Hawaii News Now

Ashley and Jonathan report from Kauai, where Mayor Derek Kawakami has decided to let more businesses reopen. Get the latest local, national and international headlines in our daily digital shortcast.

An investigation is underway following a deadly plane crash in Pakistan. Plus, the CDC has updated its guidelines on how the coronavirus is transmitted.

Top stories from across Hawaii and around the world, as seen on the 5 p.m. news broadcast from Hawaii News Now.

In the sixth episode of “Tell me a Story with Jim Mendoza,” Jim focuses on “the new normal” we are all facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this latest podcast, Mendoza tells the survivor story of a 79-year-old man who spent 12 days on a ventilator and 3 weeks in the ICU.

He also introduces us to a Kailua business owner who has great determination to keep her passion alive.

And you’ll meet students at North Shore high school who are giving other kids the technology they need to study from home.

Plus, in another example of making the best out of a hard time - Jim found one Hawaii couple who tied the knot virtually via Zoom.

Hawaii lawmakers are discussing multiple potential initiatives aimed at safely restarting tourism, including requiring that visitors test negative for COVID-19 to avoid quarantine.

The Transportation Security Administration might also start checking the temperatures of travelers before boarding.

State leaders are still in the talking phase.

However, there is broad consensus that pre-flight testing is the only way to revive Hawaii’s tourism industry while keeping the virus out.

“We just gotta start testing,” said state Rep. Gene Ward.

Ward said he got word from the White House on Wednesday that the state can require travelers to show a negative coronavirus test before they board a flight to avoid quarantine once here.

Ward said it will be a “new norm” — like showing your ID and boarding pass.

A new report shows Hawaii hotels were less than 9% full last month compared to 89% the same time last year. Plus, in a move to restart tourism, Hawaii could be a test site for traveler screenings before takeoff.

5 p.m. Newscast (May 20, 2020) by Hawaii News Now

State lawmakers are pushing for tougher enforcement of the 14-day traveler quarantine, which has been extended through June 30.

And during the state Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 meeting on Tuesday, law enforcement leaders detailed recent changes made to crack down on violators.

Despite pressure to ease overcrowding in jails, judges have agreed not to release people arrested for quarantine violations unless they post bail.

Bail is also a little higher than other misdemeanors — at $2,000.

All 50 states are now in some phase of reopening. Plus, millions of travel-related jobs have vanished amid the coronavirus crisis.

The city unveiled a large testing initiative Tuesday, saying it had partnered with the University of Hawaii and community health centers to offer some 100,000 coronavirus tests as the state reopens — and stand up a lab to monitor results for potential hotspots.

“Aggressive, forward-leaning testing on COVID-19, it’s the way we open up,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell, at a news conference. “We’re now becoming a more open community in terms of the pandemic.”

Caldwell said the initiative would be paid for with $4 million in federal stimulus funds.