Today, the state reduced its personnel on Mauna Kea. We made this decision after we were informed that TMT is not prepared to move forward with construction on Mauna Kea at this time. State personnel have been deployed to assist the Hawaiʻi County Police Department and to help ensure public safety and safe access for Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) equipment and personnel. State personnel and resources will continue to be available upon request to support Hawaiʻi County’s efforts to restore full public access on Mauna Kea Access Road. While I am disappointed that TMT will not move forward at this time, I hope this will allow for some respite during the holiday season. I also remain committed to continuing the many conversations that are currently taking place. I know that we can do great things when we work together, and I am hopeful that our community will be stronger going forward. I want to thank the officers of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, as well as our state law enforcement officers at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Public Safety and the Attorney General’s office. #Maunakea #ThirtyMeterTelescope #TMT #DavidIge #HawaiiIsland #DLNR

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division alerts the traveling public of a three-day employee strike by members of the Unite Here Local 5 union which includes food service employees who work at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The employees began the picket line at HNL this morning. It is anticipated to continue for three days with normal operations resuming Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. During this time there is limited service available at the various food and drink establishments throughout the airport which will significantly impact travelers. HMSHost employs associates in various restaurants at HNL affected by the strike. All of the stores operated by the Blind Vendors Ohana at HNL, such as Pages & Pages, are open and fully operational offering grab and go food, snacks and beverages. Passengers may want to consider bringing their own food and snacks with them if they are traveling out of HNL. Be sure to verify if the food is prohibited through the security checkpoints before leaving for the airport. For a list of the food items that are allowed through TSA checkpoints please click here. Please remember liquids more than 3.4 ounces are prohibited through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. Empty water bottles are allowed and can be filled at the water stations located throughout the airport once you pass through the security checkpoint. HNL welcomes more than 21.2 million inbound and outbound passengers a year which on average is more than 58,000 people a day. The passenger numbers typically increase by 3-5 percent around holidays such as Christmas. As always, people are advised to check flight status with their airline before leaving for the airport and they should allow enough time to get from curb to gate. #HMSHost #FoodService #HNL #DOT #HawaiiState

The Hawaii State Judiciary is seeking individuals who speak English and another language to become court interpreters. Register today for one of the workshops, completion of which is a mandatory requirement. The two-day workshops will be held in 2020: Maui: Feb. 11-12 at the Hoapili Hale Courthouse in Wailuku Hawaii Island (Kona): March 3-4 at the Keahuolu Courthouse in Kona Kauai: March 10-11 at the Puuhonua Kaulike Courthouse in Lihue Hawaii Island (Hilo): March 19-20 at the Hale Kaulike Courthouse in Hilo Oahu: Feb. 22-23 or March 28-29 at Aliiolani Hale (Supreme Court Building) in Honolulu The deadline to register is January 31. Registration forms are available on the Judiciary’s website and from the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at 808-539-4860. In collaboration with the State Office of Language Access, the workshop registration fee is offered at only $50 (valued at $150). Individuals seeking to become a court interpreter must also pass a written English proficiency exam, court interpreter ethics exam, and criminal background check. Court interpreters are independent contractors and not Judiciary employees. They assist the courts in providing access to justice to court customers with limited English proficiency. Depending on their performance on written and oral exams, court interpreters are paid $25 to $55 per hour with a two-hour minimum. For more information, contact the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at OEAC@courts.hawaii.gov or 808-539-4860.

HAWAI'I COUNTY — The Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), together with the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency, will conduct siren testing at the following locations and times on Friday, December 20, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Nāpo′opo′o, Captain Cook Punalu′u Ka′ūBaker Avenue, Hualani Park Hawaiian Paradise Park #3, Puna Residents nearby may hear the siren sound for 30-seconds to 3-minute intervals during the identified timeframe. Testing will include short blasts known as “burps.” During the tests, Emergency Management Officials and Technicians will be checking the functionality of the sirens. These sirens were installed as part of HI-EMA’s ongoing All-Hazard Outdoor Warning Siren Program. Other sirens will be updated, and new sirens installed, at various locations across the state under this Program. The All-Hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of Hawai'i’s Statewide Alert & Warning System used to notify the public during pending emergencies. HI-EMA encourages the public to make use of other supplemental methods of warning including, but not limited to, signing up for the County of Hawai'i Civil Defense mass emergency notification system called Blackboard Connect, and utilizing NOAA Weather Radio. Residents with concerns about the sirens or their operations, or with reports of siren malfunctions, may contact the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency at (808) 935-0031.

