Letters to the Editor for Nov. 8, 2020. Woman thinks Maui County's mandate to wear masks at beaches and pools has gone too far; returning residents praises Kahului airport for smooth Safe Travel Program inspection; and Canadian says COVID-19 restrictions prevent her family from coming to Maui this year but they will be back in 2021.

The group is presenting a letter to the mayor which outlines four mitigation strategies including: the establishment of a COVID-19 task force for Maui; the implementation of the Perseus app, an anonymous tracing app already approved by the County Council; a mandatory second test for visitors; and a mask wearing social distancing education campaign by the county.

At Kahului Airport, with Thursday's launch of Hawaiʻi's Safe Travels Program, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino declared: "This is a new day for Maui County. It is a rebirth of our visitor industry."

The installation of 133 cameras at all gates of the five airports completes phases one and two of the project. Phase three will add the facial imaging technology and is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020.

On Saturday, Mayor Victorino visited Kahului Airport to check on layout and staffing.  "I would warn everyone, please be patient if you are returning or leaving.  The lines may be a little longer than normal so please be patient," he said.

Phase 2 of the project will install the temperature scanning equipment at the remaining gates by Aug. 20. Phase 3 expects to have the facial imaging equipment installed by Dec. 31, 2020.

Hawaiian Airlines is canceling all Neighbor Island flights on Sunday, in addition to select flights Saturday evening between Honolulu and Maui and the Island of Hawaiʻi, due to adverse weather expected from Hurricane Douglas.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation advises Maui residents of the closure of Runway 2-20 for a taxiway reconstruction project scheduled to take place at the Kahului Airport on weekends from July 4 to August 1.

A facial imaging tracking system and monitoring control rooms will be installed throughout the terminal to track a suspected passenger until they are intercepted for further screening. Total cost is $18.5 million, with an additional $17.5 million for a 10-year maintenance program.

"Most of the car rental companies are starting to send cars back to the mainland.  We've had quite a reduction--although it doesn't look like it--but we've had a reduction in vehicles that we house here at the airport," said Moniz.

On Saturday, May 9, a total of 857 people arrived in Hawaiʻi including 255 visitors and 334 residents, according to new information compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. While passenger counts continue to rise, there were no trans-Pacific flights to Maui on Saturday.  The island continues to see an average of 3 to 4 domestic flights from the mainland per week as a result of reduced flight schedules. 

Over the period, covering all of April and six days in March, Maui saw 1,621 air visitors on 61 trans-Pacific flights, including 358 visitors, 594 residents, 122 intended residents, 546 crew members and a single individual in transit to another location. A large portion of those who arrived said they came to visit friends or relatives.

Yesterday a total of 640 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 166 visitors and 196 residents. There was a total of 14 arriving flights. Maui had no trans-Pacific flights on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

For a third day this week, Maui County had no trans-Pacific flights (domestic flights) from the mainland on Saturday. Of the 112 interisland passengers that arrived at Kahului Airport on Thursday, April 23 (2020), 89 were from O‘ahu and 16 were from Lāna‘i.  Of the 23 passengers that arrived at Moloka‘i Airport, 12 were from O‘ahu and 11 were from Maui.  Of the 18 passengers that arrived at Lāna‘i Airport, 3 were from O‘ahu and 15 were from Maui.

For a second day this week, Maui County had no trans-Pacific flights (domestic flights) from the mainland on Thursday. Only Delta Airlines is flying from Los Angeles to Kahului-Maui, Kona-Hawaiʻi and Līhuʻe-Kauaʻi 3 to 4 times a week.