top of page

RESULTS

2702 items found for ""

  • Hawai‘i Department of Health orders two O‘ahu farms to cease sale of basil due to pesticide violatio

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch has ordered two O‘ahu farms to cease the sale of fresh basil due to the presence of unapproved pesticides found on the products during routine sampling. Chun Lian Yuan farm in Kahuku and Bi Bo Wang farm in Kapolei were given the orders on Aug. 14 and 19 respectively. DOH believes that the basil crops tested on Aug. 14 and 19 may have been distributed to consumers in Hawai‘i. However, since the pesticide is allowed in greater amounts on other crops, the department does not consider the situation to be a significant threat to public health. Basil samples were collected on Chun Lian Yuan farm on Aug. 9, 2019 and analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. The results received from the state laboratory on Aug. 12 indicated a range of 0.042 to 0.099 parts per million (ppm) of dimethoate, a pesticide that is not approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use on basil. Dimethoate is approved by the EPA for use on a variety of vegetables and has an allowable range from 0.02 ppm for potatoes up to 2.0 ppm for leaf lettuce. Two basil samples were also collected on Bi Bo Wang farm on Aug. 12 and analyzed for the presence of the pesticide, chlorothalonil. The results received Aug. 13 indicated that only one sample contained chlorothalonil residue, which was 0.024 ppm. Chlorothalonil, like dimethoate, is not approved for basil. It is, however, approved for use on other produce at a range of 1 ppm for blueberries up to 15 ppm for papaya. Additional samples from both farms will be collected and analyzed to determine the presence of the unapproved pesticides. No basil will be allowed to be sold by the farm until subsequent samples indicate zero levels of the unapproved pesticides. The DOH Food and Drug Branch routinely collects and tests a variety of produce samples each month for pesticide residues. Any sample found in violation is immediately followed with a cease and desist order, further sampling and education. The Food and Drug Branch safeguards public health by ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices and related consumer products are safe and properly labeled. #HawaiiDepartmentofHealth #DOH #Basil #pesticide #chunlianyuanfarm #EPA #BiBoWangfarm #Chlorothalonil #FoodandDrugBranch

  • Funding released for Access Bridge and Road in Kawaihae.

    HONOLULU – Senator Lorraine Inouye is pleased to announce that Governor Ige has released $600,000 in funds to develop and complete an access bridge and road to a community resource center in Kawaihae, Hawai‘i. The Kailapa Community Association (KCA) serves Native Hawaiians who reside in the Kailapa Homestead community and another neighboring Hawaiian Homestead community at Puaka'ilima in Kohala. Its mission is "to empower Native Hawaiians living in Kohala by supporting physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural health of people and place." KCA is committed to developing community programs and services that promote healthy living, environmental preservation, and Hawaiian cultural practices. #HawaiiStateSenate #Kawaihae #KailapaCommunityAssociation #Kohala #HawaiiIsland #bigIsland #AccessBridgeKawaihae #HawaiianHomestead #Puakailima #LorraineInouye #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiSenateMajority

  • Governor issues fifth supplementary emergency proclamation for homelessness

    HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed a fifth supplementary emergency proclamation for homeless on Friday, to support the development of additional affordable housing for people transitioning out of homelessness. The emergency proclamation aims to accelerate not only the completion of housing projects, but also expands shelter capacity and access to services for homeless individuals and families. Gov. Ige signed the initial emergency proclamation on Dec. 14, 2018, a supplementary proclamation on Feb. 12, 2019, a second supplementary proclamation on April 12, 2019, a third on June 7, 2019 and a fourth on Aug. 6, 2019. The supplementary proclamation signed today provides additional opportunities for counties to engage in housing projects for homeless individuals and families. This emergency relief period for homelessness continues until Oct. 22, 2019 unless terminated by a separate proclamation. #Homelessness #housing #emergencyproclamation #affordablehousing #davidige #hawaiihawaiigovernment

  • Joint Venture Education Forum celebrates 20th year of education partnerships with Hawaii’s military

