Dept. of Transportation Monthly Newsletter
October 2020
Connecting the DOTs...
Kaua‘i Emergency Repairs Project is an America’s Transportation Awards Finalist By: Shelly Kunishige The Kaua‘i Emergency Repairs Project is one of 12 finalists in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards. The Kaua‘i Emergency Repairs, a collaborative effort to restore access to the communities of Wainiha and Haena following the April 2018 floods, now moves on to online voting for a $10,000 cash prize for a local non-profit. HDOT has identified the Hanalei Initiative as the local non-profit that would receive the cash prize should the Kaua’i Emergency Repairs win. The Hanalei Initiative is a community-led organization established following the 2018 flood to identify and solve the needs of Kaua’i’s North Shore. The Initiative’s three main areas of focus are water quality, transportation, and maintenance of community spaces.
Your online vote could help the community non-profit, Hanalei Initiative win $10,000.
Everyone can vote online for the People’s Choice award segment of the America’s Transportation Awards. HDOT is asking for your kokua to help bring home the $10,000 prize. You can vote once per day through a simple process outlined below: • Go to: americastransportationawards.org/ • Click on the blue “VOTE NOW” button • Look for the Kaua’i Emergency Repairs Project and click the blue button marked “VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT” • Come back often to vote! People’s Choice voting is open through Oct. 25. Individuals can cast one vote per day. A total of 79 projects from 36 state Departments of Transportation were conKAUAI continued to page 2
Table of Contents
Kauai Emergency Repairs .............1 Director’s Message ........................ 3 Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum ...... 4 Lunch & Learn ................................. 6 What is Phishing? ........................... 7 Human Trafficking .......................... 8 Airports Division Refinances Debt ..................................................... 9 Airports ..............................................10 Harbors ..............................................11 Highways ......................................... 13 World Kindness Day .....................15
CONNECTING THE DOTs
Editor-in-Chief: Lynn Araki-Regan
Managing Editor: Rae Nguyen Copy Editor: Juli Chun Art Director: Frank Uratani Column Writers: Jade Butay Darren Cantrill Rey Domingo Melanie Martin
Contributors: Derek Chow Adrienne Crowell Daniel Garcia Hawaii State Archives Alan Hilton Leila Kagawa Shelly Kunishige Chuck Lee David Rodriguez Rachel Roper Tim Sakahara Ying “Joy” Zhang
MMPO .............................................. 16 Time & Leave Project ................. 17 Fraud, Waste, Abuse Prevention ........................................18 The Power 9 .................................... 19 Hawaii State Archives ................. 20 Arrivals & Departures ..................21 Our Four-Legged Friends ......... 22
©2020 Connecting the DOTs. All rights reserved. Interested in submitting for next month’s newsletter? Send your articles and high resolution photos to lynn.araki-regan@hawaii.gov.
KAUA’I continued from page 1
sidered for the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards. Selection criteria included increasing safety, improving efficiencies, and providing accessible travel options for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. HDOT’s entry centered on creating an emergency road through 14 landslides along Kuhio Highway reconnecting the communities of Waipa, Waikoko, Wainiha and Haena with the rest of Kaua’i following the record setting rain event. Work crews and materials from all islands were involved in the effort. The winners will be announced at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting the week of November 9-13, 2020. Online voting runs through 11:59 p.m. on October 25, 2020. PAGE 2
Message from the Director Aloha HDOT ‘Ohana, We blinked, and now it’s October! I wish you and yours good health and happiness as we enter Fall and the start of the holiday season, I would like to update you on several new developments impacting the Department. On Sept. 30, Governor David Ige announced three priority areas in response to the COVID pandemic:
1) Protect Public Health 2) Revive the Economy 3) Strengthen our Community
I believe HDOT has a role in all three. On Sept. 1, our Highways Division supported the public health effort by shutting down the H-3 Freeway for joint surge testing— servicing over 8,000 people over a two-day period. On Sept. 1 and 3 , the Airports Division conducted testing for all employees who work at the airport. On Sept. 14, the Harbors Division facilitated a testing site at Pier 2. It was a remarkable effort that demonstrated what government can do when we all work together. Our Airports Division is a critical part of the pre-testing travel program that will aid in reviving our economy. Following the City & County’s second stay-at-home and the community’s observance of the safety measures we are now in a position where we can contemplate the safe re-opening of travel for the benefit of our communities and economy. This comes as welcome news to our staff who continue to volunteer at the Unemployment Insurance call center and who have witnessed the devastation that has been wrought on our tourism-based economy by the pandemic. We continue to work with Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, the Department of Health, and the Office of Enterprise Services to create a solution that allows us to welcome back tourists while ensuring their safety and the safety of our communities. Additionally, HDOT is the expending agency for nearly $240 million in federal CARES Act and Coronavirus Relief Funds. These funds will be used to carry out airport operations, support operations of neighbor island transit systems, and facilitate health screening at major airports. Thanks to your hard work, we can ensure that our transportation infrastructure and services remain available when the worst of the pandemic has passed. To view a comprehensive report on the CARES and CRF spending, visit hawaiidata.org/federalfunds. On the topic of budgets and our state economy, Department Directors were informed in late September of a likely 10% furlough taking effect Dec. 1 to help the state make up the anticipated $2 billion budget shortfall. Please know that this has not been finalized and may be avoided if the federal government passes the HEROES bill. Of course, when we receive any news, we will let you know. Until then, know that I am continuing to advocate on behalf of the Department and the critical work you do. Mahalo for giving your best to our communities as we operate, plan, and maintain the transportation systems that connect all of us and with the world! Jade T. Butay Director PAGE 3
Administration
HDOT Supports Hawaii Energy Policy Forum’s Mission By: David Rodriguez The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is a member of the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum whose mission is to enable informed decisions to advance Hawai‘i’s clean energy future by convening a collaborative network of stakeholders for fact finding, analysis, information sharing and advocacy.
