In May 2020, Hawaii hotels statewide continued to report substantially lower revenue per available room (RevPAR), average daily rate (ADR), and occupancy compared to May 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Tourism Research Division, statewide RevPAR decreased to $18 (-91.1%), ADR fell to $127 (-50.4%), and occupancy declined to 14.2 percent (-64.9 percentage points) (Figure 1) in May. The report’s findings utilized data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands. In May, Hawaii hotel room revenues statewide fell by 95.5 percent to $15.4 million. Room supply was 48.9 percent lower year-over-year (819,800 room nights) and room demand dropped to 121,300 room nights (-90.8%) (Figure 2). Many properties closed or reduced operations starting in April 2020. Since March 26, all passengers arriving from out-of-state were required to abide by a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. The quarantine order was expanded on April 1 to include interisland travelers. All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported lower RevPAR, ADR and occupancy in May compared to a year ago. Performance data for Luxury Class properties were not available for May due to property closures. 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. Data for the month of May was not available for Maui’s luxury resort region of Wailea. The Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua region had RevPAR of $4 (-98.1%), ADR of $70 (-76.1%), and occupancy at 5.8 percent (-69.5 percentage points). Oahu hotels reported a 90.4 percent drop in RevPAR to $18 in May. ADR decreased to $136 (-39.2%) and occupancy declined to 13.1 percent (-69.9 percentage points). Waikiki hotels earned $12 (-93.6%) in RevPAR with ADR at $129 (-41.7%) and occupancy of 9.2 percent (-74.3 percentage points). Hotels on the island of Hawaii earned RevPAR of $22 (-86.7%) in May, with declines in both occupancy (19.3 percent, -52.4 percentage points) and ADR ($116, -50.5%). Data for the month of May was not available for the Kohala Coast. Kauai hotels’ RevPAR fell to $19 (-89.9%) in May, with lower ADR ($125, -51.8%) and occupancy (14.9 percent, -56.3 percentage points). About the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report The Hawaii Hotel Performance Report is produced using hotel survey data compiled by STR, Inc., the largest survey of its kind in Hawaii. The survey generally excludes properties with under 20 lodging units, such as small bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, single-family vacation rentals, cottages, individually rented vacation condominiums and sold timeshare units no longer available for hotel use. The data has been weighted both geographically and by class of property to compensate for any over and/or under representation of hotel survey participants by location and type. For May, the survey included 81 properties representing 18,306 rooms, or 34.1 percent of all lodging properties and 66.3 percent of operating lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the Hawaiian Islands, including full service, limited service, and condominium hotels. PRINT REPORT Tables of hotel performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/infrastructure-research/

In June 2020, Hawaii hotels statewide reported substantial declines in revenue per available room (RevPAR), average daily rate (ADR), and occupancy compared to June 2019 as tourism continued to be impacted significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Research Division, statewide RevPAR decreased to $25 (-89.3%), ADR fell to $162 (-42.4%), and occupancy declined to 15.6 percent (-68.3 percentage points) (Figure 1) in June. The report’s findings utilized data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands. In June, Hawaii hotel room revenues statewide fell by 94.2 percent to $22.3 million. Room demand was 89.9 percent lower than the same period last year. Room supply decreased by 45.6 percent year-over-year (Figure 2). Many properties closed or reduced operations starting in April. Since March 26, all passengers arriving from out-of-state were required to abide by a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. The quarantine order was expanded on April 1 to include interisland travelers; the interisland quarantine ended on June 15. All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR losses in June compared to a year ago. Luxury Class properties earned RevPAR of $26 (-94.0%), with ADR of $335 (-39.5%) and occupancy at 7.9 percent (-72.1 percentage points). Upper Midscale Class properties earned slightly higher RevPAR ($29, -79.8%) than Luxury Class hotels due to comparatively higher occupancy at 18.6 percent (-67.9 percentage points). All of Hawaii’s four island counties reported lower RevPAR and occupancy. Hotels on the island of Hawaii led the state in June RevPAR at $37 (-80.8%), with occupancy of 26.9 percent (-51.5 percentage points) and ADR at $139 (-44.1%). Maui County hotels had the lowest June RevPAR at $16 (-95.1%), with ADR of $218 (-44.7%) and occupancy at 7.2 percent (-73.5 percentage points). Oahu hotels reported $25 (-88.2%) for RevPAR in June, with ADR at $164 (-32.5%) and occupancy of 15.4 percent (-72.5 percentage points). Waikiki hotels earned $20 (-90.3%) in