Bulletin No. 86
Date/Time sent: 03/21/2022 9:00 amE ala! E alu! E kuilima!
Awaken! Come together! Join hands!
Statement of Gratitude and Kindness
“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” ~ Alice Walker
Welina mai kākou!
Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)
Working to keep our campus safe!
COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Requirements for Current Employees and Students:
- Effective March 26, employees and students with approved exemptions will no longer be required to test regularly.
- Employees and students should continue to report positive COVID-19 cases to the UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Response team at covidwo@hawaii.edu or (808) 689-2525.
- LumiSight UH prescreening for COVID-19 related symptoms, as well as for negative test results, is no longer required.
NOTE: LumiSight will still be the database for updated vaccination cards (i.e., when booster is obtained.
The following UH COVID-19 Guidelines are STILL REQUIRED for all employees, students, and visitors:
- Face masks must be worn indoors in classrooms, shared laboratories, other instructional spaces and tightly confined educational spaces (such as advising offices).
The following UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Guidelines are STILL REQUIRED for all employees and students:
- Visible identification. If you require a lanyard check, with your Vice Chancellor’s office. If you need to update your UH West Oʻahu ID card please see Student Services.
It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect ourselves from exposure by using well-fitted masks, to be vaccinated and appropriately boosted, to take breaks and eat meals safely, and to stay home if we are displaying new respiratory symptoms.
Keep in mind, kūkūlu kaiaʻulu! Please strengthen our community with your passions, respect for one another, and patience! On behalf of your campus leadership, enjoy a safe and vivacious 2022 spring semester on campus!
Please stay informed: UH COVID-19 Dashboards have been updated. The dashboards provide you with a daily summary of COVID-19 positive cases across the UH System and by campus, Summary of Employee Vaccinations across the UH System and by campus percentage and head count. Additionally, there are student information dashboards to include a Summary of Student Vaccinations across the UH System and vaccination head counts by campus.
The University of Hawaii System COVID-19 Guidelines are currently being revised. The current guidelines are live at the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/covid19-guidelines/. UH West Oʻahu’s guidelines are also being revised. New guidelines will be posted soon. Our current guidelines can be accessed at this link: https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/covid-19/guidelines/.
The UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group, UH System leadership, and UH West Oʻahu executives and COVID-Response Team continue to strongly encourage everyone who is not up-to-date with a COVID-19 booster to receive their free vaccination as soon as they are eligible.
Also, please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask outdoors and indoors where face masks are no longer required.
This is a Time of Giving
The Hawaiʻi Foodbank has kicked off its Annual State Employees Food Drive, which runs through May 13, 2022. The issue of hunger continues to be a major challenge facing our community, affecting those most vulnerable among us, and the University of Hawai‘i (UH) ʻOhana is not immune from this issue.
Hawai‘i Foodbank’s state employees food drive’s goal this year is to raise $147,000 and 39,000 pounds of food. The top five most wanted items are monetary contributions, canned proteins (chicken/tuna), canned meals (stew/spaghetti), canned vegetables/fruit, and rice (five to ten pound bags are preferred). While monetary and food donations will still be accepted across our campuses, we recognize many employees continue to telework and may not physically be on their respective campus. Please note that monetary donations are also being accepted via the Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s Online Donation page.
In 2021, UH employees accounted for more than $90,000 (which provided food for 204,374 meals) and over 11,940 pounds of food for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, making UH one of the largest contributors among all State offices.
Please take a moment to consider making a contribution to assist those who are most in need. Information about this year’s Food Drive can be found at: http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/president/foodbank.
Mahalo nūnui for taking the time to review this week’s bulletin.
E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor