Mayor Victorino issues statement on Governor’s supplemental proclamation

Mayor Michael Victorino has issued a statement on Gov. David Ige’s supplemental proclamation, which took effect today, April 17.

“The Governor stated that his proclamation only allows water activities, and does not allow walking or running on the beaches for exercise purposes,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “My proclamation previously allowed exercise on the beaches, so this is a notable change for residents.”

“The Governor also announced that all customers must wear face coverings in essential businesses. Employees who have contact with customers or merchandise must also wear face coverings.”

The public is encouraged to review all the new rules in the Governor’s Fifth Supplementary Proclamation for COVID-19, by visiting governor.hawaii.gov/emergency-proclamations.

For COVID-19 information, call 2-1-1.

Fifth Supplementary Proclamation Addresses Face Coverings & Outdoor Activity

Governor David Ige’s Fifth Supplementary Proclamation adds to existing emergency rules for the COVID-19 crisis. The governor is encouraging everyone to wear cloth face masks whenever in public places with the exception of exercising outside, as long as social distancing requirements are maintained. It also details limitations on activities outside your home or place of residence, including the closure of all state beaches. The proclamation also directs all employees and customers of essential businesses to exercise social distancing and protective requirements:

• Maintain six-foot distancing whether outside, waiting in lines or indoors with many people
• Businesses determine maximum number of customers allowed at one time in their establishment
• Frequent use of hand sanitizers and disinfectants
• All customers and employees who have customer contact must wear a cloth face mask
• High risk populations urged to stay home
• Encouraging online, remote access, store pick-up and home delivery options
• Posting of social distancing signs

Beaches, Trails, Boating and Fishing Impacted by New Rules

Governor Ige’s Fifth Supplementary Proclamation today not only closes all state beaches to sitting, standing, lounging, lying down, sunbathing and loitering, but also includes restrictions on boating fishing and hiking.

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “We encouraged these more severe restrictions after officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and others observed large groups of people continuing to ignore social distancing guidelines when outside.”

People can still transit across beaches to get to the ocean for outdoor exercise like surfing, solo paddling, and swimming as long as social distances are maintained.

Generally, families or people sharing the same residential addresses are exempt from the new rules, that for all others disallows more than two people being on a boat together or fishing together. Group hiking is banned on all State trails. People who want to hike alone and want to have someone else along for safety reasons are required to maintain a distance of not less than 20-feet from each other.

Proclamation Includes Eviction Moratorium

The Fifth Supplementary Proclamation forestalls evictions for failure to pay rents, leases, or other related charges, such as maintenance fees, utilities, and taxes during the COVID-19 crisis. Violations of this provision and any others of this and prior Supplementary Proclamations is a misdemeanor, upon conviction, punishable by fines as much as $5000 or a year in jail, or both.

Gov. David Ige. PC: Screenshot of video courtesy Office of the Governor.