RevPAR with ADR at $164 (-30.8%) and occupancy of 12.4 percent (-75.8 percentage points). Kauai hotels earned RevPAR of $29 (-86.0%) in June, with ADR at $149 (-46.7%) and occupancy of 19.6 percent (-54.7 percentage points). First Half of 2020 Through the first six months of 2020, Hawaii hotels statewide reported modest ADR growth and lower occupancy, which resulted in lower RevPAR compared to the first half of 2019. Statewide RevPAR declined to $144 (-35.9%), with ADR of $291 (+3.9%) and occupancy of 49.7 percent (-30.8 percentage points) (Figure 8). Year-to-date performance was the result of a strong first quarter countered by a very weak second quarter. In the first half of 2020, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 50.6 percent to $1.09 billion compared to the $2.21 billion earned in the first half of 2019. There were approximately 2.2 million fewer available room nights (-22.9%) and approximately 4.1 million fewer occupied room nights (-52.4%) compared to a year ago (Figure 9). Many hotel properties across the state were closed or had rooms out of service due to COVID-19 impacts. Other properties were already closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation. All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported lower RevPAR, higher ADR, and occupancy declines in the first half of 2020. Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $317 (-26.0%), with ADR of $615 (+9.4%) and occupancy of 51.6 percent (-24.7 percentage points). At the other end of the price scale, Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $94 (-35.2%), with ADR of $175 (+0.02%) and occupancy of 53.4 percent (-29.0 percentage points). Comparison to Top U.S. Markets In comparison to top U.S. markets during the first half of 2020, the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest RevPAR at $144 followed by the Miami/Hialeah market at $126 (-27.1%) and San Francisco/San Mateo at $98 (-52.7%) (Figure 10). Hawaii also led the U.S. markets in ADR at $291 followed by Miami/Hialeah and San Francisco/San Mateo (Figure 11). Miami/Hialeah topped the country in occupancy at 54.5 percent (-25.1 percentage points), followed by New York and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida (Figure 12). The Hawaiian Islands ranked eighth for occupancy. Hotel Results for Hawaii's Four Counties Hotel properties in Hawaii’s four island counties all reported RevPAR decreases in the first half of 2020. Maui County hotels led the state overall in RevPAR at $218 (-31.1%), with ADR at $444 (+10.0%) and occupancy of 49.2 percent (-29.3 percentage points). Kauai hotels earned RevPAR of $135 (-34.4%), with ADR at $294 (+2.8%) and occupancy of 46.1 percent (-26.0 percentage points). Hotels on the island of Hawaii reported a decline in RevPAR to $139 (-32.0%), with ADR at $277 (+4.2%) and occupancy of 50.2 percent (-26.7 percentage points). Oahu hotels earned RevPAR of $118 (-39.1%), with ADR at $235 (+0.8%) and occupancy of 50.3 percent (-32.9 percentage points). Comparison to International Markets When compared to international “sun and sea” destinations, Hawaii’s counties were in the upper half of the group for RevPAR in the first half of 2020. Hotels in the Maldives ranked highest in RevPAR at $292 (-29.8%) followed by Maui County, the island of Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu (Figure 13). Data were not available for Aruba and French Polynesia. The Maldives also led in ADR at $744 (+25.3%) in the first half of 2020, followed by Maui County. Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively (Figure 14). Oahu led in occupancy for sun and sea destinations in the first half of the year, followed by the island of Hawaii, Maui County and Kauai (Figure 15). About the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report The Hawaii Hotel Performance Report is produced using hotel survey data compiled by STR, Inc., the largest survey of its kind in Hawaii. The survey generally excludes properties with under 20 lodging units, such as small bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, single-family vacation rentals, cottages, individually rented vacation condominiums and sold timeshare units no longer available for hotel use. The data has been weighted both geographically and by class of property to compensate for any over and/or under representation of hotel survey participants by location and type. For June, the survey included 79 properties representing 19,200 rooms, or 35.8 percent of all lodging properties and 65.3 percent of operating lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the Hawaiian Islands, including full service, limited service, and condominium hotels. PRINT REPORT Tables of hotel performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/infrastructure-research/

