BREAKING NEWS
Hawaii eruption brings tourism boon during slow season
Read full article: Hawaii eruption brings tourism boon during slow seasonThe spectacle of incandescent lava spewing from Hawaii's Mauna Loa has drawn thousands of visitors and is turning into a tourism boon for a Big Island town near the worldās largest volcano.
Prayers? Bombs? Hawaii history shows stopping lava not easy
Read full article: Prayers? Bombs? Hawaii history shows stopping lava not easyPeople in Hawaii are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow of lava as molten rock from Mauna Loa volcano inches toward a highway on the Big Island.
Viewers flock to watch glowing lava ooze from Hawaii volcano
Read full article: Viewers flock to watch glowing lava ooze from Hawaii volcanoThe worldās largest volcano is oozing rivers of glowing lava and drawing thousands of awestruck viewers who jammed a Hawaii highway that could soon be covered by the flow.
Hawaii quits coal in bid to fight climate change
Read full article: Hawaii quits coal in bid to fight climate changeThe last bits of ash and greenhouse gases from Hawaiiās only remaining coal-fired power plant slipped into the environment this week when the stateās dirtiest source of electricity burned its final pieces of fuel.
Russia divestment promises by US states largely unfulfilled
Read full article: Russia divestment promises by US states largely unfulfilledU.S. governors and other state officials responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year with public calls to divest state pension, university and other funds from Russian assets.
Hawaii seeks end to strife over astronomy on sacred mountain
Read full article: Hawaii seeks end to strife over astronomy on sacred mountainFor over 50 years, telescopes have dominated the summit of Mauna Kea, a place sacred to Native Hawaiians and one of the best places in the world to study the night sky.
Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states
Read full article: Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from statesWhen the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a right to abortion, it sparked legal changes and court challenges in states nationwide.
Guns in paradise: Ruling could undo strict Hawaii carry law
Read full article: Guns in paradise: Ruling could undo strict Hawaii carry lawA U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down a New York gun law could mean big changes thousands of miles away in Hawaii, which has strict restrictions on carrying firearms.
US Democratic governors to participate in U.N. climate talks
Read full article: US Democratic governors to participate in U.N. climate talksU.S. governors are taking a seat at the table as international leaders gather in Scotland at a critical moment for global efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions and slow the planet's temperature rise.
Anti-telescope protesters oppose US attorney pick for Hawaii
Read full article: Anti-telescope protesters oppose US attorney pick for HawaiiSome Native Hawaiians are objecting to President Joe Bidenās choice for U.S. attorney in the 50th state, saying Clare Connors treated dozens of elders like criminals when her office prosecuted them for blocking a road while protesting the construction of a telescope in Hawaii.
Hawaii health care workers decry lack of COVID mandates
Read full article: Hawaii health care workers decry lack of COVID mandatesHealth care workers in Hawaii say a lack of government action is worsening an already crippling surge of coronavirus cases in the islands, and without effective policy changes the stateās limited hospitals could face a grim crisis.
Israel urges Netanyahu return gifts; he denies keeping them
Read full article: Israel urges Netanyahu return gifts; he denies keeping themIsraelās prime ministerās office has urged former premier Benjamin Netanyahu to return dozens of expensive gifts he received while serving in the nationās top job.
The Latest: Hawaii gov seeks to limit visits to the islands
Read full article: The Latest: Hawaii gov seeks to limit visits to the islandsHawaiiās governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
The Latest: Hawaii in 'crisis' mode amid new pandemic wave
Read full article: The Latest: Hawaii in 'crisis' mode amid new pandemic waveA new wave of the coronavirus pandemic has Hawaii in ācrisisā mode, with the state recording its highest single bump in cases and hospitals putting together overflow plans.
Jill Biden calls on unvaccinated in Hawaii to get shots
Read full article: Jill Biden calls on unvaccinated in Hawaii to get shotsFirst lady Jill Biden visited a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Waipahu, Hawaii, on Sunday to encourage unvaccinated Hawaiians to get their shots as the delta variant surges through much of the U_S_ Biden in remarks at the pop-clinic at Waipahu High School said the virus has become āmore contagious than everā and urged the unvaccinated to āhelp us move past this virus once and for all.ā.
