Maui Coronavirus Updates

As of noon on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, there are 613 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 3 new cases on Oʻahu and one case in a Hawaiʻi resident who was diagnosed outside of Hawaiʻi. To date, 516 people have recovered including 83 in Maui County. Maui County’s count remained unchanged at 115 confirmed positive. Of the Maui cases, at least 83 have been released from isolation, and 14 have required hospitalization.

Kāhuli Leo Le‘a is partnering with Hawaiʻi News Now to produce “Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2020: Aloha ʻĀina,” transitioning the live event into a TV broadcast. The broadcast will air on Friday, May 1, 2020: 7 p.m. on Hawaiʻi TV broadcast (KHNL), HawaiiNewsNow.com, or Hawaiʻi News Now Facebook Live; and 8 p.m. on Hawaiʻi TV broadcast (K5) or HawaiiNewsNow.com

Mayor Victorino said the tour allowed him to see the hospital’s upgrades and changes.  “I was quite pleased at what I saw, but the proof is in the pudding and we’re going to work hard.  They’re working hard to make sure you would be safe if and when you need to go to the hospital–whether it’s the ER or any other services provided.”

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provided a glimpse into the thought process for reopening businesses on Maui saying, “Public health has to be the priority… followed by community–that our communities open up with some resiliency… and of course the economic part… That is the triangle that needs to be put together.”

The County of Maui is partnering with Project Hoʻomana to distribute food bags to those in need in the  East Maui community of Hāna.  The distribution will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29, at the Hāna Ball Park starting at 3 p.m.  About 300 bags of food will be distributed (one bag per vehicle).

Donovan Fayd, account executive for MauiNow interviewed Gary Fukuroku, president and CEO of Maui County Federal Credit Union to learn how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his business operations.

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that a third produce distribution will take place on Wednesday, April 29, to provide produce to people impacted by COVID-19 on Lānaʻi.

An announcement on the phased reopening of businesses for Maui County is expected tomorrow, according to an afternoon update provided by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino.  Mayor Victorino described the Lānaʻi woman as an elderly individual, over the age of 65, who is from Lānaʻi, but contracted COVID-19 while she was hospitalized at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. Mayor Victorino said he believes the case is linked to the Maui Hospital cluster, which as of today, stands at 58 individuals, including 38 staff and 20 patients.

First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) today announced that the “Aloha for Hawaii” campaign has contributed $50,000 to help Maui Food Bank and The Food Basket (Hawaii Island’s Food Bank) provide 50,000 meals in the community.

Due  to the continued evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Surf League (WSL) is “postponing or canceling all events, at all levels of competition, through the end of June,” WSL announced.

In a joint presentation to the Special Committee on Friday, Attorney General Clare Connors, Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Director of Airports Ross Higashi, and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) provided an update concerning the monitoring of arriving airline passengers.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provides his daily weekday update and answers media questions.

As of last Friday, across the state, officers with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement issued a total of 107 citations for various violations associated with emergency rules.

The University Hawaiʻi Maui College will hold a virtual commencement this year.  The tentative date for the Maui College Virtual Commencement is Wednesday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m.  There are an estimated 430 to 450 graduation applicants that are currently being vetted, as well as an estimated 70 individuals from the University Center which houses students who are registered with other University of Hawaiʻi colleges through distance education. 

As of noon on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, there are 609 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 2 new cases, both located in Maui County.  State Health officials say one case involves a Lānaʻi resident who was exposed on the Island of Maui, and who will be remaining on Maui Island for the interim. There are 104 active cases in the state and 35 active cases in Maui County. Of the 115 cases in Maui County, at least 80 have been released from isolation, and 14 have required hospitalization.

US Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaiʻi) led an effort with Senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) urging the US Department of Agriculture to immediately reconsider its denial of waiver requests and allow college students continued access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if they have become unemployed due to the pandemic.

“Given our expertise in biohazard clean up, we wanted to share these helpful checklists with local homeowners and businesses as the state prepares to re-open slowly in the coming months. We expect COVID-19 to be a concern for people throughout the year and understanding how to properly clean and disinfect a home or businesses…” –Premier Restoration Hawaiʻi

To date, a total of about 350 individuals have been tested on Lānaʻi, which remains the only island in Maui County with zero confirmed cases.

Tara Dugan, digital sales director of MauiNow interviewed Sumner Erdman, president of ‘Ulupalakua Ranch to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his business operations. “They’ve closed as they’re not essential businesses,” Erdman referring to the ‘Ulupalakua store and deli. “We’ve tried doing whatever we can to keep some of those employees doing other things […]

Maui Health today confirmed that a Maui Medical Group provider who provides care to patients at Maui Memorial Medical Center has tested positive for COVID-19. The provider was tested for COVID-19 two weeks ago by Maui Medical Group, was asymptomatic, and the results were negative. This week the Maui Medical Group provider became symptomatic and then self-quarantined at home.  On Friday, a repeat test was performed and yesterday, Sunday April 26, the results returned positive for COVID-19.