Latest news with #GEORGEF
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latest tourism agency allegations draw varied responses
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Visitors took in the sights Wednesday aboard an E Noa Tours double-decker bus on Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Visitors took in the sights Wednesday aboard an E Noa Tours double-decker bus on Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki. It is unclear how the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority board will deal with concerns over late payments to contractors and state probes to determine whether the agency committed procurement or ethics violations. But some of those at the center of the allegations that surfaced Tuesday during an HTA Budget, Finance, and Convention Center Standing Committee say they were blindsided, and want the chance set the record straight before the full HTA board responds. David Arakawa, BFCC chair, led discussions Tuesday during the BFCC committee meeting where it was revealed that the state Attorney Gen eral's Office is reviewing whether HTA must pay $780, 000 in interest for millions of dollars in late payments to the Hawai 'i Visitors and Convention Bureau. During the meeting, James Kunane Tokioka, state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism director and HTA board member, disclosed that another pending issue is a possible procurement violation for HTA in relation to a Los Angeles marketing activation executed by HVCB last fall as part of a Maui recovery plan. Arakawa also brought up a potential ethics issue when he questioned why HVCB, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's Kilohana and the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association were named as premier partners for the HTA's fall Hawai 'i Tourism Conference when they did not pay sponsorship fees. Arakawa told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he anticipates that the next steps will include gathering more evidence. The BFCC committee will consider a full report before it votes on recommendations to bring to the full board, he said. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Aaron J. Sala, HVCB president and CEO, said he was traveling to American Samoa during the Tuesday meeting and could not immediately respond to the Star-Advertiser's request for comment In an email Wednesday to the Star-Advertiser, Sala said HVCB is currently awaiting $9.5 million in payments from HTA for services rendered between October and March. Sala said, 'The delayed payments have accumulated interest at the statutory rate of 9.75 % per annum as specified in the State Comptroller's Memorandum No. 2024-27 (2 December 2024 ) regarding late vendor payments.' He also addressed the fall conference, saying, 'HVCB was a major contributor to this important industry event and was acknowledged as such, but at no point was HVCB asked to provide financial sponsorship for this event.' Tom Mullen, HVCB chief operating officer, addressed the Los Angeles activation. Mullen said HVCB carried out the $1.5 million promotional activation—targeting the critical Southern California market—at the request of HTA and with unanimous approval from the HTA board on July 25. 'HVCB updated our work plan to include this activation and increased our budget accordingly, with the understanding that reimbursement would come from our fiscal year 2026 allocation, ' Mullen said. Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO, said he was unable to respond to the Star-Advertiser's request for comment Tuesday because he was traveling to American Samoa to meet Gov. Josh Green and others who are commemorating the 125th Flag Day celebration. Hannemann, who is still on the HTA board, stepped down as board chair in March when earlier allegations of Hawai 'i Convention Center discounts surfaced in relation to HLTA and Pacific Century Fellows, which he founded. Current HTA board Chair Todd Apo told the HTA Administrative and Audit Standing Committee on April 7 that he did not 'see an abuse of discretion ' regarding center discounts received by the two nonprofits, and recommended putting the matter 'to bed.' On Wednesday, Hanne-mann addressed the new potential ethics concerns that Arakawa raised about HLTA's status as a premier conference partner in an email to the Star-Advertiser. 'To clarify, the official Hawai 'i Tourism Conference identified these three organizations as 'partners'—not sponsors, it is even listed as such on their website, ' Hannemann said. 'This designation reflected a collaborative effort to support and elevate the conference, not a financial sponsorship.' Hannemann said HLTA played a pivotal role in securing the participation of federal speakers for the event, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism Alex Lasry and Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts president and CEO, and chair of the national Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which Hannemann sits on in his HLTA capacity. 'HLTA was an active member of the Hawai 'i Tourism Conference planning committee, attending weekly meetings and helping to organize several sessions such as the workforce development workshop, ' Hannemann said. 