BREAKING: Hāna, Maui Reports Its First Confirmed COVID-19 Case

The rural community of Hāna in East Maui has its first confirmed case of COVID-19 according to new information released by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino.

“The County of Maui was notified early this morning that a test result has returned positive for a female resident of Hāna. This individual is in self isolation and has some travel history. The Hawaii Department of Health is investigating this matter and calling close contacts this individual may have had,” said Mayor Victorino.

“I want to tell our Hāna residents that we will be doing everything we can to protect their health and safety during these uncertain times. Please stay home as much as possible and practice aloha. We will continue to face these challenges together,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaho‘olawe) also issued a statement calling the first confirmed case for the remote area of Hāna “alarming.”

“It is important for residents to stay calm during these challenging times. The preventative measures that we have taken at the state and county level is critical to slow further spread of the virus into remote areas of East Maui, where access to supplies and medical attention is limited,” said Sen. English.

“It is important for everyone to stay home and if you are sick or are showing symptoms, isolate yourself and contact your doctor immeditely. I will continue to coordinate efforts from my home here in Hāmoa to ensure the health and safety of our people,” said Sen. English.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement last night that another rural community in Maui County, the island of Molokaʻi, had its first confirmed COVID-19 case in a male adult resident who was being treated at a hospital on Oʻahu.

That individual had traveled to Las Vegas and had returned to Molokaʻi on March 17.  The island’s main grocery store is temporarily closed while a crew works to sanitize the location.  More on the Molokaʻi case here.

As of noon on Thursday, April 2, 2020, there were 27 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Maui County, including 11 who have since been released from isolation. Statewide over the same period, there are a total of 285 confirmed positive cases.

*This is a developing story.  Please check back for more information as it becomes available.