The Latest: SKorea sees 11th straight day over 1,000 cases
Read full article: The Latest: SKorea sees 11th straight day over 1,000 casesSouth Korea has reported another new 1,455 cases of the coronavirus, its 11th straight day over 1,000, as officials push to tighten pandemic restrictions nationwide.
Bonus pay for essential workers varied widely across states
Read full article: Bonus pay for essential workers varied widely across statesAbout one-third of the states have used federal coronavirus relief aid to provide extra pay to workers who were considered essential during the coronavirus pandemic.
Latest reopenings mark return to business in mainland US
Read full article: Latest reopenings mark return to business in mainland USOregon and Washington have lifted most of their COVID-19 restrictions to become two of the last states to broadly ease virus orders put in place in the very first days of the pandemic.
The Latest: Maine nears 70% vaccination level for residents
Read full article: The Latest: Maine nears 70% vaccination level for residentsMaine is approaching getting 70% of its eligible residents fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says he sees that figure as more of a floor than a ceiling.
As virus cases wane, governors weigh ending emergency orders
Read full article: As virus cases wane, governors weigh ending emergency ordersWith COVID-19 cases declining and vaccinations increasing, governors across the U.S. are wrestling with decisions about when to declare an end to the emergency declarations they have issued and reissued throughout the pandemic.
The Latest: Hawaii emails reveal strain over contact tracing
Read full article: The Latest: Hawaii emails reveal strain over contact tracingA review of Hawaii Gov. David Igeās emails shows the state epidemiologist spent key weeks in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic resisting suggestions and requests that she boost contact tracing to control the spread of COVID-19.
The Latest: Las Vegas schools drop mask rule for vaccinated
Read full article: The Latest: Las Vegas schools drop mask rule for vaccinatedThe Nevada school district for Las Vegas and the rest of Clark County says fully vaccinated students and staff are no longer required to wear masks in most situations.
The Latest: Sri Lanka gets 2nd vaccine donation from China
Read full article: The Latest: Sri Lanka gets 2nd vaccine donation from ChinaSri Lanka has received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine donated by China as the Indian Ocean island nation faces severe shortage of vaccines amid a recent rise in infections.
The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopen
Read full article: The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopenCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging all schools in the state to reopen, saying there are no health barriers to getting children back into classrooms and ending distance learning.
Hawaii gets tourism surge as coronavirus rules loosen up
Read full article: Hawaii gets tourism surge as coronavirus rules loosen upWhen quarantine rules were put in place early in the pandemic, arrivals plummeted and the state's tourism-dependent economy tanked. In October, state officials launched a pre-travel testing program that allowed visitors to sidestep quarantine rules. With a few exceptions, people in Hawaii are still required to wear masks while in public. āI think weāre all going to have to be prepared for a potential surge in tourism,ā said Hawaii state Rep. Scott Saiki, a Democrat. āThese banners provide a tool to help Honolulu Police officers do their jobs in gaining compliance with COVID-19 rules,ā Sakahara said.
Deer native to India starve to death amid drought in Hawaii
Read full article: Deer native to India starve to death amid drought in HawaiiThis image provided by Honolulu Civil Beat shows a dead axis deer in a field on the island of Molokai in Hawaii on Jan. 15, 2021. Now, the proliferation of the non-native deer and drought on Molokai have brought the problem into focus. ... Itās had an impact on the wildlife.āAdIn India, axis deer are kept in check by tigers and leopards. āOur agricultural sector has sustained substantial pasture and crop damage from axis deer in search of food,ā he said. In addition to causing to environmental damage, the starving deer population has become a public nuisance.
The Latest: Sri Lankan officials say vaccinations advancing
Read full article: The Latest: Sri Lankan officials say vaccinations advancingFILE - In this Jan. 29, 2021, file photo, Sri Lankan nursing staff administer COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reynolds issued the earlier restrictions in November when hospitals were struggling to care for a surge of coronavirus patients. Officials say it could help up to four COVID-19 patients. ___LISBON, Portugal ā Portugal has set a new daily record for COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care with 904 patients on Friday. AdThe Austrian government offered to take in five COVID-19 patients and five non-COVID patients to relieve Portuguese hospitals.