    HONOLULU - The Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF), a cooperative partnership between Hawaii’s military community, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) and other community organizations, highlighted success stories of Hawaii’s military students and their families at its 20th Annual Meeting today. JVEF’s mission is to facilitate the educational concerns and unique needs of military children and their families, such as transitioning to the islands, and to support Hawaii’s public school students. “Over its 20 years, the JVEF partnership between the Department of Education and our local military has worked to transform schools in positive ways for our military-impacted students,” said Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Covell. “We’ve made great strides in making Transition Centers a key part of our school design models to help incoming students acclimate so they can stay focused on academic achievement, our school teams and our state offices are working hard, along with our students and parents, to ensure we maximize our Impact Aid federal reimbursement funds every year, and our military volunteers continue to step up to be great mentors to our students and devote their time and sweat to improve our campuses.” Hawaii has the highest number of military-dependent children per capita in the nation, representing approximately 15,000 students or eight-percent of the total student enrollment. The majority of these students attend 45 schools located on or near military installations in Oahu’s Central, Leeward and Windward School Districts. “[Military parents] can’t do the job their nation asks them to do when they’re worried about their families, this profession requires a family commitment in terms of the number of moves, the number of unknowns, the length of deployments, all these things are challenges," said General Robert B. Brown, Commanding General, US Army Pacific. “The strength of our military is our families and JVEF has done more than any other program to help those families and it has made an incredible difference.” Awards were presented recognizing JVEF’s outstanding civilian and military contributors whose efforts have had a significant impact on Hawaii’s military and public school students. A joint presentation of the 2019 Daniel K. Inouye JVEF Outstanding Military Contributor Commendation Award was made to Mr. James Morris. Mr. Morris has been an active JVEF liaison member for 15 years and has advocated for school facility improvements including major renovations, remodeled classrooms, air conditioning, playground upgrades and the establishment of new Transition Centers. The 2019 K. Mark Takai Outstanding Civilian Contributor Commendation Award was made to Principal Alisa Bender of Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickam Elementary School. Principal Bender initiated several programs to address the needs of military students and their families, including a Military Mentorship program and an Anchored for Life programs. Principal Bender has created a school climate that is both welcoming to military families and conducive to academic achievement, one that serves as a model for other schools. Forty military servicemen and women were also recognized for their dedicated volunteer work at various Hawaii schools, serving as mentors for military-impacted students of all ages and spearheading campus and classroom improvements. For more details on JVEF, Impact Aid and military-impacted schools in Hawaii, visit HIDOE’s Military Families website. ### About the Hawaii State Department of Education The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. It is comprised of 256 schools and 36 charter schools, and serves approximately 180,000 students. King Kamehameha III established Hawaii’s public school system in 1840. To learn more, visit HawaiiPublicSchools.org. Source: #HawaiiDepartmentofEducationHIDOE #HoraceMeek #MilitaryMentorship #JamesMorris #2019DanielKInouyeJVEFOutstandingMilitaryC #GeneralRobertBBrown #JointVentureEducationForum #jvef

  • Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council awarded funding for renovations

    HONOLULU – Senator Lorraine Inouye is excited to announce that Camp Honokaia on Hawai'i Island and the Camp Alan Faye Program on Kaua'i will receive funding for renovations and improvements. Governor Ige released $450,000, which will be used to renovate these camps, upgrade facilities, add program infrastructure and replaced aged toilets and shower facilities bringing them into compliance with the EPA and Department of Health regulations. Funding will also be for programs expanded by the addition of the Cub Scout girls, which required additional facilities to serve both girls and boys. Senator Inouye is grateful that the Governor has released these funds to complete the necessary renovations to Camp Honokaia's deteriorating infrastructure. This award will benefit the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council and numerous non-profit organizations that utilize the facilities as well. It is critical that the State maintain good partnerships with non-profit organizations that are promoting the development of future stewards of the 'aina. Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council is a 501(c)3 organization, works to prepare young people for life, making our communities a better place for all of us. Aloha Council is comprised of youth and adults representing most racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities and educational experiences. #BoyScoutsofAmericaAlohaCouncil #BoyScoutsofAmerica #CampAlanFaye #CampHonokaia #LorraineInouye #DavidIge

  • Hawai‘i Department of Health approves fifth dispensary on O‘ahu to begin retail sales of medical can