'We also assisted in marketing the conference and its sponsorship opportunities to our membership statewide.' Hannemann noted that HTA's conference website refers to HVCB, Kilohana and HLTA as premier conference partners and the other groups as sponsors. But Arakawa said the sponsorship solicitation sheet refers to paying sponsors, whose contributions ranged from $7, 500 to $2, 500, as partners. He said his inquiry started after the Hawai 'i Hotel Alliance asked how they could become premier conference partners. Arakawa said HTA has not produced written criteria for how it chose its premier conference partners, whose logos were prominently displayed throughout the website and other conference materials. '(The criteria ) is in writing for every other partner except for the three top guys, ' Arakawa said. 'You would think for the top people it would definitely be in writing unless they did not want any criteria that they could be held to or they didn't want anybody else to qualify for it.' Caroline Anderson, interim HTA president and CEO, told the Star-Advertiser on Wednesday that her predecessor, Daniel Naho 'opi 'i, debuted the idea of asking HVCB, Kilohana and HLTA to serve as premier conference partners to expand HTA's reach and to assist with conference planning and programming. 'I know for sure there was no outside pressure to influence that decision, ' she said. 'I felt it was a benefit. We definitely saw our attendance grow from 2023, when it was about 500, to over 600 in 2024. I believe the (premier conference partner ) sessions were well attended. From the comments that I heard, those sessions were really well put together.' Lee-Ann Choy, principal of Pacific Rim Concepts LLC, the HTA contractor that put on the conference, said the premier conference partners encouraged members to attend, and as a result increased exhibitors, who paid $150 to participate in the Tourism Expo. 'I saw many new businesses that I had not seen before, ' she said. HTA board member Stephanie Iona opined that the BFCC meeting shared incorrect information based on her checks of the fall Hawai 'i Tourism Conference website, flyers, discussions with Anderson and her own past experience in event planning. 'As a member of the (BFCC ) committee, I was taken aback by this issue being discussed with no advance information, or I would have done my due diligence to help my colleagues on the committee to be responsible in reporting accurate information to the public, ' Iona said. 'To embarrass any of our valued partners in this manner is not pono, and I am heart broken that this behavior caused them any embarrassment, especially when they are so essential to our success in tourism.' Apo, who was out of town Tuesday, told the Star-Advertiser on Wednesday that he needs a better understanding of the latest issues before determining his next steps as HTA board chair. 'I need to understand the allegations and the history more to determine how we best look at the issues that got raised at the committee meeting yesterday, ' Apo said. 'There is the potential of internal efforts, (state Attorney General's Office ) efforts, (state ) Ethics Commissions efforts, and I just don't know enough about where any of those are. I'm going to work to understand that and to put them in their right places to make sure that we take a really strong look at the situation and get to a resolution in a timely manner.' The State Ethics Commission told the Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that investigations are confidential, and it cannot comment if an investigation has been opened. Toni Schwartz, spokesperson for the state Department of the Attorney General, told the Star-Advertiser on Thursday that 'The Department of the Attorney General cannot share legal opinions or advice given to clients.' Apo said that he has had discussions with board members about the need to bifurcate 'looking at and dealing with past issues ' and 'the focus on moving forward.' 'We need to make sure that cleaning up the past doesn't impact our ability to move forward in the way that we need to for the industry, ' he said.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security to keep accepting claims by phone
COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency 1 /2 COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. 2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. The Social Security Administration will continue accepting all types of claims by phone after Monday, reversing a previously announced plan that would have ended phone-based access for certain benefits. The move comes after concerns raised by community backlash, including AARP Hawaii, about the impact such a change would have—particularly on residents in rural and neighbor island communities. Keali 'i Lopez, state director of AARP Hawaii, said the decision is a relief for the many local residents who rely on phone services to file their Social Security claims. She emphasized that kupuna and others living in remote areas have grown accustomed to the convenience of phone access, which often spares them long drives to in-person SSA offices. The agency had initially announced in February that it would eliminate certain phone services while slashing 7, 000 jobs and consolidating its 10 regional offices down to four. AARP expressed concern that these cuts would make it harder for Hawaii residents to access essential services, especially those with limited mobility or transportation options. While AARP welcomed the decision to maintain phone access, Lopez said the organization is still pushing for broader improvements. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Long wait times—sometimes up to 2-1 /2 hours—and inconsistent service continue to be major issues. She pointed to recent outages on the SSA's website, including a full-day crash on March 31, as signs that the system needs urgent investment. Lopez said AARP has urged Congress to hold the SSA accountable while also ensuring the agency has adequate resources to hire and train staff. Staffing shortages and high demand have created delays that can significantly affect residents seeking retirement, disability, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income benefits. As of now it's unclear whether the SSA will reverse the staffing cuts it announced earlier this year. Lopez said AARP's focus remains on ensuring the agency has enough trained employees to meet public demand and improve serv ice quality. Even with phone services remaining in place, she said AARP will continue advocating for shorter wait times and better customer serv ice across the board. In addition to service delivery concerns, AARP is sounding the alarm on Social Security's long-term solvency. Lopez said the organization is pressing Congress to take action before automatic benefit reductions are triggered. Current projections estimate that without congressional intervention, monthly benefits could be reduced by about 20 % as soon as 2034 or 2035. Lopez said the longer lawmakers wait, the more disruptive the cuts could be. She emphasized that AARP wants Congress to act well before the projected shortfall hits—not the year prior. While there are no Hawaii-specific impacts tied to the solvency issue yet, Lopez noted that national policy changes, such as eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, could affect how soon reserves are depleted. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, Social Security is a vital lifeline for Hawaii residents and a major contributor to the state's economy. In 2022 more than 282, 000 people in the islands—over 1 in 5 residents—received benefits, injecting more than $4.8 billion annually into the local economy. These payments support not just individuals, but also fuel business activity and job creation. The majority of beneficiaries in Hawaii—about 225, 000 people, or nearly 80 %—are retired workers. Another 7.1 % receive disability benefits, while spousal, survivor and child beneficiaries make up the remaining 13 %. AARP's data shows that the program is especially important for preventing poverty among seniors. Between 2018 and 2020, Social Security lifted an estimated 52, 000 Hawaii residents age 65 and older out of poverty. Without it more than a quarter of local seniors would fall below the poverty line ; with benefits included, that figure drops to just 8.5 %. For many residents Social Security is more than a safety net—it's their primary income. About 30 % of Hawaii residents age 65 and older rely on it for at least half of their income, while 13 % depend on it for more than 90 %. That reliance is even higher among Black residents in the same age group, with 23 % depending on Social Security for the vast majority of their income, compared with 14 % of white residents. In 2022 the average monthly benefit in Hawaii was $1, 539 for retired workers and $1, 315 for those receiving disability payments—both slightly higher than the national average, according to AARP. AARP Hawaii said it will continue to advocate for policies that ensure the long-term stability of Social Security and improvements in the quality of service for residents who rely on the program.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Honolulu unveils new emergency notification system
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. 1 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system 2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system Starting today, the City and County of Honolulu officially launches its new real-time, mass-notification system to inform the public about severe weather, beach and ocean safety conditions, drinking water issues, evacuations, road closures and other community updates. Called HNL Alert, the latest city Department of Emergency Management system will issue alerts as text messages, push notifications or emails during an emergency or disaster situation on behalf of the city to residents and visitors alike. These messages also will be sent in close collaboration with other first-responder agencies. Alerts about traffic, Oahu's drinking water system and ocean safety will be issued by the Honolulu Police Department, the Board of Water Supply and the Department of Ocean Safety, respectively. Additional city departments will be brought into the system as HNL Alert expands, city officials said Monday. 'HNL Alert allows the city to communicate much more detailed instructions and updates with residents and visitors, ' city Emergency Management Acting Director Jennifer Walter said in a statement. 'We want to give people as much information as we can to help empower them to make the best choices for their safety.' 'With HNL Alert, we can send you updates about developing situations so you can make the decision to leave early if you feel unsafe or need more time, ' she added. 'HNL Alert is a tool that we can use in addition to our existing emergency alert systems.' There are two ways to sign up for HNL Alert. