City’s pandemic hotline to cease operations on April 14, 2023

HONOLULU – After more than three years of continuous operations, the City and County of Honolulu’s COVID-19 pandemic hotline will cease operations at the close of business on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Between April 15 and 28, community members who call the (808) 768-2489 (CITY) hotline will receive a pre-recorded message directing them to call the Department of Customer Services for information about City services. After April 28, the phone number will be activated only as an emergency hotline during hurricanes or other disasters.

The public may also visit the City’s 311 website or use the 311 mobile app to report non-urgent issues with City services.

“The pandemic hotline was always about supporting our communities through the darkest of times,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “It started with City employees just trying to help people stay safe, but it quickly became something our residents relied on much more than that, to the tune of answering more than 100,000 calls and emails. The call center became an invaluable resource center that kept the City on the pulse of what was happening with families, community groups, and small businesses during the pandemic.”

The City established the pandemic hotline and COVID response email address on March 23, 2020, to provide information about City services to Oʻahu residents. Call center staff responded to more than 2,400 calls and emails on the first day alone.

The hotline quickly evolved into Hawaiʻi’s go-to source for factual information about COVID-19, government orders, travel restrictions related to the pandemic, and the many relief programs offered by the City, the State of Hawaiʻi, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other government agencies and nonprofits.

—PAU—