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) has approved a second medical cannabis retail facility for O‘ahu licensee Aloha Green Apothecary. The facility, located at 2113 Kalakaua Avenue, Unit 103, in Waikīkī, passed its final onsite inspection today. There are now 12 licensed retail medical cannabis dispensary locations operating throughout the state: five on O‘ahu, one on Kaua‘i, two on Maui and four on Hawai‘i Island. Aloha Green opened O‘ahu’s first medical cannabis license retail center in August 2017. “Aloha Green’s Waikīkī dispensary will help make cannabis for medical use more accessible to registered patients living in Hawai‘i as well as registered patients visiting the islands,” said Michele Nakata, supervisor of DOH’s Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licensing Program. “Since the start of our online visitor registration process, we have approved more than 1,000 out-ofstate applications for patients traveling to Hawai‘i, and we anticipate this number to continue growing in the future.” There are more than 26,700 patients and over 2,100 caregivers registered statewide. More than 40 percent of these patients and 50 percent of the caregivers reside on O‘ahu. As of July 31, 2019, there were approximately 11,414 registered patients and 1,086 caregivers on O‘ahu. The primary qualifying medical condition reported for adult registered patients in Hawai‘i is severe pain. The primary reported condition for children under 18 years of age is seizures. Since out-of-state patients could begin registering for temporary medical cannabis use in Hawai‘i in March 2019, there have been more than 1,000 applicants from 25 states and the District of Columbia approved. To ensure the highest standards of quality and care, dispensaries are required to comply with all state and county health and safety regulations and are subject to unlimited unannounced DOH inspections. Each licensed dispensary is an independent business and operates based on their individual business plans. Other licensed retail centers operating on O‘ahu include: • Aloha Green, in the Interstate Building at 1314 South King St. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on Aug. 9, 2017; • Noa Botanicals, located at 1308 Young St. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on Oct. 9, 2017; • Cure Oahu, located at 727 Kapahulu Ave. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on March 16, 2018; • Noa Botanicals, located at 46-28 Kawa St. in Kaneohe, which received its notice to proceed on Feb. 14, 2019. Registered patients should use medical cannabis with caution and consult their health care provider on proper dosages. Although medical cannabis is legal, driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal. All use of medical cannabis must be on private property. Do not use cannabis in the car while on the road, at work, at school or on school grounds, at the beach, at a park, on hiking trails, on a bus, or in any other public space. Laws that do not allow smoking or vaping in certain areas apply to the use of medical cannabis. Although cannabis can be used as medicine, it has the potential to be addicting. Medicine should be secured and kept away from children at all times. If someone ingests too much cannabis, call the Poison Help Line at 1 (800) 222-1222. Plants in a personal grow site should be secure, not visible by neighbors, and not accessible by children. When leaving home, medical cannabis must be in a sealed container and not visible to the public. Patients are not protected when traveling with medical cannabis interisland, between states, or in other countries. More information on the Medical Cannabis Program is available at http://health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabis/. #HawaiiDepartmentofHealth #cannabis #medicalcannibis #alohagreen #alohagreenwaikikidispensary #michelenakata #DOH #Waikiki #NoaBotanicals #CureOahu #AlohaGreenApothecary

  • INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR AN UPDATE ON THE NORTH KOHALA AGRICULTURAL WATER STUDY

    (Waimea)-An upcoming informational meeting on the North Kohala Agricultural Water Study will be jointly hosted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Hawai’i Island Senator Lorraine Inouye. The meeting will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, August 30, 2019 at the Kohala Village Hub, located at 55-514 Hawi Road, in Hāwī, North Kohala, Hawaii. Representatives from the DLNR Engineering Division and its consultants, Waimea Water Services, LLC and Akinaka & Associates Ltd. are conducting the study to identify the current and future water demands and evaluate existing and potential new water sources to develop a plan to meet the agricultural needs of the region. Funds for this study were appropriated by the Legislature with the support of Senator Inouye. Individuals requiring special assistance or auxiliary aids or services at the meeting, please contact Brandon Kim at least four days prior to the meeting at brandon.j.kim@hawaii.gov so that arrangements can be made. #hawaiidepartmentoflandandnaturalresources #NorthKohala #Agriculture #AgriculturalWaterStudy #LorraineInouye #DLNR #WaimeaWaterServices #KohalaVillagePub #Water

