Rep. DeCoite: Open Letter to Visitors, Tourist and Tour Operators In Rural Maui

Rep. Lynn DeCoite issued an open letter on Monday evening to visitors, tourists and tour operators in the East Maui community of Hāna, and the outer islands of Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. The letter asks visitors and tours to do their part to help keep communities healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full text of the letter is posted below:

Dear Visitors, Tourist and Tour Operators in East Maui (Hāna), Moloka‘i and Lana‘i,

SUBJECT: COVID-19 Protection Measures for Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Hāna

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As the State Representative for Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and East Maui (Hāna), I am asking that ALL visitors, tourist and tour operators do their part to help us keep our communities healthy. Please don’t come to these areas if you are sick, have/had symptoms or are from an area that has a large number of COVID-19 cases. Given our remote rural locations it always takes services longer to reach us, with the potential of COVID-19 cases threatening us our limited resources and access to medical services will be even more scarce.

Tour Operators, please help screen your clients to ensure they don’t have any symptoms before and while they are traveling. If you have already put these measures in place, we thank you. I ask that you reach out to my office and let us know what measures you are taking. This way when my constituents call with their concerns we can address their questions and also help get the word out about your procedures.

With anticipated rise in COVID-19 case numbers, my constituents in East Maui, Molokai and Lana‘i have been calling, emailing and reaching out via social media to me for help. They are scared. They know that in a remote area one case could cause hysteria. I fear that along with a health issue, this could become a public safety issue for residents and visitors to these areas.

While we are The Aloha State and we do thrive on visitors to our islands, we need to ensure that we are doing what is best for EVERYONE involved.

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To our visitors and tourist: Your health and safety are a top concern of mine as well and my Aloha for you is true.

To our Tour Operators: I share your concern for the vitality of your business and health of you and your staff. I would like to work with you and hear about what measures you are implementing regarding the COVID-19 pandemic to both protect the remote areas of my district and give some ease to the growing fears and concerns of my constituents.

Please feel free to call my office at (808)586-6790 or email me directly at repdecoite@capitol.hawaii.gov .

Mahalo nui loa for your compassion and understanding,

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Lynn DeCoite

State House of Representative

District 13