Maui Coronavirus Updates

Mayor Michael Victorino announced Wednesday the launch of a $1 million Small Business Mortgage & Relief direct payment program to provide a lifeline for businesses struggling to survive COVID-19 impacts.

Dr. Lee Weiss, Regional Director of Emergency Medical Services with Maui Health warned that swift action needs to be taken. He said the cases identified so far, are “the tip of the iceberg,” and estimated that 10 percent of the Lāna‘i population could be positive within a week.  He called for mass testing as well as a shut down of the island to travel, calling its border “porous.” 

The number of COVID-19 cases on the island of Lāna‘i has jumped to 16, with confirmation this afternoon of 12 additional cases as of 4 p.m.  Currently all cases are residents.  None are hospitalized.  All are isolating at home.

There were 78 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 65 on the island of O‘ahu, nine on Hawai‘i Island and four new cases in Maui County.  The four Maui cases were on the rural island of Lāna‘i, and were reported yesterday, but were not included in yesterday’s count because the confirmation came after the state released it’s official count at noon on Tuesday.

Hawaiian Airlines will reinstate its East Coast flying in December with twice-weekly nonstop service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport; and three times-weekly service between HNL and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The State of Hawai‘i, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i, announced the launch of the Hawai‘i Business Pivot Grant program. The grants will distribute $25M in financial and training support to struggling small businesses in Hawai‘i to help them adjust to marketplace changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initial findings have determined that one of the four cases may be associated with recent travel. Three of the cases work at the same location and have symptoms. The fourth case is a healthcare worker who does not provide direct patient care. All four cases are in isolation.

There were 91 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 61 on the island of O‘ahu, 24 on Hawai‘i Island, four cases in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state, and two new cases on Maui.  The Maui cases included one each in Lahaina and Kula.

It’s more than where you go. It’s how you stay. That’s the message behind a new video that’s being played to visitors before and after they arrive in Hawaiʻi. It’s part of the Kuleana Campaign, which was launched last year through a partnership between the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau.

The results of the second Hawai‘i Commercial Rent Survey reveal that more Hawai‘i businesses are suffering financially as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on. Since the first study was conducted in July, many companies have had to make the difficult decision to scale back their workforce and lay off workers.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced a produce distribution will take place Wednesday, Oct. 21, to provide produce for families impacted by COVID-19 on the island of Lānaʻi.

The extension of Kamaʻāina First offers to visitors via the program’s new Mahalo Card, has prompted criticism from some who say the program was established and intended for residents.

Maui County saw average daily arrivals jump to 2,447 in the first four days since the state launched it’s pre-travel COVID-19 testing program on Oct. 15.  That’s up from the average daily 530 travelers logged in the 12 days prior between Oct. 3 and 14, before the reopening program took effect.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and University of Hawaiʻi’s John A. Burns School of Medicine begin COVID-19 testing operations today at the new JABSOM Tropical Medicine Lab. The program expands the COVID-19 surge capacity for traditional diagnostic tests and will prioritize access to underserved, uninsured and front-line workers who may require multiple tests for

There were 39 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 31 on the island of O‘ahu, seven on Hawai‘i Island and one in a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed outside of the state.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said the county is stepping up mask enforcement and offering Mahalo Cards to incoming trans-Pacific Travelers who participate in the county’s voluntary secondary COVID-19 post-arrival test.

Federal CARES Act funding is still available for businesses struggling with the financial impact of COVID-19, but businesses should apply now for help with utility bills and other expenses. Deadlines  are fast approaching for some assistance programs while others are nearing their funding limits. Hawaiian Electric has been working to help connect businesses with the […]

Governor David Ige today announced the State of Hawai‘i will match a donation of half a million dollars from a hui of private-sector organizations toward the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks program. DA BUX doubles the value of  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits spent on locally grown food at participating grocery stores. 

There were 83 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 68 on the island of O‘ahu, 14 on Hawai‘i Island and one on Kaua‘i. Maui reported no new cases today.

There were 96 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 81 on the island of O‘ahu, 12 on Hawai‘i Island, one on Kaua‘i and two in residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui reported no new cases today.