Governor Ige has issued an amendment to the 19th emergency proclamation, lifting the mask mandate for all individuals outdoors, effective immediately. Mask wearing is still highly recommended outdoors, when in large groups. The indoor mask mandate remains unchanged. “The virus is still circulating in our community, and unvaccinated people are particularly at risk,” he said. ...
Read More Governor lifts outdoor mask requirement, gives green light to ocean sports competitions
Capitol Connection
The Hawai‘i Department of Health is planning a major campaign this month to encourage people to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. #HIgotvaccinated activities will include promotional events and other incentives for vaccinated residents. The goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible, so we can resume the lives we remember and ...
Read More COVID-19 vaccination campaign set for June
Public K-12 schools will return to full in-person learning starting Aug. 3 as more students get vaccinated and ongoing safety practices are in place, said outgoing Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. This includes activities such as clubs, bands and athletics. Governor Ige also approved the request from Mayor Rick Blangiardi to allow spectators for ...
Read More In-person learning for DOE and vaccinated UH students
For students across the state, how do we translate lessons learned from the pandemic into real innovation in education? Part of the answer could be the nearly $10 million Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund to provide support for a wide range of projects — from an online teacher academy and a transition-to- college summer program ...
Read More GEER funds: Innovating to improve education statewide
A new federal program to help low-income households pay for internet service is available now. Under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), eligible households can receive up to $50 a month to pay for broadband service. Qualifying lessees on Hawaiian Home Lands may apply for a benefit of up ...
Read More New Emergency Broadband Benefit program to expand access
The big picture: What is Hawai‘i 2.0? “It’s seeing the future and finding ways to keep the state, our workforce and businesses in the forefront,” said Governor Ige. “The lesson of the pandemic is that the digital economy is here to stay, and every business and organization will need to embrace it. We’re looking to ...
Read More Workforce resiliency: a ‘Be Ready for Anything’ future
Hawai‘i residents currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits will again be required to prove they are searching for work. Governor Ige and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) have announced the job search requirement suspended during the pandemic was reinstated May 30, 2021. Under the reinstated requirement, claimants must make at least three job ...
Read More Job search requirement reinstated for unemployment recipients
No doubt about it — the UH men’s volleyball team boosted the spirits of the whole state when it won the 2021 NCAA championship last month. Governor Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige hosted the team, coaches and staff when he declared May 12, 2021 as “Rainbow Warrior Day” in Hawai‘i. “This has been a ...
Read More Warriors give much-needed shot in the arm to Hawai‘i
Suppose a community joined hands to send free books to its youngest keiki and provided activities for the whole family. Then a friendly neighborhood library offered more free rewards and even a chance to win airline tickets, just for reading. That’s the link between the First Lady’s ‘Ohana Readers project and the state public libraries’ ...
Read More Opening the doors to summer reading, historic tours
Although we can’t all be on board the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s canoe for its next voyage, we can still show our support on the road. Special license plates to help support the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s mission will be available later this summer. Governor Ige signed legislation last month authorizing the issuance of the specialty license plate ...
Read More Special license plates to support Polynesian Voyaging