HDOT was also involved with community COVID-19 testing. Despite these challenges, HDOT remains vigilant to stimulate the economy with capital improvement projects, solicitation of Federal funds along with polices that aim to improve Hawai‘i reliance on food, energy and other imports. First and foremost, is to ensure workers safety. Personal protective equipment, adherence to health and safety guidance and COVID-19 testing are necessary to maintain operations and services to the public.
Forum members at the general meeting wanted to know: What has changed since COVID-19? From the HDOT perspective, the pandemic has exposed the fragility to provide safe and sustainable transportation that preserves economic prosperity of the travel industry, distribution supply chains and public transportation.
HDOT’s application for Federal Transit Authority funds of $16.7M was disbursed for the continuance of public transportation services provided by the Counties including paratransit for those with special needs.
The dynamics of this disease leaves governments defenseless to political pressures that seeks to keep Hawai‘i safe prior to reviving our economy. Over the course of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i, HDOT has enabled the State’s lockdown, quarantine program and other policies that restrict the movement of people and goods. In doing so, HDOT has loss millions in revenues that sustains its special funded operations at airports, harbors and highways.
Maintenance, construction and innovative pilot projects like connected traffic control systems are being completed in a safe and expeditious manner with minimal impacts to traffic flow. Demand for oil globally remains very low and there are concerns at Hawai‘i’s refineries. Especially in the local production of jet fuel. ENERGY continued to page 5
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Administration
ENERGY continued from page 4
However, with the upcoming approval of pretravel testing and the development of the safe travel application. HDOT is very excited to welcome air travel back with its thermal screener and is confident that safeguards are in place to access traveler health information with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result when the State re-opens tourism on October 15, 2020. HDOT defines sustainability along three dimensions:
Aerial view showing many of the 24,000 solar panels installed throughout the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
1) Revenue: stable, reliable revenue sufficient to maintain Hawai‘i’s transportation system like a utility. 2) Stakeholders: transparent and fair transportation funding sources for Hawai‘i’s residents. 3) Energy: transportation funding sources and uses that align with the state’s environmental protection and energy efficiency policies and goals.
HDOT along with the Hawai‘i State Energy Office and Hawai‘ian Electric Company and other members of the Forum are working to improve electric vehicle infrastructure by installing electric vehicle supply equipment that supports electric vehicle charging stations.
To resolve HDOT’s sustainable funding vision, The Road Use Charge demonstration project continues to collect data and shall issue a report that outlines the possible replacement of the current vehicle fuel tax for the State’s consideration. Last year’s peer group at the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum drilled down details, discussing components for a successful clean transportation procurement process, and what gaps or placeholders will need to build the framework for procurement documents. HDOT is electrified to pilot a project to electrify Hawai‘i’s government fleet vehicles with the power to procure electric charging and vehicle goods and services. This energy savings performance contract expedites the electrification of transportation by eliminating the high costs associated with electric charging stations and vehicle ownership.
HDOT, Highways Division is committed to lead this endeavor by first identifying charging locations suitable to the power grid like the department’s base yards prior to the deployment of its electric vehicles. Internal implementation plans are in discussions. We recognize the State’s dire fiscal situation and hope to demonstrate associated costs savings in our vehicle replacement program during the life of the contract. “Electrifying government fleet vehicles and reducing the consumption of fossil fuels used in transportation aligns with our clean energy goals and helps bring Hawai‘i closer to eliminating our dependence on imported fuels,” said Governor David Ige. To learn more about the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum and their vision to toward a pono energy system that sustains a healthy, and prosperous, and resilient Hawai‘i in the face of climate change, please visit: manoa.Hawai‘i.edu/hepf/.
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Administration DOT Launches Lunch & Learn Sessions
By: Darren Cantrill
The HDOT Training Group will begin hosting 30-minute “Lunch and Learn” sessions for all HDOT divisions on a wide variety of topics. We will give you the option of two dates per month where we will be repeating the training, in case you cannot attend one of the dates. To finish out this year, we’ve decided to focus on the following topics: October: Adobe Sign (eSign basic) training on Wednesday, October 14 (by Erin Nakama of
ETS) or October 28 at 12:30 pm via Microsoft Teams.
pm via Microsoft Teams
November: Adobe Sign (eSign intermediate) training on Wednesday, November 4 or November 18 at 12:30
December: Direct from the Director Jade Butay (Q&A) on Wednesday, December 2 or December 16 at 12 noon via Microsoft Teams Please click on this LINK to register and also to select / suggest future training topics.
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Administration What is Phishing? Phishing (phish·ing | \ ˈfi-shiŋ) noun: is one of the many new computerrelated terms that have found their way into the general lexicon over the past decade or so. Its "ph" spelling is influenced by an earlier word for an illicit act: "phreaking." Phreaking involves fraudulently using an electronic device to avoid paying for telephone calls and its name is suspected of being a shortening of "phone freak." A common phishing scam involves sending e-mails that appear to come from banks requesting recipients to verify their accounts by typing personal details, such as credit card info into a website that has been disguised to look like the real thing.
anything@microsoft.com).
By: Darren Cantrill
And, the fact that I received this email WHILE in O365 indicated that I probably wasn’t locked out (lower right corner of my email it shows my outlook status): 2. If you suspect that an email is a Phishing attempt, report it by selecting “Report Phish” at the top of outlook and then delete the email:
Note: Now delete the email. 3. If you use the web version of Outlook, you can still report a phishing email by selecting the “3 dots” (ellipses) on the far-right hand side, select “Report Phish”: Note: Now delete the email.
