State Sen. Ron Kouchi joined the COVID-19 Care Conversation to take questions about the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

He spoke about what the Legislature is doing to help during the crisis, from volunteering at the Convention Center to help with the backlog of unemployment claims, to trying to figure out how to balance the budget.

While the federal government has pledged millions of dollars to help the states, Kouchi says one of the challenges is that federal dollars cannot be used for items that were budgeted before March 1. That means, the state will have to think creatively on how to best use federal funds, to boost the economy and keep people working. Kouchi says before pay cuts for state workers are considered, he wants to look at a number of other options to cut costs.

Kouchi also spoke at length about his concerns about reopening tourism, and the measures that may need to be taken before visitors can come back.

Watch here and submit your questions through our Facebook page.

Be sure to join us Friday when Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami will be our guest.

Join the COVID-19 Care Conversation, live every weekday at 10:30 a.m. Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji will discuss the latest news, resources and community concerns about the coronavirus outbreak in Hawaii.

The COVID-19 Care Conversation, sponsored by Hawai’i Executive Collaborative, airs live every weekday at 10:30 a.m. on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Facebook page. Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji discuss the latest news, resources and community concerns about the coronavirus outbreak in Hawaii.