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i Governor David Ige, military dignitaries, legislative leadership and project engineers celebrate the grand opening of the Pacific Energy Assurance and Renewables Laboratory (PEARL) with a Hawaiian blessing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) today. PEARL, which will be designed and built by engineering, architecture and construction firm Burns & McDonnell, is a state-of-the-art renewable energy microgrid developed in coordination with the Hawai‘i Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies (HCATT), the Air Force Research Laboratory, National Guard Bureau, Hawai‘i Air National Guard and the Naval Facilities Command. “The state of Hawai‘i is proud to pursue this innovative project,” Gov. Ige says. “PEARL will advance the state’s clean energy vision of maximizing Hawai‘i’s energy self-sufficiency and security by developing and utilizing local energy resources in a balanced way.” Microgrids will play a critical role in reducing Hawai‘i’s dependence on fossil fuels, helping the transition to renewable energy and creating a multitude of new jobs in the state. Further, microgrids like PEARL can help mitigate grid disturbances and strengthen grid resiliency during natural disasters. “The PEARL project is the first of six planned microgrids, which will not only provide energy assurance, resiliency and cybersecurity to the 154th Wing F-22 campus at JBPHH, but also serve as a technology and business development laboratory to complement the state’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045,” says David Molinaro, acting HCATT director. Planning for the project began in 2016, with construction slated for completion in August of 2020. Once complete, PEARL’s technical capabilities include 1.5 megawatt (MW) of solar PV integration, 500kWh of battery energy storage and the ability to restore 1 MW of power instantaneously with less than a 10% voltage drop. “Burns & McDonnell is proud to design and build this state-of-the-art microgrid, supporting some of our nation’s most critical military infrastructure and the great state of Hawai‘i,” says John Bothof, Pacific operations manager for Burns & McDonnell. “The PEARL project will open doors for others of its kind, and we look forward to deepening our roots in Hawai‘i and continuing to build upon our longstanding partnership with the Department of Defense.” #microgrid #Energy #DavidIge #PEARLProject #HawaiiState

WATER REMAINS SAFE TO DRINK AFTER TRACE LEVELS OF CONTAMINANTS DETECTED IN ONE MAUI AND ONE HAWAI‘I ISLAND WATER WELL Honolulu – During routine sampling of drinking water systems across the state, trace levels of organic chemicals were detected in water samples collected at the Haiku Town Water Association, Inc. water system on Maui and the Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply Kukuihaele water system on Hawai‘i Island. 1,2-Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) and 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) were detected in the Haiku Town Association, Inc. HT-1 Well. The Haiku Town Water Association, Inc. water system is a small residential system which serves approximately 65 persons in Haiku, Maui. Atrazine was detected in the Kapulena Well of the Kukuihaele water system which serves approximately 450 residential customers on Hawai‘i Island. Drinking water from these wells remains safe, as the trace levels detected were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) for these contaminants. “These trace levels of the chemicals do not pose a public health threat, and the waters from these wells are safe to drink,” said Keith Kawaoka, deputy director for environmental health. “The Department of Health will continue to work together with these water systems to ensure tests for these chemicals continue. Such testing is part of scheduled monitoring regularly conducted to ensure that everyone’s water is safe to drink and public health is not compromised.” The DBCP level confirmed at the HT-1 Well was 0.02 parts per billion (ppb). This trace level is one‑tenth of the EPA MCL of 0.200 ppb. The state of Hawai‘i has a more stringent MCL of 0.04 ppb, and the concentration found was also lower than the state’s more stringent level. EPA defines the MCL as the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. The standards are set to avoid human health risks based on a lifetime of consuming water containing that level of contaminant. DBCP was a soil fumigant and nematicide that was used during pineapple cultivation. 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) was confirmed at 0.11 ppb, which is below the state MCL of 0.6 ppb. There is no federal standard for TCP. The presence of DBCP and TCP in the sample is attributed to the former cultivation of pineapple on the site itself. The use of the soil fumigants containing these contaminants ended in the mid-1980s, suggesting that the detected levels are not expected to increase in the future. Atrazine was confirmed in the Kapulena Well at 0.054 ppb, well below the federal and state standard of 3 ppb. Atrazine is an herbicide used on row crops such as sugar cane. Atrazine had been previously reported in the Kukuihaele water system at a level of 0.27 ppb in 2011. Water from these water systems is tested as mandated by federal and state drinking water regulations. To date, these water systems continue to be in full compliance with all federal and state standards for drinking water. PDF: Trace levels of contaminants detected in one Maui and one Hawaii Island well