Mostly virus-free Kauai hit by pandemic after travel resumes
Read full article: Mostly virus-free Kauai hit by pandemic after travel resumesEarly and aggressive local measures coupled with a strictly enforced statewide travel quarantine kept Kauai's 72,000 residents mostly healthy ā the island had only 61 known coronavirus cases from March through September. Kauai officials have decided the cost of vacationing in paradise, for now, is too high. Kauai officials say the single-test scheme did not do enough to protect the people who live there. Visitor numbers have since increased with the testing program, but only to about a third of pre-pandemic levels. Travel āintroduces a continuous stream of new infections,ā said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kauai's officer for the state health department.
Budget toll from virus hits both Democratic, GOP-led states
Read full article: Budget toll from virus hits both Democratic, GOP-led statesBut the pandemic-induced tax drop-off is hitting Democratic and Republican states alike. Yet it's not just Democratic states asking for help amid plunging tax revenue, rising joblessness and a stuttering economy. āThere is no more room for partisan positioning and political gamesmanship.āAlaska, Florida and Texas are among other Republican-led states where tax revenue has taken a hit. That group includes Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming, all led by Republican governors and legislatures. The stateās economy has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has depressed demand for oil and led to a steep drop in tourism.
The Latest: Australia leader to go slow on Pfizer vaccine
Read full article: The Latest: Australia leader to go slow on Pfizer vaccineIf approved, shots could begin within days for health care workers and people in nursing homes. Shots would then begin for health care workers and nursing home residents. ___CANBERRA, Australia ā Australian researchers say they have abandoned development of a potential coronavirus vaccine because it produced false positive results on HIV tests. A health ministry statement says the government will first vaccinate health care workers, particularly those who deal with COVID-19 cases. ___HONOLULU ā Hawaii expects to receive 80,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine in December for health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
The Latest: China starts mass testing 3 million in Tianjin
Read full article: The Latest: China starts mass testing 3 million in TianjinThe economic package also includes $20 million in rental assistance and $15 million in utility payment assistance for those with low income. But he has not implemented a statewide mask mandate as coronavirus cases continue to surge across the state. ___PORTLAND, Ore. ā Oregon has reported a record number of coronavirus cases Friday, with hospitalizations at their highest since the pandemic began. The U.S. is now averaging more than 1,300 COVID-19 deaths per day ā the highest since the calamitous spring in New York City. ___BISMARCK, N.D. ā North Dakota has surpassed 70,000 confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.
US surgeon general to be in court on Hawaii virus citation
Read full article: US surgeon general to be in court on Hawaii virus citationHONOLULU ā The U.S. surgeon general is set to be arraigned Wednesday in a virtual court hearing in Hawaii on charges he illegally entered a public park that was closed because of the coronavirus. The rural park offers a view of the famed Mokolii island, also known as Chinamanās Hat for its cone shape. Adams' attorney, Michael Green, appeared for the surgeon general Wednesday and said his client understands the charge and will plead not guilty. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell had closed them at the time to try to prevent crowding that could spread the virus. Itās important that we all do the right things right now, even if we donāt feel we are personally at risk.ā
The Latest: New Mexico sets another one-day COVID-19 record
Read full article: The Latest: New Mexico sets another one-day COVID-19 recordWe canāt take another hit.ā___MIAMI - Florida has reported a slight uptick in daily confirmed COVID-19 cases, adding 3,449 to its total caseload on Friday. There were 3,861 new coronavirus cases reported in Wisconsin on Friday, breaking the previous record set just a day earlier of 3,747. The report, released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looks at coronavirus-associated deaths reported between May 1 and August 31. The deaths reported Friday include 10 women and eight men, all in their 60s or older. With 222 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, Spainās total has reached 33,775.
