There’s good news for residents and anyone already held up in Hawaii, though. General travel between the islands will resume Tuesday June 16th, but it comes with a few regulations. People flying between islands will have to submit to a temperature check, which will be conducted using new thermal screening systems and facial recognition software (which are currently being installed at airports). Anyone with a fever of more than 100.4 degrees will not be allowed to fly. Passengers arriving between islands will not have to abide by the 14-day quarantine, which is a change from past policies and really the biggest factor (most people would not travel to another island from their own if they had to quarantine when they get there and then quarantine when they get back). Still, at this time, leisure travel is discouraged. The main point is to allow residents to reconnect with family on other islands. Officials also see this as a way to test their new thermal screening systems in preparation for the grand reopening, whenever that may be. “Interisland [travel] allows us to test our system and make sure it is safe,” Governor Ige said.

Local representatives worked with the White House for weeks seeking clarification on whether Hawaii could require COVID-19 testing for all visitors before arrival, and found out on Wednesday that nothing in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulations that prohibits the state from requiring such testing. “This is the breakthrough we have been waiting for," said Rep. Ward. "It signals to the Governor and the Legislature that they can now act to safely and systematically open our visitor industry." "While testing visitors before arrival is not fail-safe, it is the best bet we have for protecting our flight attendants, airline crew, hotel workers, visitors, and locals alike." However, a passenger can not be refused entry onto a plane without a test. Instead, the passenger would knowingly be under a 14-day mandatory quarantine and tested upon arrival. "The priority of our plan is to protect our local residents while also allowing them to safely provide for their families. We have a moral and civic duty to do this," said Rep. Bob McDermott (R-40 Ewa, Ewa Villages, Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point), a member of the House Select Committee on COVID-19. "Now that the FAA and DOT have cleared the way, the sky's the limit." Both representatives Ward and McDermott released a publication this week to the House Select Committee on COVID-19 entitled "Making Hawaii Safe for Travel." It outlines the full COVID-19 testing procedures, its logic, and practical applications to restart Hawaii's visitor industry without creating a second wave. “Bottom line: Today is great news for Hawaii. It shows we’re on the right track to reopen our economy safely and in the best interest of our communities," they concluded.

Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami said that beaches will reopen Friday, May 15. This will be a two-week pilot program under Mayor’s Emergency Rule 8, which was approved by Governor David Ige. Rule 8 allows people to utilize the beach under certain  restrictions designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Mayor Kawakami also signed Emergency Rule 9, which will extend the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers through the month of June. Those traveling for health care purposes, as long as they wear appropriate protective gear and keep social distance, are exempt from the quarantine. Those traveling to perform critical infrastructure work, as identified in the Governor’s proclamation, are still subject to the quarantine but are allowed to break quarantine only to perform those essential work functions. “We have taken temporary control over the coronavirus with our aggressive restrictions, and we feel we can begin to ease them in a responsible manner,” said Mayor Kawakami. “That said, the risk of the virus returning is most clearly associated with incoming travelers, whether residents or visitors, so we feel it is necessary to extend the mandatory quarantine.”
Emergency Rule 8 allows more casual beach use with the following limitations:
- Every group should be a part of the same household and should not exceed 10 people
- Everyone on the beach who aren’t a part of the same household will have to social distance, with the exception of caregivers escorting a dependent
- Beaches or sand area may only be used a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset unless a person is engaged in shoreline fishing or permitted outdoor exercise; and
- All other restrictions found in the governors Safer at Home order must be followed, such as quarantine restrictions

“In order for us to continue to reopen our businesses and activities while keeping each other safe, we all must exercise self-discipline to follow CDC guidelines of social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and cleaning surfaces often,” urged Mayor Kawakami. As a reminder, all individuals in the State of Hawaii are subject to Governor Ige’s emergency proclamations and Safer at Home order. Governor Ige is in favor of Mayor Kawakami’s order, and is in favor of giving Hawaii’s county mayors authority with his approval. “I do personally support that and we continue to work with the mayors to identify the conditions they see in their counties and allow them to make adjustments as appropriate.” Governor Ige said. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has a similar plan in the works, pending approval from health experts. “We learned this afternoon about Kauai’s plan to initiate a pilot program to open beaches to people from a single-family unit, and that the Governor approved such a plan. We are interested in looking into a similar initiative on Oahu. We plan to run it by our medical panel tomorrow afternoon because making sure the health and safety of the public is taken into account is paramount. If the panel agrees this plan is safe for Oahu, we will then seek the approval of the governor to implement this plan on a pilot basis.” Mayor Caldwell said. To view the governor's proclamations and the Mayor’s emergency rules, visit the KEMA website, www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.

Kauai police will once again join New Hope Līhue to serve free breakfast meals.

Volunteers will be distributing 600 meals on a first come, first served basis.

Come grab some yummy food from 9 to 9:30am at Puakea Golf Course. 
They got something special for Moms too in celebration of Mother’s Day (for the first 100 cars).