Think Globally, Write Locally to Win a Day in the Field with Conservationists (Honolulu) – High school students across Hawai‘i are encouraged to write about a wahi pana, (a pulsing place) special to them, in preparation for the 50th anniversary of International Earth Day on April 22, 2020. The contest is presented by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). During the past half century the ‘aina of Hawai‘i has changed dramatically. What will our natural landscapes look like in the next 50 years and what needs to happen to restore those that have been damaged or destroyed?  Students who enter the contest are asked to interview someone over 50 years-old with whom they share a wahi pana; a cherished landscape. Together, the student and elder are creating a written record for future generations. Jeff Bagshaw, a DOFAW Outreach and Communications Specialist, based on Maui, is the Wahi Pana Essay Contest Coordinator. He explained, “Ask an elder what native Hawaiian species they recall from their first experience in a place. Visit the place again today and see what’s changed over the decades. What will the next 50 years bring and what personal steps can the student take to change the future of their chosen wahi pana?” Students are asked to write a 1,500-word (maximum of 3 pages) essay focusing on one of four ecosystem-categories: Marine/coastal, Stream/marsh, Dry/leeward forests, or Wet/windward forests. One first and one second-place essay for each ecosystem, and for each of the four island counties (16 first-place and 16 second-place winners statewide) will be selected by judges who are professional writers or conservationists working on public and/or private lands. The rewards are priceless and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The four first-place winners from each island will accompany conservationists for a day into remote areas or get behind the scenes tours where conservation work is being done. These places are usually inaccessible and could include: Kaua‘i – fly into the Ku‘ia or Hono o na pali Natural Area Reserves O‘ahu – journey into the Ka‘ala Natural Area Reserve in the Wai‘anae mountains Maui Nui – fly into Hanawi or Nakula Natural Areas Reserves Hawai‘i Island – fly into Pu‘u o umi Natural Area Reserve Additionally, first and second place winners, as well as their families, are invited to a special hike and luncheon on each island. They may be asked to read a select passage from their essay on camera for a video production. Essays will also be published on DLNR/DOFAW websites as well as in print journals. Winners will be announced on International Earth Day next year.  The first-place excursion awards for each island will be scheduled to match students and special guests’ availability, as will the awards luncheon/hike. Bagshaw added, “We believe Hawai‘i students and their kupuna have unique stories to share with the world, to help us all prepare for the future.” Online applications and essays are due no later than February 14, 2020. For more information go to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wahi-pana-essay-contest/ Or to directly download essay application and instructions: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ev1t9jic4fzpmj1/Wahi%20Pana%20Essay%20Application%20and%20Instructions.pdf?dl=0 #DLNR #WahiPana #EcoSystem #EarthDay #HawaiiState #Conservation #DOFAW

