b'2021 Presidents Day Issue State Report HAWAII Petroleum Marketers Association State ReportHI COVID-19 HPMAHawaii StartsCOVID-19 Counts Low Vaccination Programbut Hawaii EconomyAs we head into 2021,there is growing opti- Remains Crippled mism that the Hawaii economy will recover if weNot unlike other states, can continue to contain COVID-19 in Hawaii. So far,Hawaii saw a spike in newHawaii Alohathe state has administered roughly 137,000 doses ofCOVID-19 cases in January the COVID-19 vaccine and expects to reach 250,000due to social gatherings during doses by mid-February. I look forward to the day thatthe Christmas and New YearRobert Fung vaccinated travelers will be able to fly freely withoutholidays. Fortunately, we are nowHPMAa negative pre-test.seeing reduced new case counts,Executive Director Like most states, the first groups to get vaccinated inwhich could help us move to Tier Hawaii were the frontline healthcare workers, first3. On February 1, the state reported 82 new corona-responders and the elderly or disabled living in carevirus infections statewide, with a 7-day average of 70 homes (Phase 1a). Currently underway is the next pri- new daily cases, and a 7-day average positivity rate ority group (Phase 1b) and includes seniors living inof 2.6%, bringing the total number of cases since the the community who are 75 and up along with a longstart of the pandemic to 25,853, with 410 deaths due list of essential workers, including teachers, childcareto COVID-19. As you can see, Hawaii has one of the support as well as workers in critical industries, suchlowest COVID-19 case rates and lowest transmission as energy. Phase 1c is scheduled to begin in Marchrates of any state in the nation. and will include residents 65 and over, those at risk of severe symptoms of COVID-19 and other essen- Legislative Session 2021tial workers. Phases 2 and 3 include members of the Money Grab Continuesgeneral population and will start this summer.The Hawaii legislative session openedits Hawaii Tourism Re-Boot session on January 20, 2021 but remains closed to the public. Hearings will all be virtual. Despite Hawaii After being shut down to tourismin facing historic revenue shortfalls, Governor Ige pro-Hawaii for over 6 months, the State reopened to posed no new taxes in his State of the State speech. domestic trans-pacific travelers as of October 15 th . This was consistent with the Governors package of Last December, roughly 236,000 visitors arrived bills introduced, with the one exception of a new fee in Hawaii. However, this is down about 75% fromto be imposed on sellers of sugary drinks. Local busi-December of the previous year.nesses applauded the governors decision to forego Oahu remains in Tier 2 of a 4-tiered reopening planproposing tax hikes.- group gatherings are limited to 5 non-householdSo far, however, the state legislature has ignored the members, and restaurants and retail shops mustGovernors plea, and has introduced dozens of bills reduce their capacity to 25% or 50% depending oncalling for tax hikes in income, corporate income, the type of business. The new Honolulu Mayor hascapital gains, conveyance, general excise, gas taxes signaled he hopes to relax restrictions in mid-Febru- and more. This is a money grab, pure and simple, ary, such as re-opening bars and allowing youth sportsignoring that Hawaii already has among the highest to resume. Of course, the Governor must approvetaxes in the nation. these changes. The Lt. Governor (an emergency room physician) has also expressed a willingness to relaxcontinued on page 52restrictions as well. Lets hope they do. wish that they should, when he once knows the estimation in which he is held . Look to the 2021 WPMA News Summer Issue for highlights!This public ordeal, therefore, is of great value; in my opinion, much more so than what has, with some propriety, been called the scare-crow of the constitution, the power of impeachment .S ource: Martin Van Burens Senate speechon the judiciary, April 7, 1826WPMA News / Spring 202117'