego,…
New state-of-the-art facility at the Academy for Creative Media at UH West Oahu
HONOLULU (KHON2) - The fastest growing degree program at the University of Hawaii West Oahu is the Bachelor of Arts for Creative Media, founded in 2019.
When they return in autumn, students at the Academy for Creative Media will…
United, Hawaiian, Alaska, and American are offering COVID-19 testing to passengers
ONEAfter United Airlines became the first US airline to offer its passengers a quick COVID-19 test option last week, other US airlines quickly followed suit.
In an announcement made on Sept. 24, United announced that its new COVID-19…
Pali Lanes gives up after COVID takes its toll
STAR ADVERTISER / 2020
Pali Lanes!-->…
Climate change is more devastating than ever
The amount of heat storing emissions humans have injected into our atmosphere since last Earth Day has been 10% less than a typical year, which would be cause for celebration if it weren't for a blatant fact: the reduction in…
Eric Stinton: How are we changing Hawaii’s complicated relationship with tourists?
I can't be the only one who's got a little glee from the rains recently. I usually enjoy this weather anyway, but it was especially gratifying to know that the first few days of tourism's return were a bit rainy.
I'm not…
Heads of State: Hawaii is about a month away from reopening
Hawaii's tourism, restaurant, bar, and events industries are grappling with more than 200,000 people who have registered as unemployed.
But Governor David Ige and other senior state officials warned Monday that reopening businesses…
Changing of the guard: New PTA commander oversees the maintenance of the lease
If Lt. Col. Kevin Cronin assumes the post of garrison commander of the Pohakuloa Training Area in June, his tenure will include overseeing an environmental statement and negotiating for the Army to maintain their lease of nearly 23,000…
Americans are flocking to Hawaii. Some locals don’t want tourists.
Hawaii is seeing a surge in travel as visitors flock to the state's popular islands.
Many locals shared the message: "Don't come here in a pandemic."…
Critics say the Agricultural Development Corporation should close
State Representative Richard Onishi said the damning reports by the state auditor and the University of Hawaii economic research organization resulted in law on Friday that would abolish the Agricultural Development Corporation.
Onishi…
New bill jeopardizes funding for Hawaii Tourism Board
The future of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) could be jeopardized as state lawmakers passed bill that would cut dedicated funding.According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, House Bill 862 was passed by officials in Hawaii last week…
Auditor: State Agricultural Authority does not do its job
The state agency set up to convert Hawaii's farmland from plantations that primarily produce pineapples and sugar for export to more economically viable farms that grow a variety of crops has failed in its mission, an audit…
Rep. Kai Kahele wants new missile defense radar system on Kauai – not on Oahu
the Missile Defense Agency is Please public comments by April 12th via the $ 1.9 billion missile radar system in Hawaii after the possible locations were narrowed down to the Army's Kahuku Training Area on Oahu or the Pacific…
VIDEO: Governor David Ige Says Hawaii COVID-19 Testing Program Starts October 15th Before Arriving
Governor David Ige today set October 15 as the new date for a pre-arrival testing program to begin reopening tourism in Hawaii.
Now the state's miserable industry is hoping that the third time will be the stimulus.
First announced in June,…
VIDEO: Lt. Gov. Josh Green says most Hawaii students should be able to return to classrooms by…
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said the introduction of vaccination in Hawaii is on track to enable face-to-face classroom learning by mid-May, adding that students and parents need to do so ASAP.
“I think when our educators are vaccinated we should…
Hawaii is looking for remote workers to help overcome the paradise pandemic
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Understandably, we tend to focus on and obsess over all of the depressing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there have been many positive developments. The virus outbreak has forced us to reconsider and…
Does Hawaii have COVID-19 under control?
Hawaii appears to be entering a second wave of COVID-19 infection just weeks ahead of its scheduled reopening to visitors.
On the July 4th holiday weekend, more than 20 new cases were reported in the state every day for four days.…
Proposal to abolish Kauai’s two-test protocol for incoming travelers advances
The Kauai County requirement that tourists be tested a second time for COVID-19 before they can roam the Garden Island would be anticipated under a bill tentatively approved Tuesday by two House committees.
House Bill 1286 was…
Hawaii wants to introduce a vaccination certificate in the summer: Travel Weekly
Tovin LapanHawaii is preparing for a new phase of reopening tourism as officials announced partnerships with a trio of companies working to develop a vaccine passport that they can hopefully present by the summer to ease entry into the…
Visitor numbers fell by 98% in July
Caleb Jones
| The Associated Press
Column: Proposals for HTA legislation would harm tourism
I am an original board member of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) when it was founded in 1998. I think it's important to clarify the origins of HTA and why it's important to keep HTA intact.
Back then, on the recommendation of the…
Despite budget problems, this legislative session offered bright spots for the local ag
The role that local farmers and agribusiness play in Hawaii's quest for sustainability and resilience cannot be overstated. If anything, the ongoing pandemic has shown the importance of their role both for individual families…
Workers’ cooperatives can lead the way to a healthier and fairer economy
The Hawaii Ulu Cooperative invigorates Hawaii's indigenous food systems as a competitive supply chain and farmer-owned market for local bread and other regenerative crops. The HUC is owned by nearly 100 small, diversified family…
Experts: 77% of the Hawaiian economy is not tourism; Policy makers can take steps to reopen it
It is unclear when conditions will allow normal economic activity to resume. Two Hawaii experts have outlined a plan for how this could be achieved even before a vaccine against COVID-19 is…
Remote Ready Hawaii pilot training underway
Training is underway for the first cohort of the Remote Ready Hawaii pilot program, which brings together unemployed residents with remote work from companies outside the state. The program offers…
Waypoints: Map Hawaii’s course for a resilient future
To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, change happens slowly and then all at once. We are now in the middle of "all at once".
Although we are living through a dark period of economic hardship, systemic injustice, increasing climate…
Hawaii plans to form a defense industry alliance to support local businesses
Described by visitors as paradise, Hawaii is strategically located in the Pacific Ocean and plays a vital role in managing potential threats to the Asia-Pacific region. The US military is thus an integral part of the state community.…
The BOE chairman casts doubts on the plan for personal learning in public schools
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The chairman of the state education committee says public schools won't be ready to welcome some students back to campus when Q2 begins October 12.That is despite assurances to the contrary from the…
Danny De Gracia: Let’s do Hawaii Pono again
The past few weeks of scandals, resignations and exposures of misconduct in local government have been a hell of a ride for public trust.
From the embezzlement of CARES law funds through bribes by city building inspectors to the…
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