Such scams can be thought of as "fishing" for naive recipients. Recently, many DOT employees received a “Phishing” email like this: If you think a scammer has your information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov. There, you’ll see the specific steps to take based on the information that you lost. 1. Right away, I noticed the email address for Microsoft Security Support was do-not-reply@ mso365security.biz which doesn’t match anything I’ve ever received from Microsoft (ex:
If you think you clicked on a link or opened an attachment that downloaded harmful software, update your computer’s security software. Then run a scan. PAGE 7
Administration
HDOT Joins Fight Against Human Trafficking By: Farshad Talebi, Lynn Araki-Regan, Tim Sakahara The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) are forging an outreach campaign to combat human trafficking through Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) program.
wide campaign.
BLI is an element of the DHS Blue Campaign led by the U.S. DOT and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a DHS agency. BLI trains personnel to combat human trafficking within the aviation industry. HDOT is the first State Department of Transportation in the country to become a formal BLI partner. HDOT will also be partnering with the Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General (AG) on a broader statewide anti-trafficking initiative that includes trainings for HDOT personnel and awareness campaigns throughout Hawai‘i. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a critical investigative arm of DHS leads local anti-trafficking efforts and will support the HDOT state-
All modes of transportation can be unwitting conduits for human trafficking; thus, with proper awareness and training, employees in the transportation industry can be key assets in identifying and reporting suspicious behavior. When such suspicions are triggered, employees have been instructed to follow the BLI reporting protocol and expeditiously report tips to the DHS Tip Line number at (866) 347-2423. To report child trafficking, call the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services Child Trafficking (Child Welfare Services) Hotline at (808) 832-1999 (Oahu) or 1-888-398-1188 (Neighbor Islands). As always, in the event of an immediate emergency, call 911. For airports, airlines and aviation industry organizations looking to learn more about partnering with BLI to train their employees on human trafficking and reporting options, email bluecampaign@hq.dhs.gov or trafficking@dot.gov for more information.
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Airports Airports Division Refinances Debt for Significant Savings, Provides Funds for Critical Projects at Historically Low Rates Kudos to the Airports Division which successfully refinanced $300 million of outstanding bonds for significant savings. In addition, the Airports Division took advantage of historically low interest rates in the municipal bond market to finance capital projects, delivering critical funding to advance projects that will maintain, preserve, and expand air service facilities across the State. The refinancing will generate over $100 million of savings over the next two years, providing an immediate reduction in costs that will help the Airports Division combat the challenges of COVID-19. The Airports Division also sold $300 million of new revenue bonds to fund essential capital improvement projects as HDOT continues to invest in the State’s airports. The bonds have an average interest rate of 3.35% with a final maturity in 2050. The interest rate on the bonds sold today represents the lowest interest rate ever achieved by the Airports Division.
By: Tim Sakahara
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the success of today’s bond sale provides strong evidence of the market’s longterm confidence in Hawaii and our Airports System,” said Governor David Ige.
Prior to the bond sale, the Airports Division’s credit quality was reviewed by Moody’s Investors Service, S&P Global Ratings, and Fitch Ratings and received strong ratings of A1, A+, A+, respectively. The three rating agencies recognized the Division’s credit profile remains solid, noting that the Division entered the pandemic in a strong financial and operational position with an experienced management team and a history of well-managed capital planning, providing confidence the Division will be able to successfully navigate the decrease in air travel caused by COVID-19, which has significantly impacted the airport sector globally. Moody’s further noted its “expectation that demand for leisure travel to [Hawaii] remains relatively robust and will translate into stronger recovery when quarantine restrictions are relaxed.”
HDOT and the Airports Division continue to act strategically to reduce costs while also delivering strategic projects critical to the state. PAGE 9
Airports AIR-K Sportin’ the DOT Masks By: Adrienne Crowell
A New Face at KOA Badging and ID Office Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport welcomes Jennifer Goodwin, the newest office assistant at the Badging and ID office. So, how do you like it so far? Your new job? New home? I am enjoying the position so far. Everyone is very kind and most helpful! I am enjoying adjusting to the Island life. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? In the next five years, I see myself still working. :|
What are your hobbies? have a secret talent? I enjoy being outdoors in nature, gazing at the stars, enjoying the scents of the flowers and admiring God’s beautiful creations. I do not have a secret talent.
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By: Rae Nguyen Do you
Harbors Harbors Division’s Stormwater Program Helps Keep Hawai‘i’s Waters Clean Hawai‘i’s coastal environment is one of the most unique, sensitive and beautiful in the world. It’s no wonder why people come to visit and enjoy what residents take for granted each and every day.
illicit discharges (non-stormwater discharge that poses a risk to the environment, such as uncontained wash water, uncontained aggregate spillage at pier side, fuel spill, leaking vehicles/equipment, uncontained sediment laden water from construction sites, etc.).
Even during this coronavirus pandemic, Harbors Division’s Environmental Team are working hard to achieve stormwater runoff compliance but also to educate employees, industry and the general public about what we can all do to help keep our coastal waters clean and free of pollutants. Here are some ongoing efforts on compliance with our stormwater management program (SWMP) and pollution prevention (P2). We strive for environmental excellence.
• Inspect, clean, and stencil storm drains; install/repair P2 signs; patrol the piers and continue to observe and report any suspected illicit discharge to further defer such incident from occurring again • Detaining stormwater and removing pollutants are the primary purpose of stormwater management.
