Maui Coronavirus Updates

Within the last week Maui Humane Society exhausted its supply of donated and supplemental food, by providing 2,500 pounds of pet food to pet owners in financial distress.

The County of Maui has entered a partnership with Maui Family YMCA to provide a subsidized summer youth program for more than 1,500 children on Maui and Molokaʻi, starting July 6, 2020.

St. Anthony School launches its in-person summer camp program beginning on Monday, June 29 through Friday, July 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I anticipate that once this testing gets in place, that people can come and feel safe here, and our residents feel safe.  Those numbers will climb quite substantially and so we’re gearing up our airport security, our airport checkpoints to make sure we don’t let anyone slip through without being checked,” said Mayor Victorino. 

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has detected $15,829,889 of potentially fraudulent claims paid out as of June 24.  In addition, the department reportedly blocked $76,644,808 in “possible fraudulent PUA payments.”

There are 16 new COVID-19 case reported for Hawaiʻi today–12 of them on Oʻahu, and four on Kauaʻi–pushing the statewide count to 850 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic.

The local access restriction for Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Kapakalua Road and Hāna Town will remain in place through June 30, 2020, according to an update issued today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Full access will be allowed on July 1, 2020.

County officials say the Governor’s announcement gives the visitor industry and businesses time to implement proper health and safety measures.

Minit Medical Urgent Care continues a series of drive-through testing events this week–today in South Maui and tomorrow in Central Maui. About 80 people were tested on Wednesday by Minit Medical at the Lahaina Aquatic Center in West Maui.

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, State House Speaker Scott K. Saiki, Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, and Representative Sylvia Luke announced the Legislature’s comprehensive plan to use $635 million in federal CARES Act funds to provide ongoing, immediate relief to residents and small businesses who are suffering from the devastating economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Governor David Ige today announced that as of Aug. 1, the state will implement a pre-travel testing option for travelers to Hawaiʻi as an alternative to the 14-day travel quarantine.

There are 16 new COVID-19 case reported for Hawaiʻi today–13 of them on Oʻahu, one on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, and two Hawaiʻi residents who were diagnosed outside of the state–pushing the statewide count to 835 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic. To date, 686 people (83.8%) have recovered including 113 (97.4%) recovery in Maui County. There are currently 132 active cases in the state, including three on Maui.

Mayor Victorino said a “definitive timeline” related to travel from out-of-state will be announced today.   The governor’s media briefing starts at 2:30 p.m. *Check back here for a live stream.

Fork & Salad Kīhei, a farm-to-table, fast-casual eatery reopens today, June 24 in the Azeka Mauka Shopping Center, after closing in mid-March due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

According to the data, Maui County hotels reported RevPAR at $15 (-94.5%), with declines in both ADR to $117 (-66.4%) and occupancy of 12.6 percent (-63.7 percentage points) in May. The Lahaina/Kāʻanapali/Kapalua region had RevPAR of $4 (-98.1%), ADR of $70 (-76.1%), and occupancy at 5.8 percent (-69.5 percentage points).

The senators urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randal Quarles to ensure banks conserve capital now so that they can continue lending if the economic fallout from the pandemic turns more severe.

Today, US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i announced that Hawai‘i is set to receive $537,823 to support four Native Hawaiian and educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The committee voted to provide $19 million for Maui Health System operating costs, $21.6 million for Hawai‘i Health System Corporation operating costs, and $750,000 to the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority to maintain the State’s existing rent supplement program.

Maui Councilmember Tasha Kama of Kahului hosts a Kūkākūkā informal talk story session on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at the Maui Sunday Market in Kahului from 4 to 8 p.m.

In its statement of interest, the United States claims that Hawaiʻi’s self-quarantine requirement “effectively discriminates against out-of-state residents.” Meantime, Special Assistant to the Attorney General for Hawaiʻi, Krishna Jayaram responded to the claims saying “the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation for COVID-19 and the subsequent proclamations were properly and lawfully issued pursuant to the Governor’s statutory authority and his determination that an emergency exists due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the danger and threat it poses to Hawaiʻi.”