Maui Coronavirus Updates

Several petitions are circulating online, calling for immediate resignations of Maui hospital and government officials, and more action from the state to save local businesses.

As of noon on Monday, April 13, 2020, there are 504 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 5 new cases. Maui County has 2 new cases for a total of 86 confirmed positive. Of the 86 cases in Maui County, at least 40 have been released from isolation, and 7 have required hospitalization.

A Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew delivered response supplies from the Maui Airport Fire Station to staff on Lānaʻi including thermometers and hand sanitation equipment for use at the island airport. 

Air arrivals to Maui totaled 11 on Sunday with a single flight arriving from out-of-state. This included 6 crew members, 4 residents and 1 visitor.

They proceeded to their homes on private shuttles with a Harbor Police escort to begin their 14-day quarantine. No one else was allowed off the vessel.

Beginning today, customers and employees of Foodland stores are required to wear masks while inside stores.  Also, customers will be limited to bringing in only one other family member or partner to shop.

First Hawaiian Bank today announced the launch of its “Aloha for Hawaiʻi” initiative, a special program that offers support to Hawaiʻi restaurants and provides up to $1 million in donations to the Aloha for Hawaiʻi Fund, which has been established to support non-profits with food supply and health and human service programs for those impacted by COVID-19.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is providing updates on Pacific Media Group’s network of Maui stations as the County continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, the mayor spoke with Kawika-Veeka of HI92 FM on Maui, and shared his thoughts on the weekend pilot curfew program, increasing testing underway, and issues surrounding the hospital cluster at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

In an effort to keep the Maui community entertained during the coronavirus pandemic, ProArts has created a FREE Featured Content section on their home page.

Here is a gallery of images from around Maui in the last few weeks submitted by Maui resident Kevin J. Olson. Many of the boarded up businesses in Pāʻia Town offered messages of hope including “We Love You,” and encouraging hashtags like “#virtualhugs,” “#nevergiveup,” and “#lendahand.”  

The money comes from a $32 million package that Hawai‘i is set to receive for its higher education institutions, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced. 

A new online platform is asking Hawaiʻi residents to contribute information that will help experts monitor the spread of COVID-19 in real time.

Air arrivals to Maui totaled 22 on Saturday with a single flight arriving from out-of-state. This included 6 crew members, 8 residents and 8 visitors.

Maui County has 4 new cases for a total of 84 confirmed positive. Of the 84 cases in Maui County, at least 40 have been released from isolation, and 7 have required hospitalization.

Premiere Medical Group’s Dr. Scott Miscovich speaks with Annalisa Burgos of KITV4 this morning, detailing COVID-19 testing efforts on Maui, protocols for frontline workers, concerns among hospital employees and frustrations with leadership at the state level. 

Maui police say no arrests were made.

Kaua‘i police arrested 36-year-old Adam Schwarze of ‘Aiea, Hawai‘i and 31-year-old Desiree Marvin of Alexandria, Virginia on Friday for violating the state’s COVID-19 mandatory 14-day quarantine emergency order, police said.

Op-Ed: Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin Calls for More Transparency Amid Covid-19: “Transparency is key!  People need to be able to trust leadership on all levels and in every arena, and leadership needs to be held accountable for the decisions they make.”

Maui has a new cluster of COVID-19 positive cases linked to a church on Maui. Initial news of the cluster surfaced at Friday’s state press conference in which state Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said the cluster existed, but could not identify which island it was associated with or what church group was affected.

Sen. English and Rep. DeCoite are urging deployment of the Hawaiʻi National Guard to the remote communities of East Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to help enforce travel restrictions, enhance community policing efforts and maintain law and order.