• Educate Honolulu and Kalaeloa Harbors tenants via online training at hidot.hawaii.gov/ harbors/2020-annual-storm-water-awarenesstraining-for-dot-harbors-tenants/. This online training video educates harbors tenants on reducing rainwater runoff into streets, lawns, construction sites, and other locations into stormwater systems. Anything that enters a storm drain system at our harbors would usually end up in the ocean without treatment. •
Identifying and eliminating sources of
• Oversight of all harbor tenants and ensure that they remain in compliance with each respective revocable permit and lease agreement. This year, we refocus our stormwater awareness training with the theme of 3R’s – “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” A brochure has been developed to aid in this effort. Please click here to view the digital copy. It highlights how small actions can collectively make a major contribution towards reducing waste, minimizing use of landfills, and reducing our carbon footprint.
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STORMWATER continued to page 12
Harbors
STORMWATER continued from page 11
• Reduce – Less waste means there is less to recycle so it pays to be a wise consumer. Some examples would be to avoid using or purchasing one-time use goods or turn off the lights when not in use. • Reuse – Buy, sell or donate used items. Around your home, there are so many ways we could reuse/repurpose items, such as reusing food-grade glass jars to store food and beverages, reuse an old jar to store loose items, reuse newspaper to pack items, just to name a few. • Recycle – Carefully purchasing recyclable products can be a first step towards efficient recycling. Some small steps include purchasing products that can be recycled such as glass jars, buying non-toxic products whenever possible, etc. Participating in the HI-5 Program. Our Stormwater Awareness Message is “Mālama i ke awa kai” or Protect Our Harbor Waters. If you’d like to learn more about the Harbors SWMP, please visit us online at hidot.hawaii.gov/ harbors/malamaikeawakai/. Following your visit, if you’d like to gauge yourself about the basics on stormwater pollution prevention and environmental sustainability, you are invited to complete this online survey (originally tailored for Harbors Employees) at forms.gle/n9npE6UWFzhSCFP28. This survey consists of 10 multiple-choice questions and other types. Most of the survey answers can be found in the information shared above. If you have any comment/feedback, please do not hesitate to share with us through
this online survey. Your participation helps us spread the stormwater awareness message and continually improves our program goal of positive change. Thank you to our sister divisions and Office of Environmental Compliance for all their support. Like anything else, this COVID-19 pandemic has its own two sides. It deems as a global pandemic and serious threat to human health and has slowed down economic activities. However, based on some scientific study, the slow down in the economy has reduced the overall carbon footprint and pollution has been greatly reduced. There are reports in Hawaii of how our oceans are recovering from the impacts of polluted runoff and tourism. We should consider what we have observed and learned from our oceans rebounding and think of ways to continue this cycle of restoration. After all, we only have ONE HAWAI‘I, ONE OCEAN, and ONE EARTH. Let’s not forget about our environmental stewardship and responsibilities. To report a suspected illicit discharge that occurred at Honolulu Harbor or Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, call Harbor Traffic Control Unit at 587-2076 anytime day or night; for neighbor islands, please report suspected illicit discharge observed at your harbor area to the Harbors District Manager. For more information, feel free to reach out to the Harbors Environmental Hotline at 587-1962. “Mālama i ke awa kai”
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Highways Maui’s Environmental Educational Program Goes Virtual By: Daniel Garcia Dr. Daniel Garcia, Civil Engineer III for Maui’s Environmental Management section, was invited to deliver a lecture at the University of Hawaii Manoa Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Graduate Seminar Sept. 22.
do to protect the environment and that “Only Rain Goes Down the Drain”! The lecture was delivered over Zoom, a program that allows multiple people to meet over the internet, and is an indication of the unique times that we live in.
The topics d a lecture over the MS4 covered in the The COVID-19 Daniel Garcia, Ph.D. delivere CAVs to engineering ing ern nc co e rol ’s OT HD d lecture included virus has program an sters and Ph.D. degrees at Ma ir the ing rsu pu Maui’s Municipal affected nearly nts de stu d Environmental an il Civ a no Ma ii wa Ha of Separate every aspect of the University t. en rtm pa De g rin Storm Sewer how we interact Enginee System (MS4) with one and the Hawaii another socially. Department of Transportation’s (HDOT) role in preparing Hawaii for the inclusion of Connected Social distancing requirements and recommendAutonomous Vehicles (CAV) into roads ations have made it challenging to gather into throughout the state. a central location making educational events like those previously held impossible to do in This is only one of many educational events that person. Maui’s Environmental section has participated in. The Environmental group is in the process of learning to adapt to these unique challenges to The group has visited Lihikai, Wailuku, Waihe’e, continue educating the public. Pomaika’i, Kahului, and Paia Elementary educating 845 students and 60 teachers over the MS4, stormwater program, what they can PAGE 13
Highways US Dept. of Transportation Turns 54! Make sure to wish the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) a happy 54th birthday!
By: Rachel Roper
are employed by the USDOT.
It was established on October 15, 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and had its first official day of operation on April 1, 1967. Here are a few facts about the USDOT from the USDOT’s and its operating administration’s websites: • Over the past fifty-four years, there have been seventeen Secretaries of Transportation. The office is currently held by the Honorable Elaine Chao. Secretary Chao was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a President’s Cabinet when she served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor. • Just under 55,000 people
2003.
• Its operating administrations include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Maritime Administration (MARAD). The United States Coast Guard was part of the USDOT, but was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in
• Public Roads, a quarterly magazine produced by the FHWA, was first published in 1918. • As of 2019, there were over 16 million flights handled by the FAA and over 300 ports in the US. • As of 2017, there were 3.9 million miles of public roads and over 5,000 public use U.S. airports.
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Let’s Celebrate World Kindness Day! World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 13. So mark your calendars!!
By: Chuck Lee
today!