Budget supports progress in education, homelessness, sustainability Link to Budget Message and Budget in Brief Link to Governor’s Budget Message Link to Facebook Live – Budget News Conference Link to News Conference Power Point HONOLULU –  Gov. David Ige unveiled his Executive Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Biennium 2019-21 on Monday, requesting that the Hawai‘i State Legislature continue to support crucial programs that aim to ease the state’s biggest challenges. “This proposal helps us to build on momentum already achieved in our high-priority areas such as public education, affordable housing and homelessness, and sustainability,” said Gov. Ige. “This budget includes funding for programs that we know are making a real difference in our communities.” SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OVERVIEW: OPERATING: Total operating supplemental adjustments are $62.5 million (FY 20) and  $429.0 million (FY21) (all means of financing). This represents increases of 0.4% (FY 20) and 2.7% (FY 21). The new totals are: $15.695 billion (FY20) and $16.197 billion (FY 21). GENERAL FUNDS: The request is $62.5 million (FY 20) and $214.1 million (FY21) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: There are no proposed changes for FY 20. The total for FY 20 is unchanged at $2.331 billion. Total capital adjustments for FY 21 only -- $1.468 billion (all means of financing). The total for FY 21 is increased to $2.624 billion. “The state’s recently improved general obligation bond rating and lower interest rates make it a favorable time to invest in the state’s infrastructure. Ultimately, the higher bond ratings free up funds that can be used for education, housing, homelessness and sustainability,” said Gov. Ige. “Capital projects also have a broad and positive economic impact on our communities, supporting jobs – particularly in the construction industry.” BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION: Adds $14.5 million (FY 20) and $26.7 million (FY 21) for extra compensation for classroom teacher shortage differentials in our public schools. Adds $1.4 million (FY 20) and $1.9 million (FY 21) for extra compensation for classroom teacher shortage differentials in our Charter Schools. The pay differentials aim to attract and retain teachers in hard to fill special education positions, districts, and in Hawaiian language immersion programs and in special education. Adds $13.2 million for the Department of Education’s Weighted Student Formula. Adds $19 million for the expansion of the Hawai‘i Promise “last dollar” Scholarship Program to include all University of Hawai‘i campuses. Adds $220.0 million in capital improvement projects to improve public school facilities. (Increases FY 21 total to $425.2 million). Adds $86.8 million total CIP for the University of Hawai‘i. (Increases FY 21 total to $180.1 million). “I’ve always believed the teachers in the classroom have the greatest impact on our children. A few years ago, we completed a Blueprint for Hawai‘i’s public schools. Now, the DOE is preparing the 2030 Promise Plan, which will guide Hawai‘i’s public-school system from 2020-2030, focusing on creative ideas and solutions aimed at creating a thriving and sustainable state,” said Gov. Ige. HOUSING: Adds $20 million in CIP for public housing statewide Adds $2.5 million to the Hawai‘i Public Housing authority for predevelopment costs related to the School Street project. Adds $20 million for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands development projects Adds $5 million for repairs and maintenance within DHHL subdivisions. “Housing is our greatest community need and an important part of our effort to address homelessness. We have collaborated with the Legislature for more funding and are getting results. We will meet our goal of creating 10,000 new units by the end of 2020. Since 2015, 8,700 new units have been built. Another 3,200 more are in production,” said Gov. Ige. HOMELESSNESS: Adds $5 million for stores property and debris removal services on state land. “Prior to 2017, only 4,000 homeless individuals per year were placed in permanent housing. In 2018, more than 7,000 homeless people were placed in permanent housing. This year, we’re on track to exceed 7,000 placements,” said Gov. Ige. SUSTAINABLE HAWAI‘I: Adds $20 million for infrastructure construction for Royal Kunia Agricultural Park, for 24 farm lots on state’s best agricultural land. Adds $375,800 for 5 positions in Industrial Hemp Program. Adds $700,000 for Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death response. Adds $6.9 million in special funds for conservation and forest carbon sequestration activities. Adds $2 million in operating funds for state parks operations and maintenance and $6 million for state parks improvements. “My administration has been working toward doubling local food production by 2020. Hawai‘i’s agriculture industry is looking at developing plantation lands for diversified agriculture and exploring what can be grown for local consumption,” said Gov. Ige. TRANSPORTATION: Last year’s biennium budget included: $70 million (all MOF) for the Lahaina Bypass. $40 million (all MOF) for the Highway 130 work on Hawai‘i Island. This year’s budget includes funding proposals for other highway projects: $92 million (all MOF) for Kuhio Highway improvements from Hanamaulu to Kapaa, Kaua‘i. $200 million in revenue bonds for the widening of the H-1 Freeway, eastbound, from Waikele to Halawa. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Adds $1.6 million for three positions for the Title X Family Planning Program Adds $30 million for the Veterans Administration Long-Term Care Facility project on O‘ahu. Adds $560,000 for 15 positions at Maui Community Correction Center to increase security Adds $2.1 million for increase county contract cost for lifeguard services at state beaches. Adds $1.5 million for Kupuna Caregivers Program.

