Maui News

Officials with the Maui District Health Office clarified information shared yesterday about a group of positive COVID-19 cases involving a restaurant on Maui.  Dr. Lorrin Pang said he misspoke by calling the group a cluster and said the group included 3 or 4 confirmed cases and 100 exposed contacts. 

Drive-through testing for COVID-19 will take place in South Maui tomorrow, April 23, at the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium parking lot. To reduce wait times and on-site registration, individuals are asked to pre-register for testing at www.minitmed.com. Testing will be open to first responders and healthcare workers ONLY from 9 to 10 a.m. First responders and healthcare workers should present their work IDs for screening. Testing for the general public will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Testing will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost for individuals.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced that a food distribution will take place on Thursday, April 23, to provide bags of food to individuals in need that are impacted by COVID-19 in Pāʻia and Haʻikū. To date more than 2,000 bags of food and produce have been distributed to residents at distribution events across Maui County.

Drive-through testing for COVID-19 will take place again tomorrow, April 23, at Keōpūolani Regional Park. Testing will be open to first responders and healthcare workers ONLY from 9 to 10 a.m. Testing for the general public will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Testing will be provided at no-cost.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provides an update on response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts locally.

This week, four individuals have been arrested on O‘ahu for violating the State’s mandatory, 14-day, self-quarantine orders for everyone flying into Hawai‘i. Anyone arriving in Hawai‘i from out of state goes through a mandatory screening process, including filling out an Order for Self-Quarantine form. Depending on the island, processing of these forms is handled by the Department of Transportation and/or the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

Prior to the pandemic, Hawaiʻi was processing in late February about 700 claims per week.  “And so you can imagine what happens when you end up with about a quarter of a million–somewhere around a quarter million claims,” said Murakami.  In a single day, Murakami said the department received about 25,000 filings.  

On Monday, an individual called the Sheriff Division to report that he was contacted via text by someone claiming to be a “Sergeant Anderson” with the Sheriff Division Internet Crimes Task Force. According to the report, the impersonator stated that the man would be arrested for inappropriate internet use unless he paid an undisclosed amount of money.

As of noon on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, there are 592 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 6 new cases, three each on Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu. Maui County has no new cases. Of the 110 cases in Maui County, at least 60 have been released from isolation, and 9 have required hospitalization.

A radio segment featuring executives and doctors with Maui Health runs daily at 7:19 a.m. on KPOA 93.5 FM.  The series providing updates and answers questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s guest is Dr. Lee Weiss, Regional Director of Emergency Medical Services.  In his interview, Dr. Weiss discussed supplements, boosting the immune system, safety related to ibuprofen and social distancing.

“I believe it is the scheduling of the airlines that made that happen… But there is a concerted effort to cut down to as little as possible Trans-Pacific flights to our island and to Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island.  However, there will be–as far as I know–four flights a week to Maui County,” said Mayor Victorino.

Mayor Victorino said he’d likely report this coming Friday on the likelihood of extending Maui’s stay-at-home orders.  “I think it’s a very strong probability of extending on through May, maybe to May 31st… I know this is really not news people wanted to hear, but I’ve got to be honest. Also we’re looking at phasing in other businesses,” said Mayor Victorino.

COVID-19 drive-through testing will be available to the residents of Lānaʻi from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Old Dole Administration Building in Lānaʻi City.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said he will not be issuing citations for people that run or walk on the beach because there is no clear delineation on what’s a state beach and what’s a county beach.  

The Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) approved two actions that will provide Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) Applicant Waiting List beneficiaries, as well as lessees, licensees, and permittees on land managed by the Department, relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says she has advocated with Congress and the White House for the last two weeks, pushing for greater support for Hawai‘i as communities continue to struggle with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. 

On September 7, 1981, hikers discovered the skeletal remains of an unidentified person while hiking to “The Cross” in Wailuku Heights on Kapilau Ridge.

A portion of the funds will go to repair Highway 137, Pohoiki Road, Leilani Avenue, Hinalo Street, Lauone Street, Honuaula Street, and Lighthouse Road.

The County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns’ Volunteer Center is recognizing 13 outstanding Volunteer Heroes for 2020. These are individuals who help make up the backbone of nonprofits.

Deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22 at 6 a.m. Hawaiʻi Time.