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The first includes customized alerts whereby users can create an account at. With an account, users can select the topics they want to receive alerts about and pick any combination of text messages, email alerts or mobile push notifications from the city's public safety agencies via the Everbridge app. To use the app, residents can enter one or more addresses to receive targeted alerts about events affecting specific areas such as their neighborhood or near their workplace. Users can also make changes to preferred alert topics or methods at any time. The second way to sign up is to gain so-called urgent alerts. To receive these, text 'HNLALERT ' to 888777 to quickly subscribe and get the most important safety alerts by text. No registration is needed for this option, the city said. To receive alerts, users will need to have up-to-date contact information. If a user's contact information changes, those changes can be made on the user's profile at A user's personal information will not be shared, according to the city. The user's provided information will be used only for notification purposes and not be sold or used by another vendor or organization, city officials said. HNL Alert is used in addition to emergency warning systems that do not require sign-up. Those include wireless emergency alerts, or WEAs, that sound on mobile devices, sirens and Emergency Alert System messages that interrupt radio and TV. While these warning systems are intended for use during urgent emergencies, HNL Alert messages can keep residents and visitors informed about developing weather conditions and other situations affecting city services. HNL Alert messages can contain more details, include images and links to real-time information, and don't disappear quickly from a mobile device. This means users have more time to read and understand the information or share it with others, city officials said. HNL Alert utilizes Everbridge, the system's vendor, for what the city says is an 'industry leading public notification system used by numerous public and private entities around the globe.' The new system, which informally launched in March, replaces the city's prior system, Alerts. But other functions of Alerts are still available on the website or app. The first messages were sent to current Alert users on March 25, notifying them of the change and to receive instructions on how to transition to HNL Alert, the city said. The HNL Alert /Everbridge platform allows for additional features was not able to provide. These include automation of weather messages from the National Weather Service, geotargeting of messages, and a quick text to subscribe for event-based messages that allows the city to engage with visitors more efficiently. Everbridge also connects social media accounts to these messages. 'In times of emergency, getting accurate, timely information can make all the difference, ' Mayor Rick Blan giardi said in a statement. 'But it is not just about receiving alerts—it is about taking personal responsibility and acting on them.' 'We urge everyone to sign up, stay informed, and be prepared, ' he added. 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Although HNL Alert is free, messaging and data rates could apply depending on the user's mobile provider. To unsubscribe from HNL Alert, users can follow the instructions in any HNL Alert email or remove contact information from account profiles. Those subscribed to urgent text alerts only can text 'STOP.'———For more information about HNL Alert, visit.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Higher cigarette tax clears key Hawaii Senate committee
GEORGE F. LEE / FEB. 6 The University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Kakaako. GEORGE F. LEE / FEB. 6 The University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Kakaako. A bill proposing a 2-cent increase in the state cigarette tax that would boost funding for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center passed its first hearing before a key Senate committee Monday despite ongoing opposition from retailers who worry about increased shoplifting and lost cigarette sales. The latest version of House Bill 441 crossed over into the Senate at the midpoint of the legislative session and moved out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday. If approved this year and signed into law, Hawaii's per-cigarette tax would jump to 18 cents from 16 cents on Jan. 1. The increase would go to the Hawai 'i Cancer Research special fund while simultaneously making it more expensive to buy cigarettes across the islands, with the goal of reducing cancer rates. But UH officials have pushed back against a Senate amendment to HB 441 that would dedicate the additional 2-cent tax to reducing the cancer center's debt on capital improvement costs. Cigarette tax revenue funded construction of the cancer center and its efforts to fight cancer, including reducing tobacco use. 'However, due to the success of smoking cessation efforts, this allocation has declined, indicating both progress in public health and a concerning decrease in resources for the initiatives that have fueled this advancement, ' according to testimony submitted to the Ways and Means Committee by Cancer Center Director Naoto Ueno and UH Manoa Provost Michael Bruno. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'Now providing less than half the funding compared with that of 2009, this source of allocation is no longer able to support its original intent to provide a top-notch facility, and to invest in the most promising cancer research, clinical care and community outreach.' Increasing the cigarette tax to fund the cancer center has been endorsed by state agencies including the Department of Health and health organizations such as The Queen's Health Systems, Hawai 'i Public Health Institute, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and 38 people who submitted individual testimony of support. Opposition includes testimony from Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. She wrote that an increase in the cigarette tax would disproportionately burden lower-income smokers, 'who are already struggling with the high cost of living in Hawai 'i.' A higher tax also could hurt small businesses, leading to job losses and potential business closures 'in an already fragile economic climate, ' Yamaki said. They could also lose cigarette sales through increased shoplifting and from the loss of customers who might ask military friends and family to buy them tax-exempt cigarettes through Hawaii's military bases, she said. Yamaki also criticized linking cigarette sales to fund cancer center research. 'Cigarette consumption has been steadily declining due to increased awareness and existing tax measures, ' Yamaki wrote. 'Tying funding for critical research and other special funds to an unstable revenue source creates long-term financial uncertainty for the Hawai 'i Cancer Research Special Fund. Alternative, more sustainable funding mechanisms should be considered for this or any other special fund.' A separate Senate bill, SB 1204, would have forced the cancer center to merge with the UH medical school, which UH previously said would jeopardize the center's accreditation. SB 1204 appears dead this session. It represented the latest effort by state Sen. Donna Kim, who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee, to merge the cancer center with UH's John A. Burns School of Medicine and have the center's director report to the medical school dean. A similar bill Kim introduced in 2020 was opposed by then-UH President David Lassner. Earlier this legislative session, new UH President Wendy Hensel told Kim and other members of the Senate Higher Education Committee that UH would return with a recommendation over whether to merge the cancer center into JABSOM.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Center tackles homelessness at root levels
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 'A 'ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahu's homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. 1 /4 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 'A 'ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahu's homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. 2 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. 3 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. 4 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 'A 'ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahu's homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. The Behavioral Health Crisis Center opened in 2024 across the street from the Institute for Human Services' men's shelter in Iwilei and has seen 1, 182 people ever since to address issues including substance abuse and mental health, which are considered critical underlying reasons why people end up and remain homeless. The center opened on Iwilei Road and saw its first patients on March 8, 2024, and continues to take in people like T.J. Utai, 27, who grew up in Kalihi, failed to graduate from Farrington High School and more recently had been living in and out of IHS. Last week represented Utai's third visit to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center in two weeks. He was starting to believe that better things were possible once he kicks his addiction to meth and addresses and stabilizes his mental health issues, which include anxiety. Now, Utai can see himself possibly getting a job one day and, perhaps, reuniting with his estranged family. 'I fell into a rat hole, ' he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. On the street, Utai said, 'they told me this was the place. … Now I'm getting the help I need.' The state-run center operates out of a city building and was the first of three new joint city and state facilities to open within blocks of one another over the past year to help people—many of them homeless—with their medical, behavioral and mental health issues. They individually represent new models to address the root causes of homelessness in Hawaii and get more people off the street and on to better lives. Iwilei—home to IHS, which started Hawaii's original homeless outreach efforts—continues to represent the center of new approaches to addressing homelessness. Most of the people who have been seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center over the past year—78 %—were homeless. But anyone can walk in and get evaluated and observed over just a few hours. Or they might involuntarily be brought in by Hono lulu Police Department officers and remain upstairs on the mezzanine level for 10 to 14 days before leaving with longer-term case management plans including treatment beds to get additional, stable help. The center also gives HPD officers a time-efficient alternative to get the people they encounter evaluated, compared with the sometimes hours officers can spend in emergency rooms like The Queen's Medical Center, said Dr. Chad Koyanagi, the state Health Department's medical director for crisis continuum, who oversees patient care at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center. In 2024 the Legislature approved the latest version of Senate Bill 3139, which allows law enforcement to take a person considered dangerous to themselves or others against their will to alternative facilities like the Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Gov. Josh Green signed the bill into