Aloha,

Rent and Utility Relief Fund

Even though the state is starting to show slow but sure signs of recovery from the economic fallout due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still many residents and small businesses who continue to struggle. COVID-19 relief funds recently appropriated by the federal government will allow individual counties in Hawaii to provide a much-needed respite from looming bills and monthly commitments for affected residents.

The City and County of Honolulu is making $114 million in relief funds available through its Rental & Utility Relief Program starting Monday, April 5, 2021. Qualifying residents can receive up to $2,000 per month for rent and up to $500 per month for utilities like electricity, sewer and water, and gas. The maximum length of financial help is 12 months per household. Funds cannot be used for telephone or Internet bills. Qualification details, documentation requirements, and an online application can be found at oneoahu.org/renthelp

The Hawaii County Emergency Rental Assistance Program will begin accepting applications through their non-profit partners on Monday, April 12. Details can be found here.

Maui and Kauai counties have similar rent and utility relief programs in the works. Official details and application dates will be made available soon.

Quick Facts About Natural Gas:

Natural Gas is Odorless. To help customers detect leaks, an odorant is added to the gas so that even small leaks can be detected quickly. With the odorant, natural gas can be detected at a concentration of less than 1 percent in the air. This is far below the amount required for ignition to occur.
Natural Gas is Lighter Than Air. When natural gas escapes, it rises and dissipates harmlessly and quickly into the atmosphere. Unlike other fossil fuels, natural gas does not pool and requires no environmental clean-up.
Natural Gas is Clean. Natural gas is one of the cleanest burning of all the fossil fuels. Homes that use natural gas appliances instead of electricity can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent.
Natural Gas is Abundant. Geologists, government agencies and industry experts today say there up to 100 or more years of proven natural gas reserves, and additional reserves are being discovered each year.

Shawn Pedro, Payroll & HRIS Analyst

Shawn has been with Hawaii Gas for a total of 18 years, and that has given him a unique background which helps to ensure every payroll is timely and accurate. It is often a very tight timeline and a hectic process, yet Shawn enjoys the rush it takes to get the job done.

What motivates Shawn is the opportunity to connect and support fellow employees. He tries his best to uphold a sense of respect, responding in a timely manner with compassion, patience and a sense of humor, too.

Outside of work, you can find Shawn mastering his violin skills or playing tennis. He is such an avid tennis fan and has traveled the globe many times to follow the Grand Slam (like the World Series or Super Bowl for the sport) including London, Paris, Melbourne, and New York City.

Food-A-Go-Go's Restaurant Week

Support local restaurants and enjoy special dishes, discounts and prix fixe menus during Food-A-Go-Go’s Restaurant Week from April 5 to 12, with an optional second week through April 19. Participating restaurants will be providing options for dine-in and takeout orders. Plus, a Bid It to Win It Ag Education online auction will be held with proceeds benefiting the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation’s agricultural education programs in public schools.

For more information and to see a list of participating restaurants and their Restaurant Week specials, visit the Food-A-Go-Go website.

The Hawaii Agricultural Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created to promote agriculture and farming in the state of Hawaii. Learn more about HAF at www.hawaiiagriculturefoundation.org.

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