In May 2020, the total monthly supply of statewide vacation rentals was 326,200 unit nights (-64.8%) and monthly demand was 30,600 unit nights (-95.3%), resulting in an average monthly unit occupancy of 9.4 percent (-61.7 percentage points) (Figure 1). In comparison, Hawaii’s hotels were 14.2 percent occupied in May 2020. It is important to note that unlike hotels, condominium hotels, and timeshare resorts, vacation rental units are not necessarily available year-round or each day of the month and often accommodate a larger number of guests than traditional hotel rooms. The unit average daily rate (ADR) for vacation rental units statewide in May was $185, which was higher than the ADR for hotels ($127). On April 7, City & County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell was the first mayor in the state to announce that short-term rentals are deemed as non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 emergency and may not operate. The other county mayors followed with similar orders. Maui County and Hawaii County’s emergency rules, however, allowed short-term rentals to operate if they housed essential workers. Vacation rentals were not on the state’s list of essential businesses during May 2020. Also in May, the majority of flights to Hawaii were cancelled because of COVID-19. As of March 26, all passengers arriving from out-of-state were required to abide by a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. The quarantine order was expanded on April 1 to include interisland travelers. HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by Transparent Intelligence, Inc. The data in this report specifically excludes units reported in HTA’s Hawaii Hotel Performance Report and Hawaii Timeshare Quarterly Survey Report. In this report, a vacation rental is defined as the use of a rental house, condominium unit, private room in private home, or shared room/space in private home. This report also does not determine or differentiate between units that are permitted or unpermitted. The “legality” of any given vacation rental unit is determined on a county basis. Island Highlights In May, Oahu had the largest vacation rental supply of all four counties with 120,800 unit nights (-61.6%). Unit demand was 11,300 unit nights (-95.0%), resulting in 9.3 percent occupancy (-62.5 percentage points) and an ADR of $148 (-47.3%). Oahu hotels were 13.1 percent occupied with an ADR of $136. Maui County vacation rental supply in May was 104,800 unit nights, which was a decrease of 62.9 percent compared to a year ago. Unit demand was 7,500 unit nights (-96.5%), resulting in 7.2 percent occupancy (-68.9 percentage points) with an ADR of $243 (-38.7%). Maui County hotels were 12.6 percent occupied with an ADR of $117. There were 74,200 available unit nights (-65.4%) on the island of Hawaii in May. Unit demand was 7,700 unit nights (-94.2%), resulting in 10.3 percent occupancy (-51.0 percentage points) with an ADR of $144 (-48.7%). Hawaii Island hotels were 19.3 percent occupied with an ADR of $116. Kauai had the fewest number of available unit nights in May at 26,400 (-77.1%). Unit demand was 4,200 unit nights (-95.2%), resulting in 15.7 percent occupancy (-59.0 percentage points) with an ADR of $259 (-43.4%). Kauai hotels were 14.9 percent occupied with an ADR of $125. About the Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report The Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report is produced using data compiled by Transparent Intelligence, Inc., which was selected by the Hawaii Tourism Authority as the provider for these data services. The report includes data for properties that are listed on Airbnb, Booking.com, HomeAway, and TripAdvisor. Data for units included in HTA’s Hawaii Hotel Performance Report and Hawaii Timeshare Quarterly Report have been excluded from the Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report. This report also does not determine or differentiate between units that are permitted or unpermitted. The “legality” of any given vacation rental unit is determined on a county basis. For May 2020, the report included data for 33,951 units, representing 55,578 bedrooms in the Hawaiian Islands. Tables of vacation rental performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/infrastructure-research/

In June 2020, the total monthly supply of statewide vacation rentals was 339,400 unit nights (-61.5%) and monthly demand was 46,700 unit nights (-92.8%), resulting in an average monthly unit occupancy of 13.8 percent (-59.8 percentage points) (Figure 1). In comparison, Hawaii’s hotels were 15.6 percent occupied in June 2020. It is important to note that unlike hotels, condominium hotels, timeshare resorts and vacation rental units are not necessarily available year-round or each day of the month and often accommodate a larger number of guests than traditional hotel rooms. The unit average daily rate (ADR) for vacation rental units statewide in June was $207, which was higher than the ADR for hotels ($162). Vacation rentals were not on the state’s list of essential businesses at the beginning of June. In Governor David Ige’s Ninth Supplementary Proclamation, signed on June 10, host responsibility was added, which means that hosts are responsible for ensuring their guest(s) abides by the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. The county mayors then enacted their own rules regarding short-term rentals. On Oahu, short-term rentals (rented for less than 30 days) were not allowed to operate during June. For Hawaii Island, Kauai and Maui County, legal short-term rentals were allowed to operate as long as they were not being used as a quarantine location. Also in June, the majority of flights to Hawaii were cancelled because of COVID-19. As