Thousands arrive in Hawaii on first day pre-travel testing
Read full article: Thousands arrive in Hawaii on first day pre-travel testingA new pre-travel testing program will allow visitors who test negative for COVID-19 to come to Hawaii and avoid two weeks of mandatory quarantine goes into effect Thursday. āI need time to relax, unwind.āThe new testing program is an effort to stem the devastating downturn the pandemic has had on Hawaiiās tourism-based economy. But gaps in the pre-travel testing program coupled with increasing cases of COVID-19 across the U.S. have raised questions about whether Hawaii is ready to safely welcome back vacationers. The $75 million program is being funded by federal CARES Act money and is aimed at stimulating the local economy. āThis second test upon arrival to Hawaii island will provide an extra layer of protection for our community,ā Kim said in a statement Monday.
Tourists return to Hawaii amid ever-changing pandemic rules
Read full article: Tourists return to Hawaii amid ever-changing pandemic rulesCoronavirus weary residents and struggling business owners in Hawaii will be watching closely as tourists begin to return to the islands on Thursday without having to self-quarantine upon arrival. The new testing program is an effort to stem the devastating downturn the pandemic has had on Hawaiiās tourism-based economy. But gaps in the pre-travel testing program coupled with increasing cases of COVID-19 across the U.S. have raised questions about whether Hawaii is ready to safely welcome back vacationers. David Ige on Wednesday to talk about a new restaurant debit card that will give some unemployed Hawaii residents a $500 to spend at local restaurants over the next 60 days. āThis second test upon arrival to Hawaii island will provide an extra layer of protection for our community," said Big Island Mayor Harry Kim in a statement Monday.
Hawaii pushes forward with tourism despite safety concerns
Read full article: Hawaii pushes forward with tourism despite safety concernsAfter a summer marked by a surge of coronavirus cases in Hawaii, officials plan to reboot the tourism based economy later this month despite concerns about the state's pre-travel testing program. But others view the pre-travel testing plan as the best way to add a layer of protection while kickstarting the economy. As part of the plan, Hawaii is partnering with several U.S. mainland pharmacies and airlines for testing. He has also proposed implementing a voluntary surveillance testing program that would screen a percentage of arriving passengers who are in high-risk groups. āIn a perfect world, we wouldnāt reopen until we had a vaccine," said John DeFries, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
US surgeon general cited for being in closed Hawaii park
Read full article: US surgeon general cited for being in closed Hawaii parkFILE - In this Sept. 9, 2020 file photo Surgeon General Jerome Adams, appears before a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Adams was cited for being in a closed Hawaii park in August while in the islands helping with surge testing amid a spike in coronavirus cases, according to a criminal complaint filed in court. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP,File)HONOLULU ā The U.S. surgeon general was cited for being in a closed Hawaii park in August while in the islands helping with surge testing amid a spike in coronavirus cases, according to a criminal complaint filed in court. āWe do not have a comment at this time,ā said Kate Migliaccio-Grabill, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Surgeon General said. David Ige's office said he wasn't immediately aware the Surgeon General was cited while he was here.
The Latest: First case-free day for New Zealand in 5 weeks
Read full article: The Latest: First case-free day for New Zealand in 5 weeksā Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000, a historically high figure that reflects economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak. Thirteen of the newly confirmed cases reported Friday were in the northern province of Shaanxi, whose capital Xiāan is a major industrial center. China has gone more than a month without reporting any cases of locally transmitted coronavirus cases within its borders. As of Thursday, Georgia is close to 301,000 confirmed virus cases, with 6,474 deaths from COVID-19. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new Utah coronavirus cases has increased about 54%.
Hawaii to allow travelers to skip quarantine with virus test
Read full article: Hawaii to allow travelers to skip quarantine with virus testDavid Ige said Wednesday that starting Oct. 15, travelers arriving from out of state may bypass a 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19. Travelers will have to take the test within 72 hours before their flight arrives in the islands. Earlier this year Ige planned to start a pre-travel testing program on Aug. 1 only to have to postpone it as COVID-19 cases spiked on the U.S. mainland and in Hawaii. Hawaii leaders are hopeful that pre-travel testing will encourage people to return to a Hawaii in a way that keeps residents safe. āI want to emphasize that this pre-travel testing will allow us to add a greater element of safety for travel into our state,ā Ige said at a news conference.