Let’s celebrate World Kindness for an entire week from Nov. 9-13. It is an international movement with no political, commercial or religious affiliations. First launched in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, which was formed at a 1997 Tokyo conference of like-minded kindness organizations from around the world. The U.S. is one of the 28 nations involved in The World Kindness Movement. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition which bridges the divides of race, religion, politics and zip codes. According to Gulf News, “it is a day that encourages individuals to overlook boundaries, race and religion and any other challenging issues at hand.” The purpose of World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds in the community and workplace, focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness that binds us. Kindness is a strength…it is much more difficult and courageous to be kind than it is to hate. We have enough hate and bullying in this world
Here are some effortless ways to make kindness part of your every day: • Decide to be kind. Each morning, tell yourself that you WILL FOCUS ON BEING KIND! • Increase your awareness. Start noticing kindness; it’s all around you, if you just look for it. • Be appreciative…attitude of gratitude • Look for opportunities to be kind • SMILE • Be kind to yourself • Be kind to the people closest to you • Keep a kindness journal The challenge that I have for each of you is to practice kindness each day and especially DOT Kindness week (11/9/20 – 11/13/20) because practicing kindness does not cost us anything, it is CONTAGIOUS and should also be provided to others UNCONDITIONALLY! GET CAUGHT SHOWING AS MUCH KINDNESS AS POSSIBLE!! I will be in touch with all of you with more kindness information and examples how we can practice kindness as a group as we move closer to our DOT Kindness Week. If you have any other thoughts, ideas or Kindness success stories that you may want to share then please email me at charles.tw.lee@ hawaii.gov.
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Maui Organizations Celebrate Community Planning Month
Special to DOTs: Lauren Armstrong, Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization
Along with causing deep hardship and uncertainty for Maui County residents, the coronavirus has also brought us together in unexpected ways.
safety.
Within days, volunteer groups organized to sew thousands of masks for frontline workers. Neighbors delivered food to each other and checked in on kūpuna.
The street art project will also move us toward Maui’s Vision Zero goal.
Community input is being solicited for the art installment in March.
Our biggest strength is our sense of community. The lower risk of transmitting the coronavirus outdoors has provided us with a key moment to revitalize our outdoor public spaces as a way to increase social connectivity, health and resilience.
After receiving valuable input last month from several community focus groups on how to keep our Maui roads safe, the Vision Zero initiative aims to complete its report in 2021, outlining recommendations to reach the goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2040. The County Department of Planning is working to finalize the West Maui Community Plan, which will guide the growth and character of neighborhoods, parks and public spaces for the district in the next 20 years.
We need to ensure safe opportunities in many places for the types of social connections that help foster community during this prolonged period of social distancing. Community planning is a process to identify goals for how we want places to be in the future, and establish actions to help us achieve those goals. In 2019, Mayor Victorino proclaimed October “Community Planning Month” at a Wailuku Town Friday event. This year, under different circumstances, we want to celebrate community planning by sharing a few highlights of work being done to plan for public spaces on Maui. The Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) coalition have partnered with local artist Matthew Agcolicol to paint street art by Lihikai Elementary School on Papa Avenue with a Complete Streets design approach to promote
The department has initiated the process for the South Maui Community Plan update. Plans for the Ka‘ahumanu Avenue Community Corridor are also getting in motion, to envision a connected network of housing, transportation options and inviting public spaces. As part of its long-term planning strategy, the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation is now conducting a vulnerability analysis of its beach parks and other properties along the coast. This study will describe environmental threats to specific parks and include a range of options that will be used to guide future decisions on how these sites will be improved and managed. The study will be completed in 2021.
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See COMMUNITY PLANNING page 17
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Also this fall, the County’s Department of Public Works will submit a list of County roads that will be budgeted for federal assistance for maintenance and other improvements as Maui MPO initiates the development of its 2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The HEAL Coalition convenes working groups made up of government and community representatives to promote access to healthy
food and improve the built environment. Everyone is welcome to attend the virtual meetings and share your ideas to build healthy communities on Maui. We invite you to celebrate Community Planning month and get involved in shaping Maui’s future!
Time & Leave System to Go Live This December
By: Leila Kagawa
Thank you to all the project coordinators and teams across all divisions who have been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming transition to the time and leave system in December.
department-wide communications being initiated from the Hawaii Modernization (HiMod) office, under the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and the Department of Accounting and General Services.
While the go-live is in December, all transactions entered in the time and leave system will be reflected on the first paycheck in January 2021. We appreciate all divisions working closely together to allow HDOT to onboard to HIP Time and Leave successfully. Employees and supervisors will be receiving information about the online training courses due out in October. Those individuals who are also performing additional roles in time and leave to include timekeeper, leave keeper, HR admin and fiscal admin will also be attending training sessions to prepare for the deployment. We invite everyone to stay tuned for
We appreciate everyone’s help in getting leave balances up to date a couple of months ago to run through the testing cycles and we also encourage everyone to keep up with their leave requests and timely submissions as all employee leave balances will need to be provided a final time in November right before HDOT goes live. HDOT is joined by several executive branch departments and we wish all Group 2 agencies well in their preparations for the December deployment. We encourage all employees to visit the http:// ags.hawaii.gov/hip/ site, pictured down below, to stay tuned on all the updates and access online training and guides based on different roles in the time and leave system.
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Hawai‘i Attorney General, Hawaii State Ethics Commission Join Forces to Address Fraud, Waste, Abuse Hawai‘i Attorney General Clare E. Connors recently announced that her department has joined the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission in an effort to identify fraud, waste and abuse involving government funds.
financial or personal gain, including misrepresentation of facts, making false statements, or concealment of information.
The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission collaborated on developing an informative website and establishing a phone number and email where members of the public can confidentially report suspected fraud, waste or abuse. “Government integrity is fundamental to ensuring our democracy functions effectively,” said Attorney General Connors. “This partnership with the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission aligns our shared goals in this respect and allows us to do more to instill public confidence in government. We all need to stay alert, particularly during challenging times when substantial Federal dollars are flowing through state and local governments at a fast rate.” The phone number, emails, and website were developed to complement the State’s efforts to use CARES Act monies and to empower the public – including government workers and those who work and do business with the government – to speak up whenever they suspect fraud, waste or abuse is occurring.
• WASTE is the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the government, including incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls. • ABUSE is defined as excessive or improper use of a thing, or to use something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use. “This project goes to the core of the Ethics Commission’s mission,” said Dan Gluck, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission. “We remain committed to ensuring high ethical standards among public servants.” To report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse: Please email antifraud@Hawai‘i.gov or call 587-0000, live person from 7:45-4:30 and voicemail at any time. For more information, go to antifraud.Hawai‘i. gov.
• FRAUD is deception intended to result in
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The Power 9: How the World’s Centenarians Live
By: Melanie Martin
Now maybe more than ever, it’s important to remember to take time to care for yourself. HDOT is partnering with the Blue Zones Project to help our employees live healthier, longer and happier lives. The Blue Zones Project is built on nine fundamental principles called the Power 9 which is based on research on the world’s longest-lived people.
Beans, including fava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Meat— mostly pork—is eaten on average only five times per month. Serving sizes are 3-4 oz., about the size of deck or cards.
6. WINE @ FIVE My favorite! Moderate Yoshiko Araki, the grandmother drinkers outlive non-drinkers. of DEP-S Lynn Araki-Regan, lived 1. MOVE NATURALLY The trick is to drink 1-2 until nearly 101 years old. A widow glasses per day (preferably The world’s longest-lived people don’t necessarily go to for nearly 60 years, she drove until Sardinian Cannonau wine), a gym, or run marathons. They her late 90s, and credited her long with friends and/or with food. life to eating fish instead of red do gardening, housework and And no, you can’t save up all meats, not overeating, massaging other daily activities to keep weekend and have 14 drinks her feet to improve blood flow, and on Saturday. moving. her faith in God. 2. PURPOSE 7. BELONG The Okinawans call it “Ikigai” and the Nicoyans All but five of the 263 centenarians interviewed call it “plan de vida;” for both it translates to by Blue Zones researchers belonged to some “why I wake up in the morning.” Knowing your faith-based community. Denomination doesn’t sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of seem to matter. Research shows that attending extra life expectancy. Take a Purpose Workshop faith-based services four times per month will the next time it’s offered by the Blue Zones add 4-14 years of life expectancy. Project. 8. FAMILY FIRST 3. DOWN SHIFT Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put Find a routine to manage your stress. their families first. This means keeping aging Okinawans take a few moments each day to parents and grandparents nearby or in the remember their ancestors, Adventists pray, home (It lowers disease and mortality rates of Ikarians take a nap and Sardinians do happy children in the home too.). hour. 9. RIGHT TRIBE 4. 80% RULE The world’s longest-lived people chose–or were Eat until you are 80% full, and not until you get born into–social circles that supported healthy a “kanak attack,” People in the Blue Zones eat behaviors, Okinawans created ”moais”–groups their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early of five friends that committed to each other for evening and then they don’t eat any more the life. rest of the day. To read more about the Blue Zones visit info. 5. PLANT SLANT bluezonesproject.com/bzphawaii. PAGE 19
Hawai‘i State Archives Hosts Virtual Exhibitions In Honor of Pioneering Hawaiian Musicians, Composers Music is a vibrant, vital, and unique part of Hawaiʻi; so it should come as no surprise that as the Public Archives of Hawaiʻi, some of the earliest documentation of Hawaiian music is amongst the thousands of boxes of government and private papers we preserve. The late 19th century was particularly rich with talented composers and chief among those were the four Royal siblings: David Kalākaua, William Pitt Leleiōhoku, Miriam Likelike, and Liliʻuokalani. Known collectively as “Nā Lani ʻEhā” (The Four Heavenly Ones), these four have been termed “the Patrons of Hawaiian culture” by the modern-day Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, which describes them as “not only giants in the field of Hawaiian music but form the very cornerstones of subsequent Hawaiian culture and arts.” We are very fortunate to have notable works by several of Nā Lani ʻEhā – what we did not know was how significant a collection of Hawaiian music was under our care. One of the joys of being the public’s archives is the diversity of patrons that come into the research room with their fascinating topics of interest. Among our ‘regulars’ is a noted music historian who was very gracious in sharing his amazing musical discoveries with us – and the timing could not have been more fortuitous. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the return of Mekia Kealakai, one of the greatest and most influential of Hawaii’s musicians — and who’s birthday also happens to fall in October. As a young man, Mekia was selected out of the reform school to join the Royal Hawaiian Military Band under Bandmaster Henri Berger and would prove himself to be a virtuoso in several instruments. When Mekia refused to swear allegiance to the Republic of Hawaiʻi after the overthrow of the monarchy, he would tour with a Hawaiian band across America and Europe
introducing millions to Hawaiian music. By 1916, Hawaiian Music records outsold every other genre of music in America. Mekia would play to crowds so large that he asked Martin guitar to create a special extra-large jumbo steel string guitar so the audience could hear him. This ‘Mekia Model’ would evolve into the most famous guitar model in history, the Martin Dreadnaught guitar — the instrument of choice of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley and the Beatles. In celebration of Mekia and Hawaiian music we are proud to host a series of virtual exhibitions in honor of the pioneering Hawaiian musicians and composers that have touched so many with their unique style of music. Please join us daily on Facebook and Instagram as we feature a special music themed photo from our collection, with special selections from Honorary Archivists drawn from current Hawaiian Music practitioners, and a new online exhibition drawn from our archival holdings posted every week in October. We hope that you will enjoy these exhibitions as much as we enjoyed selecting them.