of March 26, all passengers arriving from out-of-state were required to abide by the self-quarantine. The quarantine order was expanded on April 1 to include interisland travelers; the interisland quarantine ended on June 15. HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by Transparent Intelligence, Inc. The data in this report specifically excludes units reported in HTA’s Hawaii Hotel Performance Report and Hawaii Timeshare Quarterly Survey Report. In this report, a vacation rental is defined as the use of a rental house, condominium unit, private room in private home, or shared room/space in private home. This report also does not determine or differentiate between units that are permitted or unpermitted. The “legality” of any given vacation rental unit is determined on a county basis. Island Highlights In June, Oahu had the largest vacation rental supply of all four counties with 110,700 unit nights (-62.9%). Unit demand was 12,200 unit nights (-94.5%), resulting in 11.0 percent occupancy (-63.9 percentage points) and an ADR of $155 (-46.8%). Oahu hotels were 15.4 percent occupied with an ADR of $164. Maui County vacation rental supply in June was 106,900 unit nights, which was a decrease of 60.5 percent compared to a year ago. Unit demand was 12,200 unit nights (-94.2%), resulting in 11.4 percent occupancy (-66.4 percentage points) with an ADR of $245 (-37.1%). Maui County hotels were 7.2 percent occupied with an ADR of $218. There were 83,100 available unit nights (-58.6%) on the island of Hawaii in June. Unit demand was 13,400 unit nights (-89.7%), resulting in 16.1 percent occupancy (-48.5 percentage points) with an ADR of $166 (-42.7%). Hawaii Island hotels were 26.9 percent occupied with an ADR of $139. Kauai had the fewest number of available unit nights in June at 38,700 (-65.1%). Unit demand was 9,000 unit nights (-89.4%), resulting in 23.2 percent occupancy (-52.7 percentage points) with an ADR of $288 (-38.7%). Kauai hotels were 19.6 percent occupied with an ADR of $149. About the Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report The Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report is produced using data compiled by Transparent Intelligence, Inc., which was selected by the Hawaii Tourism Authority as the provider for these data services. The report includes data for properties that are listed on Airbnb, Booking.com, HomeAway, and TripAdvisor. Data for units included in HTA’s Hawaii Hotel Performance Report and Hawaii Timeshare Quarterly Report have been excluded from the Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Report. This report also does not determine or differentiate between units that are permitted or unpermitted. The “legality” of any given vacation rental unit is determined on a county basis. For June 2020, the report included data for 14,604 units, representing 25,479 bedrooms in the Hawaiian Islands. Tables of vacation rental performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/infrastructure-research/

Gov. David Ige has appointed Cathy Betts to serve as director of the Department of Human Services (DHS). Betts will replace Pankaj Bhanot who is stepping down as the department’s director for health and family reasons on Aug. 31, 2020. Betts has served as deputy director at DHS since Oct. 2017, assisting the director and managing and overseeing operations. She previously served as executive director for the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women; as deputy attorney general with the State of Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General; as a law clerk in the First Circuit Court; as a community outreach worker/education coordinator for The Sex Abuse Treatment Center at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children; and as an attorney in private practice. Betts is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. “Cathy has the experience and expertise necessary to successfully lead the Department of Human Services during a very difficult and critical period. I have every confidence that she will serve our residents and our state well,” said Gov. Ige. “I am beyond honored and grateful for this opportunity to lead the Department of Human Services. I thank the governor for having confidence in my ability to lead with vision, empathy, and understanding for staff and the diverse communities we serve. I will continue to diligently work on our collective vision for the department: that families in Hawai‘i are healthy, safe, and have the ability to thrive. I look forward to continuing this good work throughout the state and with our many respected community stakeholders,” said Betts. Betts replaces Bhanot, who has served as DHS director since Sept. 2016 and dedicated 20-plus years to public service. “Pankaj’s commitment to our community and his passion for providing a voice for those who need help, benefited countless people across our state. He will surely be missed. I wish him and his family the best always,” said Gov. Ige. Betts assumes the role of DHS director on Sept. 1. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