  • MULTIPLE AGENCY EFFORT INVOLVING CANINES TO HELP KEEP HAWAII’S OFFICIAL STATE BIRD PROTECTED FROM AI

    A one-year pilot project using canine teams to non-lethally haze Nēnē away from the Līhu`e Airport and Hōkūala Timbers Resort area was introduced at a news conference in Lihue on Tuesday. The new canine teams are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service’s Hawai’i program and a collaboration partnership with the resort, Department of Land and Natural Resources as well as the Department of Transportation’s Airports Division. The purpose of the program is to protect aircraft, pilots as well as their passengers while also ensuring the protection of Hawaii’s state bird, the Nēnē. Nesting Nēnē at the Hōkūala Timbers Resort, which is close in proximity to the Līhu`e Airport has been a problem for quite some time and the flight patterns of these birds can interrupt with the flight patterns of pilots flying in the area. This project involves continuous nonlethal hazing of the birds by two border collies accompanied by their professional handlers. Program employees will also utilize golf carts, walking, running or using handheld flags and flashlights to deter the nesting of the Nēnē. In 2014, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife developed a 5-year plan to translocate the entire Nēnē population from the rest. Within a two-year period, a total of 652 Nēnē were translocated from the resort to the islands of Maui and Hawai’i. Since translocation of Nēnē ended in 2016, subsequent Nēnē have resumed loafing and nesting activities at the resort. This project’s intention is to prevent additional pairs from nesting during the mating season (August to March). Airplane and wildlife encounters are costly and dangerous to all involved. Over $700 million is lost due to wildlife strikes with civil aircraft in the United States each year. These wildlife strikes have caused death and injuries as well as incidents such as geese striking a US Airways Flight causing it to land in the Hudson River in New York City in 2009. USDA Wildlife Services employees will work with resort staff daily to ensure information exchange regarding location of birds, current guest activities that may affect hazing operations, possible resort events that may affect hazing operations, and coordinate work schedules. Sheri S. Mann, Kauai Branch Manager for the DLNR Division of Forestry (DOFAW) commented, “We are in complete support of this pilot project and it appears to be accomplishing its goals very quickly. DOFAW, in collaboration with several other DLNR divisions, is currently establishing two new Nene sanctuaries, east and south of the airport. It is our hope that Nene leaving the airport area will make these new sanctuaries their home.” To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/352387831 #HawaiiDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources #nene #lihueAirport #kokualaTimbersResort #CanineTeams #DLNR #divisionofForestryandWildlife #wildlifestrikes #sherimann #DOFAW

  • NEW SAFETY FEATURES IMPLEMENTED IN TIME FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

    HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) reminds motorists the new school year is beginning and drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and adjust their commutes to Beat the School Jam. The University of Hawaii resumes August 26 with many public and private school students already back in the classroom. The first week of school is historically busy in terms of traffic as parents and students formulate their commute, especially if it involves attending a new school. In an effort to help traffic conditions and ease the transition into the new school year, HDOT will suspend construction-related road closures on major state highways on Oahu from Aug. 26 – 30 between the hours of 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the daytime construction break, emergency closures, nighttime construction, and roadwork that does not involve lane closures may still be scheduled. Drivers can help themselves by planning ahead. There are more resources to help drivers choose the best route than ever before. There are apps like GoAkamai.org, Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, local media outlets and many others that can alert you to accidents, construction or traffic ahead. “Spending a few seconds to look at a traffic app can save a lot of time. With that information people can choose the best route and decide if they need to leave earlier or adjust their plans,” said Gov. David Y. Ige. “Of course, drivers must check their phones before starting to drive.” The up to the minute traffic mapping feature on GoAkamai.org will be extended to neighbor island roadways in HDOT jurisdiction in the near future. The roadway will be displayed in green (fast), yellow, red, or black (slow) to indicate travel speeds in an area to help motorists monitor congestion and plan their commute. Pedestrian Safety Improvements The start of the school year means many students will be walking or biking to school and drivers are reminded to slow down in school zones and watch for children crossing streets. HDOT has installed new raised pedestrian crosswalks in three school zones in time for the new school year. “The raised crosswalks are designed to increase safety by changing the driving culture, especially in high pedestrian traffic areas,” said Deputy Director Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division. “The features increase the visibility of pedestrians and slow drivers down to the speed limit when traveling through the area.” The raised crosswalks have been installed on Kalihi Street near Kalakaua Intermediate, Kalihi Kai Elementary and Farrington High Schools; on Farrington Highway near Waianae High School and the Makaha Surfside complex; and on Fort Weaver Road near Ilima Intermediate, Pohakea Elementary and James Campbell High Schools. The locations have been selected based on our pedestrian and vehicle volume data, proximity to pedestrian attractors like schools, and community concerns. HDOT will continue to monitor the effectiveness and are planning their installation in additional areas to increase highway safety. New Traffic Cameras HDOT is pleased to offer four new traffic cameras on Kuhio Highway Route 560 on Kauai which are available for viewing on the GoAkamai.org website. The cameras show Kuhio Highway to help inform motorists of traffic conditions in the vicinity of the slope stabilization work near mile marker 1. There are cameras at Hanalei Bridge and the Bamboo Patch for the public to see conditions approaching the work site from Hanalei. There are additional cameras near Hanalei Plantation Road and the Princeville Shopping Center so the public can see traffic conditions approaching the work site from Princeville. HDOT is modernizing traffic signal systems at all 82 existing signalized intersections on Maui to allow connectivity between signals and to set up a cloud-based Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). The ATMS consists of controllers, a travel time system, cellular communications, conflict monitor units, and system monitors to enable HDOT to remotely optimize traffic signal timing on Maui. The camera installation was completed this summer and can pan, tilt and zoom. They are for monitoring traffic conditions, not for traffic violations. The Maui cameras will be accessible on the GoAkamai.org website. The traffic cameras have been installed at the following 10 intersections, with the exception of the Kuihelani/Puunene intersection which will have two cameras and currently has an intersection improvement project in construction. Haleakala Hwy and Hana Hwy Honoapiilani Hwy and North Kihei Road Kuihelani Hwy and Puunene Avenue Airport Access Road and Hana Hwy Piilani Hwy and Piikea Street Maui Veterans Hwy and North Kihei Road Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road Hana Hwy and Baldwin Avenue Haleakala Hwy and Kula Hwy Honoapiilani Hwy and Keawe Street Oahu has 200 traffic cameras located around the island that can be seen on the GoAkamai.org website. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over HDOT is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and law enforcement agencies for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which runs from August 14 through September 2, 2019. The campaign coincides with the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of the year in terms of drunk driving. During the 2017 Labor Day weekend there were 376 crash fatalities nationwide, of which 44 percent involved drivers who had been drinking. For more information regarding the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign please click here. Vehicle crashes are the fastest and worst way to backup traffic, not only in the lanes it impacts, but the opposite direction as people rubberneck. Stalled vehicles blocking a lane can also create major congestion. Drivers need to make sure their car is in good working order by ensuring they have enough gas, their tires are not worn down, and their car is regularly maintained. If drivers do have vehicle problems on the freeways, the Freeway Service Patrol is available to help by calling at 841- HELP (4357). The trained technicians can help tow vehicles to the nearest safe spot, provide a free gallon of gas, change a tire and much more. The FSP services are available on the H-1, H-2, and H-201 Moanalua Freeways weekdays (except holidays) from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. The link to FSP and its services is http://fsphawaii.com/ Motorists should consider time and money saving options such as carpooling or vanpooling with friends or co-workers, taking public transportation like TheBus, biking to work or using Biki, or altering your work schedule and appointments around peak commute hours if possible. HDOT Highways Program Status website HDOT continues to post useful information on the Highways Program Status website which allows people to track current highways projects using interactive mapping technology. Available information includes project start date, percentage complete, estimated cost and completion date. Projects that are anticipated to begin within two years are listed under the future projects section. The program status website has additional information including pavement conditions, traffic counts for state roadways, bridge information, and information on fatal crashes including locations of the crash, contributing factors and vehicle type, throughout the state. The HDOT Highways Project Status Map can be found on hidot.hawaii.gov under the “Current Spotlights” section. A direct link can be found by clicking here. SOURCE: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/new-safety-features-implemented-in-time-for-the-new-school-year/ #Hawaiidepartmentoftransportation #HDOT #HIDOT