The Latest: India reports another 67,000 coronavirus cases
Read full article: The Latest: India reports another 67,000 coronavirus cases(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)NEW DELHI India has reported more than 67,000 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, raising the countrys number of reported infections to 3.2 million with 1.5 million reported infections coming this month alone. New reported infections dropped to around 61,000 on Monday and Tuesday, but picked up again in the past 24 hours. ___BEIJING China has suspended a flight from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai for a week after passengers on board tested positive for coronavirus. Oahu has seen a surge in daily positive cases. ___MELBOURNE, Australia Australias hard-hit Victoria state on Wednesday recorded one of its deadliest days of the pandemic despite new COVID-19 infections continuing to trend down.
The Latest: Some travelers to Germany face mandatory testing
Read full article: The Latest: Some travelers to Germany face mandatory testing(AP Photo/Michael Probst)BERLIN Travelers arriving in Germany from most non-European Union countries and some regions within the bloc that have high numbers of coronavirus cases will have to undergo compulsory testing from Saturday. ___HONOLULU Hawaii officials say the states public school students will begin the academic year with remote learning only, after a spike of coronavirus cases. ___MEXICO CITY Mexico has posted 6,717 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, increasing the countrys accumulated total to 469,407. More than 128,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Louisiana, which has 4.6 million residents. The state health department says 4,089 people have died from the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus.
Despite fewer virus cases, Hawaii hesitant to open schools
Read full article: Despite fewer virus cases, Hawaii hesitant to open schoolsFirst-grade teacher Shannon Allen prepares a classroom at Aikahi Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, Tuesday, July 28, 2020. As a result, most schools in Hawaii will institute the hybrid approach being adopted in many parts of the country, with students alternating between attending in-person classes and online instruction. Some schools will have full face-to-face instruction for younger grade levels, but only a handful of schools will offer a full-time, in-person return. Schools in the only statewide public school system in the nation were scheduled to reopen on Aug. 4, but the teachers union led an effort to delay that. The union, Hawaii State Teachers Association, doesnt think the district has done sufficient planning for various scenarios, including what happens if someone gets sick or how to pivot to totally remote learning.
Hawaii prepares for high winds, rain as hurricane nears
Read full article: Hawaii prepares for high winds, rain as hurricane nearsA worker puts reinforcements on boarded storefront windows in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu, Saturday, July 25, 2020, as Hurricane Douglas approaches. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)HONOLULU Hawaii prepared for the onslaught of Hurricane Douglas on Sunday, with predictions of high winds, rain and storm surge. Douglas weakened Saturday to a Category 1 hurricane as it approached Hawaii, but officials warned people should not be lulled into complacency. We know that it is weakening as it approaches, but it still will have significant impact on each island, Hawaii Gov. President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii because of the hurricane, directing federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.
Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing'
Read full article: Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing'Trump's persistent salesmanship about the prowess of testing in the United States is colliding with a far different reality for those affected by the explosion in coronavirus cases. We have the best testing in the world, the president insisted Tuesday. 'Whoever is responsible for testing shortfalls, the result is working against Trump's own goals to move beyond the virus and get the economy moving. In Pennsylvanias Allegheny County, which encompasses Pittsburgh and 1.2 million residents, health officials are trying to triage the demand for tests. This week U.S. health officials announced they would begin shipping rapid testing machines and kits to nursing homes in COVID-19 hot spots.
Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing'
Read full article: Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing'Trump's persistent salesmanship about the prowess of testing in the United States is colliding with a far different reality for those affected by the explosion in coronavirus cases. We have the best testing in the world, the president insisted Tuesday. 'Whoever is responsible for testing shortfalls, the result is working against Trump's own goals to move beyond the virus and get the economy moving. In Pennsylvanias Allegheny County, which encompasses Pittsburgh and 1.2 million residents, health officials are trying to triage the demand for tests. This week U.S. health officials announced they would begin shipping rapid testing machines and kits to nursing homes in COVID-19 hot spots.
