David Y. Ige

“The mayors and I believe that florists are one of the businesses that could operate in a way that protects customers and employees. They and others would be included in the first phase of designated businesses allowed to reopen as we enter this next phase of COVID-19 and continue to remain vigilant.”              — Gov. David Ige ...
Read More Governor extends quarantines, begins next phase for the state

Hawai‘i continues to rank as one of the best-performing states in the country in dealing with COVID-19. That’s according to recent reports and data from Johns Hopkins University, which shows Hawai‘i is “flattening the curve” with a rate of coronavirus cases per capita far below the national rate. “Our travel quarantines, early testing, stay-at-home orders, ...
Read More First, the good news: Keep bending the curve, Hawaiʻi

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) is working as fast as it can, given its antiquated system, to handle the flood of unemployment claims. In February, DLIR received about 700 claims per week; recently in one day the department received some 25,000 filings. Claims are being processed faster, thanks to an increase in ...
Read More Getting help for the unemployed: the urgency is now

What relief is available for paying my mortgage? Can a landlord evict me if I don’t pay my rent? What are my rights as a landlord? DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection is providing answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help homeowners and renters with questions related to the Landlord-Tenant code. This FAQ, along with ...
Read More Worried about rent and mortgage payments?

If you’re struggling to deal with the basic necessities of life, where can you go for help? Here are some links for anyone who is facing the multiple challenges of being unemployed, putting food on the table, and finding childcare and medical coverage. The state Department of Human Services, which has already approved thousands of ...
Read More Quick links to survive in uncertain times

Help from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act (a.k.a. the CARES Act) includes direct cash payments to Hawai‘i residents, “plus-up” unemployment benefits, small business loans, funds for college students and human services programs to feed and house needy families. The scope is massive — and can be confusing — especially as people worry ...
Read More How the CARES Act and FEMA can help Hawaiʻi

Stepped up visitor contact checks, statewide enforcement, and sending violators back where they came from are among the latest efforts to ensure people are taking the governor’s COVID-19 quarantine mandate seriously. Overall passenger arrivals have declined by 98 percent, compared to when 30,000 passengers were arriving daily in Hawai‘i. Arriving pasengers on trans-Pacific flights will ...
Read More For some, aloha means goodbye

There’s a saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That could apply to the food service crews at more than 70 public schools who are on the job from 6 a.m. weekdays to prepare thousands of free “Grab-and-Go” breakfasts and lunches for children up through age 18. The meals will continue into ...
Read More DOE feeds hungry students with Grab-and-Go meals

Helping hands for PPE – For a second time in a month, volunteers from across O‘ahu gathered at the Neal Blaisdell Center (NBC) to help assemble personal protective equipment (PPE) purchased by the state Department of Health for front-line healthcare workers. Over 150 volunteers answered the call, representing a wide range of community organizations. The ...
Read More Heartfelt kōkua to keep everyone safe

For Hawai‘i, what does economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19 look like?  Many of the answers will come from a collaboration of public health experts, community stakeholders, economic advisors and legislative leaders, led by veteran business executive Alan M. Oshima, former president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Oshima was selected to “navigate” ...
Read More Creating a roadmap to recovery for Hawaiʻi