Kawakami: “Kaua‘i is on Vacation”; Implements Nighttime Curfew Starting Friday
Kauaʻi Mayor Derek S.K Kawakami has implemented, via emergency rule, an islandwide nighttime curfew beginning Friday, March 20. The curfew will be in effect from 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. daily until further notice. Every individual within the County of Kaua‘i must remain in their residence during these specified hours.
“This decision was made with three goals in mind – one, protecting and preserving our existing resources, two, managing the spread of COVID-19 by increasing social distancing, and three, ensuring that essential services, operations, and family care can continue,” said Mayor Kawakami. “After taking an assessment of what will likely be a very long journey for all of us and the amount of limited resources that we have, specifically public safety, first responder, and healthcare workers, we must take bold steps to ensure that our public safety officials, first responders, and healthcare workers have the necessary environment in which to keep us all safe.”
Mayor’s Emergency Rule #2 sets forth exceptions to the curfew, including:
- Commuting to and from work;
- Working for an essential service provider whose shifts are within the curfew window;
- Delivery services associated with food service establishments or stores that sell food and household supplies; and
- Seeking medical attention.
Our houseless community is asked to shelter in place and avoid movement during these curfew hours.
Mayor Kawakami also stated that airline travel to and from the island of Kaua‘i be limited to essential needs only. “Until further notice, visitors should not be traveling to our island for recreational purposes,” emphasized the Mayor. “Kaua‘i is on vacation!”
Further, vacation industry partners are urged to work with their marketing teams to refrain from marketing Kaua‘i as a place to visit during this time in order to protect the health and safety of the community.
“We understand that these measures will result in hardships for many of our business owners and residents,” added Mayor Kawakami. “But the longer it takes us to make these drastic decisions, the longer it will take us to get to a point of economic recovery.
Small business owners are urged to visit, https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources for a list of available resources. Additionally, workers experiencing layoffs should visit huiclaims.hawaii.gov for assistance.
A copy of the Mayor’s Emergency Rule #2 can be found online at our KEMA website dedicated to COVID-19, www.kauai.gov/covid-19.
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