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs the public of scheduled night closures of Kuhio Highway (Route 560) on the north shore of Kauai Monday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 19. On these nights, there will be a full closure of the highway to and from Wainiha and Haena starting at 7:30 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. the following morning. Additional night closures are expected the week of Jan. 5-8, 2020. A release with more information on the closures in January will come out closer to the scheduled date. These will be full closures of the highway between Waioli Bridge in the vicinity of Anae Road and Waikoko Bridge south of Lumahai Beach. No vehicles will be able to cross the bridge for the entire night work period. Shuttle service will be provided to Wainiha and Haena residents and authorized Transient Vacation Rental guests. Shuttles will go between the Waioli Park and Ride and Waioli Bridge, Waioli Bridge and Waipa Bridge, and Waipa Bridge to Waikoko Bridge on an as needed schedule (they will go back and forth whenever there are people waiting at a Park and Ride or Bridge). A shuttle between the Waikoko Park and Ride and the Wainiha General Store will operate on the following schedule: Those planning on using the shuttles are advised that shuttle service begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m. The shuttles will not travel beyond the park and ride sites. Maps showing the locations of the park and rides are available at: Waioli Park and Ride Waipa Park and Ride Waikoko Park and Ride Those making use of the Park and Rides are advised that they were created to provide access to residents and authorized TVR guests during the full closure. All vehicles remaining at this site when the road reopens for the day should be removed. All work is weather permitting. First responders have been notified and have planned staging and procedures in the event of an emergency requiring them to access the work zones. Variable Message Signs will be placed along Kuhio Highway to further inform motorists of the scheduled closures. Should the scheduled work be canceled or modified, notice will go out via HDOT’s social media accounts and notification system. Those interested in receiving notice of scheduled lane closures and other public notices from HDOT can sign up at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/hidot/subscriber/new

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors today joined in a bipartisan coalition of all 56 attorneys general in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. In the letter, the Attorneys General urge Congress to pass S. 2701, the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). “Fentanyl-related compounds must remain a Schedule I drugs,” said Attorney General Connors. “The FIGHT Fentanyl Act is critical to addressing the opioid epidemic.” The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order in February 2018 to schedule fentanyl-related substances that has allowed federal law enforcement authorities to bring criminal actions against individuals who manufacture, distribute or handle fentanyl-related substances. This scheduling order is set to expire less than two months from now on Feb. 6, 2020. The FIGHT Fentanyl Act codifies DEA precedent to schedule fentanyl-related substances. The FIGHT Fentanyl Act will ensure law enforcement agencies and courts retain the tools needed to keep those who traffic in this deadly substance off the streets. In the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 72,000 drug-related deaths in the United States in 2017. Of those deaths, roughly 40% involved fentanyl or a fentanyl-related compound. Attorneys general from every state, territory and the District of Columbia signed the letter. With the support of every Attorney General, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has chosen to endorse the legislation as one of its official policy positions. NAAG typically endorses around a dozen policies a year. #Hawaii #ClareConnors #Fentanyl #FentanylAct #DEA #CDC

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is seeking proposals for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, which could be solar-powered, statewide through a 10-year service contract. “Electrifying government fleet vehicles and reducing the consumption of fossil fuels used in transportation aligns with our clean energy goals and helps bring Hawaii closer to eliminating our dependence on imported fuels,” said Gov. David Ige. “We appreciate our state departments taking the lead on this and are eager to see the proposals.” The request for proposals is written to allow other government agencies to participate if they would also like to electrify their fleet vehicles. Proposals must be received by 2:30 p.m. HST Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The link to the solicitation can be found at: https://hiepro.ehawaii.gov/public-display-solicitation.html?rfid=20000911

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige is traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada this week to attend the Western Governors’ Association’s (WGA) Winter Meeting. The governor’s active participation in the WGA allows issues of importance to Hawai‘i to be discussed and elevated on the national level. The governor will take part in key sessions on cutting edge energy innovations with a preview of future technology that will help Hawai‘i achieve 100 percent renewable energy. He will also participate in a session on precision agriculture in which farmers and ranchers are using technology to support innovation and growth. Gov. Ige will travel to Nevada on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and return to Hawai‘i on Sunday, Dec. 15. Lt. Gov. Josh Green will serve as acting governor while Gov. Ige is out of state.