The Latest: India's virus cases jump by another 28,000
Read full article: The Latest: India's virus cases jump by another 28,000(AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)Indias number of coronavirus cases jumped by another 28,000 on Tuesday and are fast approaching 1 million. The 28,498 cases reported in the past 24 hours took the national total to 906,752. Eight of Indias 28 states, including the worst-hit Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and New Delhi, account for nearly 90% of cases. ___HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: The legions of small businesses that employee most of the world's workers are struggling; whether they survive will have reverberations in whole communities New York Gov. The rebels have acknowledged just four virus cases, leaving aid workers, local health officials and doctors to warn the outbreak was far worse than authorities would admit.
Quarantine loopholes bring fresh efforts to fight outbreaks
Read full article: Quarantine loopholes bring fresh efforts to fight outbreaksThe city of Melbourne in Victoria recorded 270 new coronavirus infections overnight, with more than 4,000 cases now active across the state. India, which has the third-most cases, was rapidly nearing 1 million cases with a jump of more than 28,000 reported Tuesday. The ebb and flow of the pandemic has governments scrambling to quash fresh outbreaks while attempting to salvage economies from the devastation of long shutdowns and travel restrictions. Hawaiis governor pushed back by another month plans to waive a 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers who test negative for COVID-19. He cited rising numbers of local cases, uncontrolled outbreaks in several U.S. mainland states and a shortage of testing supplies.
The Latest: South Africa reports record daily infections
Read full article: The Latest: South Africa reports record daily infections(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)JOHANNESBURG South Africa has announced another record daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases with 9,064, as Africas most developed country shows signs of strain in coping with the pandemic. The African continent overall has more than 433,000 confirmed virus cases. Gavin Newsom is warning local elected officials that they risk losing state funding if they dont enforce health orders as the coronavirus pandemic worsens. The tribe reported 64 new confirmed coronavirus cases Friday and two more deaths. The holiday beach closures began Friday from Los Angeles County northward through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The Latest: New Delhi's rising cases prompt mass test effort
Read full article: The Latest: New Delhi's rising cases prompt mass test effortIndia records the highest spike of more than 15,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, with Mumbai and New Delhi as the worst-hit cities in the country. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)NEW DELHI India has registered another record daily high in new virus cases as New Delhi emerged as its worst-hit city. Steve Sisolak says the state will begin mandating the use of face-coverings in public places in an effort to stem a rise in coronavirus cases four weeks after casinos, restaurants and other businesses started reopening. Nevada has reported more than 14,300 coronavirus cases and 494 deaths from COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Of the new cases reported Thursday, 13 were in Beijing and one in the neighboring province of Hebei.
Volunteer sleuths track down Hawaii's quarantine scofflaws
Read full article: Volunteer sleuths track down Hawaii's quarantine scofflawsIn this June 7, 2020, photo provided by Norm Tabije, Angela Keen uses her home computer in Honolulu to do work for her Facebook group, Hawaii Quarantine Kapu Breakers. The group, using the Hawaiian word for laws or rules, focuses on tracking down people who violate Hawaii's 14-day quarantine on travelers arriving to the state. During the coronavirus pandemic, shes putting her skills to use finding tourists who defy Hawaii's mandatory two-week quarantine on arriving travelers. She said group members are told not to approach potential violators and not to profile people because they look like outsiders. Its been a challenge tracking down handfuls of quarantine violators.
Summer vacationers weigh testing, quarantine or staying home
Read full article: Summer vacationers weigh testing, quarantine or staying homeJanet Mills thought she was doing the tourism industry a favor by providing an alternative to the 14-day quarantine. Visitors can skip the quarantine altogether if they can show theyve tested negative for the virus within 72 hours before arrival. Travelers to Alaska who are tested upon arrival are allowed to avoid further quarantine if they test negative. In Vermont, visitors can cut short the two-week quarantine if they get a test after a week that comes back negative. Visitors can avoid a quarantine by being tested before they arrive, or they can reduce the quarantines duration by being tested after arrival.