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ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES Each month, we feature this section in our newsletter called “Arrivals and Departures,” spotlighting new employees (Arrivals) and departing/retiring employees (Departures). It is an honor to welcome the new employees and congratulate the retiring employees and wish both groups the best in their future endeavors.
ARRIVALS NAME JORDAN FENNELLY RICHARD O. CEON LADONNA M. VAUGHN KASANDRA T. YOUNG NEGUS M. MANNA KERI N. KLEMEK
E Komo Mai! TITLE GENERAL LABORER II GENERAL LABORER II ACCOUNTANT V ACCOUNT CLERK IV HARBOR AGENT III HARB TRAFFIC CONTR
DEPARTURES NAME MICHAEL A. DIZON FELIX L. MARTIN MICHAEL FERNANDEZ KATJA JORDAN-KING DARREN K.K. KIILAU CELIA K. PANG
DIVISION HWY HWY HAR ADM HAR HAR
ISLAND MAUI MAUI OAHU OAHU LANAI OAHU
DATE 09/01/20 09/01/20 09/01/20 09/01/20 09/01/20 09/16/20
Mahalo Nui Loa! TITLE DIVISION ISLAND TRUCK DRIVER LABORER HWY KAUAI VIP ASST II AIR OAHU ENGINEERING AID HWY OAHU RIGHT OF WAY AGENT V HWY OAHU STOREROOM HELPER AIR OAHU RIGHT OF AGENT IV HWY OAHU PAGE 21
DATE 09/01/20 08/01/20 09/01/20 09/18/20 09/19/20 09/23/20
Featuring HDOT ’s Four-Legged Furry Friends! As the bonds between pets and their owners are often as strong as the bonds humans form with family members, the HDOT Newsletter Committee thought it would be fun to highlight our fourlegged loved ones which many find to be sanity-saving during these unprecedented times of extreme isolation, anxiety and uncertainty. If you’d like to highlight your pet or a personal tidbit in a future edition, please forward your digital photos to lynn.araki-regan@hawaii.gov.
ft): Saja, nes (from le li fe 3 ’s n u h opted Juli C ey are all ad h T r. e p ip K d Yoshi and e Society an n a m u H n a ii wa from the Ha d clean! ery smart an V s. k ic tr o all d
AIR-H Robe rta Kaluau’s dogs Peahi, Koa, Man ueleele.
Upon fostering Koa during the lockdown in March, Administration Division’s David Rodriguez said that it was the best decision to welcome such a joy into his home.
Civil Rights Coordinator Melanie Martin’s two youngest children, Vienna and Willie Wonka, are spoiled rotten to the core! PAGE 22
Karen Awana’s Mr. Louis, a Gemini who enjoys long walks, being the center of attention and gnawing off the noses of his favorite toys.
Grace on Division’s kes to Administrati at Pebbles li th s y sa a w a ying Ichik nd enjoys la a t h g ri p u d like a be carrie shoulder, just r u o n o d a e her h ep. even fall asle n a c d n a , y b ba
Chacha Araki-Regan is DEP-S’ Chihuahua, who starred as “Bruiser Woods” in Maui OnStage’s “Legally Blonde” a few years ago!
Luna loves to sit near High ways’ Bicycle & Pe destrian Coo rdinator Diane Dohm wh ing from hom ile she’s worke. Most of th e time, the kitty is sl eeping and lounging around her fe et.
Prince, an award-winning poodle.
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Airports’ LiSa Teri Chang’s kitty cat, Muenster (like the cheese), practicing social distancing. It has been a very difficult period in her life. Her “cousin” Q (the dog) does not understand the 6 feet concept so much. At the beach is Kinley, a pug of Keahole Airport’s Property Manager III Craig Bisgard’s Pug.
Here are Shane Kawakami’s Brownie (dog) who likes to catch mice, lizards, centipedes and chickens, and Christmas (bunny) who loves to eat apples and carrots. Shane works at Kahului Airport.
Makena is DEP-A Ross Higashi & Harbors’ Jo-Ann Higashi’s 9-year old Bichon Frise/Maltese. According to Ross, Makena is the boss of the house.
