The state teachers’ union is also lobbying for pandemic hazard pay, which was not in their contract, but the Green administration supports the teachers’ plan.

California, Oregon, Washington and Hawai‘i formed a health alliance earlier this month and published vaccine recommendations the day before a federal panel was set to take up the issue.

A once-straightforward seasonal vaccine process has become muddled this year thanks to new federal guidance on who can get the shots. It raises questions about whether pharmacists will provide the shots and if insurers will cover them. 

More than three years after the last pandemic emergency order, firefighters are still negotiating their hazard payments with the city.

Guards and thousands of other state workers still haven’t been paid, and interest has started accruing.

After years of delays, the City Council signed off on a $41 million deal with the state’s largest union after previously reaching agreements with two other unions.

Martin Kao, convicted of stealing pandemic-era relief funds, was also ordered to pay $13 million in restitution and serve 12,800 hours of community service.

The city is also still trying to determine how much it might owe to Honolulu police officers and other union members who worked during the pandemic.

Even well-established eateries are struggling with high food costs, a shortage of workers and fewer Japanese tourists.

Much of the back pay was negotiated by Gov. Josh Green’s administration for state employees who reported for work in person during the emergency from 2020 to 2022.