Big Island Police Arrest 21 Visitors for Violating Hawai‘i’s Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine

Hawaiʻi Island Police arrested and charged 21 visitors for violating the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine order in violation of Governor David Ige’s emergency orders and Mayor Harry Kim’s emergency rules, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday afternoon, June 10, following up on tips from the public and on social media, police arrested five men and three women at a residence on Pikake Street in the Fern Forrest subdivision of Puna.

On Thursday morning, June 11, police arrested 13 additional individuals–including six females and seven males–at a residence on Railroad Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision of Puna. The address some of the individuals were arrested at was not the address they declared to officials upon arrival in the state. Additionally, some of the individuals arrested were also observed at a beach park in Hilo on the day they arrived, according to police.

The individuals arrested at the Pikake Street residence on June 10 for the offense of Prohibited Acts under Emergency Management in violation of Section 127A-29 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes as amended have been identified as:

• 29-year-old female, Shenise Gould or Maryland (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 22-year-old female, Brianna Jacobs of Georgia (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 22-year-old female, Jayon-Marie Hamilton of California (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 24-year-old male, Jacob Benton of California (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 21-year-old male, Ishmael Goodwine of South Carolina (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 20-year-old male, Armon Palmer of Iowa (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 23-year-old male, Denedric Johnson of Texas (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 23-year-old male, Jazz Lee or Florida (1-count, bail $2,000)

The individuals arrested at the Railroad Avenue residence on June 11 have been identified as:

• 38-year-old male, Eligio Lee Bishop of Georgia (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 19-year-old male, Amaar Jawaid of South Carolina (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 26-year-old male, Logan Leathers of Maine (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 39-year-old male, Malcolm Gadson of Pennsylvania (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 25-year-old male, Courtney Townsend of Georgia (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 31-year-old male, Aaron Dixon of Georgia (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 25-year-old male, Daylin Armstead of Maryland (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 33-year-old female, Porchae Wade of California (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 22-year-old female, Tinisha Dulay of Louisiana (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 25-year-old female, Jenae Newell of Georgia (2-counts, bail $4,000)
• 22-year-old female, Kayla Buckner of Tennessee (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 27-year-old female, Nikkia Nunes of Colorado (1-count, bail $2,000)
• 39-year-old female, Sybil Ferere of New York (1-count, bail $2,000)

The owner of the Pikake Street residence, 42-year-old Tylea Fuhrmann, was also arrested and charged for violating County of Hawai’i Mayor Kim’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 4, prohibiting the operation of “short-term vacation rentals,” which have been deemed non-essential during the proclamation period. Her bail is set at $2,000.

Fuhrmann and the 21 visitors arrested remain in police custody in lieu of bail. Their initial court appearance is scheduled for today, June 12, in Hilo District Court.

Left to right: (Photos courtesy Hawai’i Police Department) Logan Leathers; Malcom Gadson; Courtney Townsend; Aaron Dixon; Daylin Armstead; Pochae Wase; Tinisha Dulay; Sybil Ferere; Tylea Fuhrmann; Dededric Johnson; Jaz Lee; Eligio Lee Bishop; Amaar Jawaid; Kayla Buckner; Nikkia Nunes; Shenise Gould; Brianna Jacobs; Jayon Marie Hamilton; Jacob Benton; Ishmael Goodwine; Armon Palmer; Jenae Newell. 

Police issued a reminder to the public that Governor Ige’s 14-day self-quarantine orders for all visitors include the following:

• Proceed directly from the airport to your designated quarantine location, which is the location identified and affirmed by you on the mandatory State of Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Plants and Animals Declaration Form.
• Remain in your designated quarantine location for a period of 14 days or the duration of your stay in the State of Hawaiʻi, whichever is shorter.
• If you are a resident, your designated quarantine location is your place of residence.
• If you are a visitor, your designated quarantine location is your hotel room or rented lodging.
• You can only leave your designated quarantine location for medical emergencies or to seek medical care.
• Do not visit any public spaces, including but not limited to pools, meeting rooms, fitness centers, or restaurants.
• Do not allow visitors in or out of your designated quarantine location other than a physician, healthcare provider, or individual authorized to enter the designated quarantine location by the Director of HIEMA.
• Comply with any and all rules or protocols related to your quarantine as set forth by your hotel or rented lodging.
• If you become ill with a fever or cough:
  • Continue to stay in designated quarantine location, avoid contact with others, and contact a healthcare provider for further instructions on treatment or testing.
  • If you are older or have any medical conditions (e.g., immune compromise, diabetes, asthma), consult your regular healthcare provider.
  • If you feel you need medical care, contact a healthcare provider, and inform them of your travel history.
  • If you need urgent medical care (e.g., have difficulty breathing), call 9-1-1 and let the dispatcher know your travel history).

Travelers will be responsible to get to their place of quarantine. Violation of this order is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $5000 fine or one year in prison.