law as Act 86. Last week two HPD officers brought a man in handcuffs to the behavioral health center whom they encountered in Aiea, got him admitted and were back on their way within minutes to patrol their Aiea district. The officers were not authorized to speak to the media and said they could not comment to the Star-Advertiser. In the past, Koyanagi said, HPD officers from across Oahu would have to transport patients as far away as Castle Medical Center in Kailua to get them evaluated. The number of people seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center has steadily grown over the past year, from 62 in March 2024 to a peak of 225 in December to 215 in February. Most of them—40 %—had mental health issues, including schizophrenia, bi polar disorder and major depression. They were followed by 24 % who suffered from substance abuse and 10 % who were having a 'housing crisis, ' according to Health Department data. Most—73 %—were men, and a plurality of all patients—32 %—were ages 35 to 44. The open-air, ground-floor observation room of the Behavioral Health Crisis Center sees clients up to 24 hours—or no more than '23 :59 ' as Dr. Angie Dickson, the center's director and clinical psychologist, called the time limit. Some only need to rest in one of 16 oversize chairs, sit in quiet watching television or take a few hours away from life on the street to get reoriented, she said. 'They just need a minute to get away from whatever situation they're in, ' Dickson said. There are no reasons someone won't be seen, such as lack of health insurance, she said. 'We take everyone.' The design of the space—and the focus on a calming approach by health care workers—was based on what Koyanagi saw while visiting similar behavioral health centers in Arizona's Maricopa County. Koyanagi thought the same approach would work on Oahu after spending years providing psychiatric care for homeless people through IHS and in the Ha lawa Correctional Facility, while also teaching at the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine. Upstairs in the nine-bed mezzanine level, patients can stay 10 to 14 days while they receive case management designed to improve their situations through substance abuse treatment, mental health medications and longer-term housing and employment goals. The top three floors of the four-story building will soon open as long-term housing for homeless people—or people at risk of becoming homeless—who also struggle with mental health or substance issues. Each of the upper floors, accessible from the Sumner Street side of the center, will have nine studio apartments. One will be reserved for a resident manager. The residents will have to pay rent of 30 % of their monthly income, typically through government financial assistance. The units have been built out, a contract has been executed with Care Hawaii and the first residents will move in after the units are furnished, along with other finishing touches such as the installation of security cameras. Josten Gutierres, 43, was staying at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center last week after he lost his job on Hawaii island, ended up homeless and came to Oahu hoping for a fresh start, only to end up homeless in Kaneohe, sleeping in Kaneohe District Park at night. Someone on the street encouraged Gutierres to call 988, which referred him to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, where he began receiving medications, including mood stabilizers. He also was working to stay off of meth and alcohol, or what Utai called 'relapse prevention.' 'They helping me get clean, ' he said. 'It is tough.' But in less than a week of getting help at the center, Gutierres said, 'I feel way better.' By the numbers 1, 182 People seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center between March 8, 2024, and March 14 78 % Patients who were homeless 40 % Patients with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression 24 % Patients with substance abuse issues Source : State Department of Health HERE TO SUPPORT Behavioral Health Crisis Center—Opened : March 8, 2024—Located : 806 Iwilei Road—Facility : Open-air, ground-level observation room for short-term stays of up to 24 hours ; Longer-term care and treatment up to 14 days in a nine-bed facility on the mezzanine level.—Focus : Observation, assessment, treatment and case management for people who are brought in by police or voluntarily walk in for care. 'A 'ala Respite—Opened : Sept. 16—Located : In the former First Hawaiian Bank branch at 445 N. King St.—Facility : 62 beds, including 30 indoor hospital-style beds and 30 outdoor, tiny-home kauhale for patients transitioning into more permanent housing.—Focus : Long-term medical care for homeless people, including kupuna with dementia and Alzheimer's ; people in need of substance abuse and mental illness treatment, dialysis and diabetes care ; and homeless stroke and heart attack victims. Iwilei Center Compassionate Housing Kauhale / Kumu Ola Hou Transitional Center—Opened : March 3—Located : Kuwili Street—Facility : 13 temporary, portable, single -room structures erected inside an air-conditioned building until workforce housing can be developed to coincide with the opening of the planned Iwilei rail station—Focus : Treatment for 24 homeless patients at a time with mental health, memory and brain injury issues ; on-site health care with a focus on neuroscience Source : City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii 7 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