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Contestant Rules:
Voting information:
1. Entry fee is $10 for first pumpkin and 1. Votes are $1 each. $5 for subsequent pumpkins. 2. On October 26th you may vote at: 2. Submission: https://forms.gle/swz26MLdZEYRXK a. Email Melanie Martin: qq5 Melanie.Martin@hawaii.gov 3. Vote as many times as you want for b. Attach two pictures: whoever you want. You may vote for i. Pumpkin only more than one pumpkin. ii. Pumpkin and carver 4. Only votes that are paid for will count. 3. Contestants with the most votes will No votes will be accepted after the win. designated deadline. Payment Information Entrance and voting fees can be paid by Credit Card, Cash or Check. Checks made payable to Aloha United Way. Please go to this AUW website for Credit Card payments: Auw.org/DOTpumpkincarving
FRIDAY OCTOBER
23
Entry Deadline
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER
04 Voting Ends
Division Coordinators
ADMIN: Melanie Martin, 831‐7912 AIR: Kiani Keohohou, 838‐8847 HAR: Jerome Aguada or Juli Chun, 587‐3668 HWY: Sheri Yoshizawa, 692‐7671
O C T O B E R 20 2 0
SIGN UP TODAY! Wednesday, Oct 7th - 10:00am (60 minutes) - Pro-biotic Gut Health & Fermented Foods Cooking Demo Terri Langley with Bliss Healthy Foods is back to teach us how to make and ferment Sauerkraut & Kimchi Cabbage! Monday, Oct 12th - 6:30pm (60 minutes) - Home Ergonomic Workshop with Dr. Aki Join this workshop to discuss neck & back issues, preserve your body's foundation, and a basic Anatomy 101 lesson. Tuesday, Oct 13th - 12:00pm (60 minutes) - Preventative Care Workshop with HMSA Learn the benefits of seeing your doctor for screenings and which ones may be right for you! Wednesday, Oct 14th - 12:00pm (60 minutes) - Cafe Pesto: Plant Based Cooking Demo Casey Halpern, Executive Chef, will be teaching us how to make Steamed Hāmākua Mushroom Dumpling with Ginger Scallion Sauce. RSVP and we'll send you a list of ingredients to prepare! Thursday, Oct 15th - 1:00pm (60 minutes) - Composting & Bucket Gardening Workshop with Sayo Costantino Sayo, with the Mālama Learning Center, will be showcasing her gardening skills with helpful tips & tricks! Monday, Oct 19th - 6:30pm (60 minutes) - Home Ergonomic Workshop with Dr. Aki Join this workshop to discuss neck & back issues, preserve your body's foundation, and a basic Anatomy 101 lesson. Thursday, Oct 22nd - 12:00pm (60 minutes) - Under the Bodhi Tree: Plant Based Cooking Demo Chef Stephen will be showing us how to make a White Bean Vegetable Cassoulet using only plant! RSVP and we'll send you a list of ingredients to prepare! Tuesday, Oct 27th - 12:00pm (45 minutes) - Brain Health - Dr. Charlene Calio, DC Dr. Char is back to share tips on how to keep your brain healthy in a world that is fighting for our attention! Thursday, Oct 29th - 12:00pm (60 minutes) - Preventative Care Workshop with HMSA Learn the benefits of seeing your doctor for screenings and which ones may be right for you!
Join Blue Zones Project for a series of virtual activities in Oct! Please click here to learn more and register - Space is limited!
Copyright © 2019 Blue Zones, LLC and Sharecare, Inc. All rights reserved.
KAISER PERMANENTE 2020 LIVE WEBINARS
Taking Care of Yourself* Sleep, exercise, love, and food
Self-care is essential for anyone seeking to live a more balanced and healthy life. This webinar focuses on 4 ways to improve self care: 1) Sleep; 2) Exercise; 3) Love; and 4) Food. When practiced daily, these simple-to-follow strategies will help support your path to better health and well-being. Date
Time
Registration
Thursday, October 15, 2020
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (HST)
Register here
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Noon to 1 p.m. (HST)
Register here
To register for one of the webinar sessions, click on the “Register here” link above or visit kp.org/wellnessevent. • New users: Enter the sign-up code “EUTF” under “New users”. • Returning users: Enter your email address and password under “Returning users”. * Webinars are open to all state and county employees regardless of your health plan affiliation.
kp.org/eutf
KAISER PERMANENTE 2020 LIVE WEBINARS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I register for a webinar? To register for a webinar, click on the webinar registration link. New users: Enter the sign-up code “EUTF” under the “New users” heading. Then, click on the submit button. Provide the requested information to create your account. •
If this is the first time you’re joining a Webex meeting, Webex automatically downloads the app. Click the installer file to install the app. You can also manually download the Webex Meetings app.
•
Click here for full system requirements.
Returning users: Enter your email address and password, then click on the submit button. Choose your event. After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to access the webinar. Will my video or audio be on during the webinar? No, participant video will be disabled during the webinar. In addition, the instructor will mute all participants once the session begins and will unmute you during the Q&A.
For questions, please contact Lloyd Kishi at lloyd.kishi@kp.org.
Will the webinars be recorded and made available after the session? Yes, each registered participant will receive an email with a link to access the webinar recording for up to 3 months after the date of the webinar. Will Kaiser Permanente report my participation in the webinar? We will only provide EUTF with an aggregate report of the total number of participants by employer. Individual names of the registered participants won’t be reported. How do I join a webinar? On the day of the webinar, click the Webex link provided in your confirmation email (about 10 minutes before the scheduled start time is recommended) and you will see the welcome screen for the webinar. You can join a meeting from your computer or mobile device. Is there a participant limit for the webinars? Yes, the maximum participation for each webinar is 500 participants. If your first choice is closed due to the maximum participation limit, please select another session. For additional assistance, click here for the Webex online help center.
Visit kp.org/coronavirus for information to help protect yourself and your loved ones and get the latest updates and guidance on COVID-19.
kp.org/eutf 565091950ST-20 | September 2020
©2020 Kaiser Permanente Health Plan, Inc.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FUTURE NOW ADVANCE CARE PLANNING OCT. 16 AND OCT. 22, 2020
WHERE
Live Webinar plus Q and A with HMSA and Kaiser Permanente TO REGISTER click your preferred date and time
Oct. 16 at Noon Oct. 22 at Noon Questions contact Kokua Mau
Ms. Hope Young at hope@Kokuamau.org or Mrs. Melanie Martin at melanie.martin@hawaii.gov
LUNCH & LEARN WORKSHOP ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVES 101 If the unexpected happens, who would speak for you?
DID YOU KNOW…
Advance Care Planning is a benefit for all HDOT members.
YOU WILL LEARN why it’s important for every adult to have an Advance Care Directive.
WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY Kokua Mau https://kokuamau.org/