  • Governor Ige selects agriculture land program manager as Ag Department deputy director

    HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed Morris M. Atta as the Department of Agriculture’s deputy director, effective Aug. 22, 2019. Morris is the current agriculture land program manager/administrator, overseeing the department’s establishment of a land management infrastructure to manage the state’s agricultural land assets effectively. Previously, Morris served as head of land acquisition for the city’s Honolulu Rail Transit Project, state lands administrator and special projects coordinator for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and research attorney for the Senate Majority Research Office, Hawai‘i State Senate. He has also worked as an attorney in various capacities in the public and private sectors. Morris is a graduate of Roosevelt High School, Yale University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and New York University School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor. Atta’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. #Governorige #DavidIge #AgricultureDeputyDirector #MorrisAtta #HawaiiDepartmentofAgriculture

  • HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR RICHARD RAPOZA

    HONOLULU - The Hawaiʻi State Senate is saddened to announce the passing of its Communications Director, Richard Rapoza. He served in this position since December 2018; and also previously served in this role from 2007-2011. Richard was a dedicated public servant and an experienced communications strategist who also worked for Kamehameha Schools (1991-2004), former U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (2011-2014), Hawaiʻi Pacific University (2014-2016) and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (2017-2018). “He was a trusted and valued member of the Senate team,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi. “His immense contributions for the people of Hawaiʻi were truly appreciated and he will be missed.” “Richard’s passing is a huge loss for us here in the Senate and he will be sorely missed,” said Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. “He was an effective communicator and helped the Senate to clearly articulate our ideas and objectives to the people of Hawaiʻi. Our condolences to his family.” Born and raised in Honolulu, Richard is a graduate of Pearl City High School and received a B.A. in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1981. #RichardRapoza #HawaiiSenateCommunications #communicationsdirector #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiSenateMajority #Wonderfulcommunicator #WonderfulFriend

  • SENATE WAYS & MEANS, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES TO HOLD MAUI INFO BRIEFING ON MAUI CORRECTIONAL CE

    Honolulu – The Hawaii Senate Ways & Means Committee and Public Safety Committee have announced that they will conduct an informational briefing to hear from the Department of Public Safety and receive an update on the emergency appropriation for Maui Community Correctional Center (MCCC) and the current state of the facility. WHEN: Tuesday, August 20, 2019 4:30 P.M. WHERE: University of Hawaii Maui College, Paina Dining Hall 310 W. Kaahumanu Avenue Kahului, HI 96732 “We made specific appropriations to fund improvements at the Maui Community Correctional Center,” said Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, “and the committee would like to hear from the Department of Public Safety on the status of the improvements at MCCC.” Senator Clarence Nishihara, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, said that the Maui briefings are a follow-up on key issues raised in the last legislative session. “We had very serious concerns about MCCC, including inmate healthcare, overtime, position vacancies, and of course the riot last March that literally left prison staff fearing for their lives,” Senator Nishihara said. “I think the community is looking to us to make sure there is real, productive action on these matters, and that we don’t let anyone sweep them under the rug.” The Senate committees request an update on: Department of Public Safety · Status of the health care of inmates, including physical and mental · Status on the purchase and distribution of less than lethal equipment · Overtime payments Maui Community Correctional Center · Final report on the March riot at MCCC · Changes to existing processes and procedures · Vacancies at MCCC and steps taking to fill positions Inmate ratio to Adult Corrections Officers · Status of female inmates and the ratio of inmates to female Adult Corrections Officers The public is invited, but no public testimony will be accepted at the briefing. #HawaiiStateSenateCommunications #SENATEWAYSANDMEANS #maui #mauicorrectionalcenter #CLARENCEnishihara #DonovanDelaCruz #publicsafety #MilitaryAffairs #IntergovernmentalAffairs #MOCC #MauiCommunityCorrectionalCenter #inmatehealthcare #inmatepopulation #Mauiprisonriot

bottom of page