Honolulu Mayor’s Supports Interisland Travel Quarantine Extension to June 30

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he supports a 14-day quarantine for interisland travel to be extended through June 30.  He said this will protect the residents of O‘ahu and ensure that COVID-19 does not spread between the islands.

“If we can do this for another month, I think we’re going to be able to continue to thaw out our economy and begin to talk about the difficult process of allowing visitors back in,” said Mayor Caldwell.

Mayor Caldwell announced that starting Friday, May 15, outdoor sport fields and courts will be open for one-on-one sports or exercise with limitations, as well as drive-in services (e.g., spiritual/religious services) that follow specific guidelines.

Mayor Caldwell says he also supports the extension of the stay-at-home, work-from-home order for Honolulu to June 30, but says he will be “continually modifying this order,” and will open up different sectors in the coming weeks and months as warranted.

These amendments to the Designated Business and Operations for O‘ahu are detailed in the Mayor’s Emergency Order No. 2020-11. The Order under the name “Restore Honolulu 2.0”, incorporates all prior Emergency Orders, including the wearing of  non-medical grade face coverings, social distancing requirements, and the limited opening of City parks. This Order is effective now through June 30.

The Restore Honolulu 2.0 Order allows public and private outdoor sport fields and courts on O‘ahu to re-open for one-on-one sports and exercise activities in which it is both possible and reasonable for individuals to maintain six feet of physical distance between each other at all times. Examples include, but are not limited to, singles tennis, singles pickle ball, yoga, and tai chi. Excluded are activities such as one-on-one or team basketball, in which it is neither possible nor reasonable to play while maintaining six feet of physical distance. For outdoor group exercise, the maximum number of participants allowed is ten and there shall be no social gatherings at the sport field or court complex. To view all of the guidelines for outdoor sport fields and court use, see Exhibit A of the attached Order.

The Order also allows drive-in services starting Friday, May 15. These services may be conducted provided all persons attending the service drive up in an enclosed vehicle and remain in that same vehicle during the entire service. Vehicle windows, sunroofs and convertible tops must remain closed during the entire service, unless the vehicle is parked more than six feet away from any other vehicle. Each vehicle must also only be occupied by members of the same household or living unit and no food, beverages, equipment, or materials of any kind may be distributed or collected during the service.

Violation of any of the Orders is punishable as a misdemeanor, with fines of up to $5,000, up to a year in jail or both.