THE SENATE THE THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE INTERIM OF 2020 SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair Senator Michelle N. Kidani, Member Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Member Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Member Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Member Senator Kurt Fevella, Member NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING DATE: Thursday, August 6, 2020 TIME: 2:00 p.m. PLACE: Conference Room 211 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street THE STATE CAPITOL IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE ONGOING COVID-19 EPIDEMIC A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available online. Selected hearings will also be broadcast live on ‘Ōlelo Community Media. Click here for the live stream of this meeting (link available shortly before the scheduled start time). A G E N D A The special committee will convene to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State's current and future airport procedures, as well as the State's COVID-19 testing and contact tracing capacity The special committee will be meeting with the following: Department of the Attorney General - Ms. Clare Connors, Attorney General Department of Transportation – Airports Division - Mr. Ross Higashi, Deputy Director - Mr. Ford Fuchigami, Administrator Department of Health - Dr. Bruce Anderson, Director - Dr. Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist - Dr. Edward Desmond, State Laboratories Administrator No public testimony will be accepted. The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you require other auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., interpretive services (oral or written) or ASL interpreter), please contact the committee clerk at least 24 hours prior to the hearing so that arrangements can be made. FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808) 586-6800.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced that Governor David Ige has approved the City and County of Honolulu’s amended order that limits indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than ten people, regardless of household/living unit affiliation. This is effective immediately. It also specifically restricts funerals and other death related events to ten people (consistent with the limit on gatherings). Both indoors and outdoors, groups of ten must keep a physical distance of at least six feet between members of different households, face coverings must be worn in accordance with the Order, and mingling between separate social gatherings is prohibited. “Right now we’re facing a massive challenge to get this virus back under control and we don’t want to go back to where we were in March,” said Mayor Caldwell. “The goal here is to keep as much of our island open and running as possible, but in a way that’s safe. For example, instead of closing down facilities like parks, where people can exercise outdoors, we’re trying to control the size of gatherings in those parks. We’re trying to move forward in a way where we can avoid taking any major steps backwards. The only way we do this is with everyone doing their part.” A signed version of Emergency Order No. 2020-22 (Amended and Restated Ho‘oulu i Honolulu – Restore Honolulu 5.0), can be found at Honolulu.gov. If you have any questions on Mayor Caldwell’s Ho‘oulu i Honolulu Order 5.0, the City and County of Honolulu COVID-19 information call center remains open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. O‘ahu residents are encouraged to visit the website, oneoahu.org to get answers to frequently asked questions. If they do not find an answer to their questions on the site, residents can call the 768-CITY (2489) information hotline or email covidresponse@honolulu.gov.

TRIPLE DIGIT CORONAVIRUS CASE COUNTS CONTINUE INTO A SECOND WEEK Delayed Lab Results Contribute but Lack of Safe Practices is Major Factor The highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases is being reported by the Dept. of Health today, at 207. Approximately 114 of these cases are the result of delayed reporting over the weekend, a result of private clinical laboratory reporting issues. Health Director Bruce Anderson said, “It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to detail all of the situations in which people are becoming infected with coronavirus. It runs the whole gamut of hanging out with close friends, socializing in bars, attending religious events and funerals, and many other types other social gatherings. This virus does not discriminate on who it infects and the only way to prevent its spread is to limit exposure to others by using face coverings, physical distancing and avoiding gatherings and crowded places. Unfortunately, Hawai‘i is experiencing spikes in cases similar to many mainland states, and in most cases, we can track new infections back to those who have let down their guard. Everyone needs to take this very seriously.” Many beaches on Oahu were as crowded as they were before the COVID outbreak. On Maui, Little Beach in Makena State Park was less crowded than normal. This was likely the result of social media postings that suggested law enforcement would be on scene to break up so-called drum circles. Health investigations have traced at least one case in a person who recently attended a drum circle. With an estimated 100 people on the beach for sunset at Makena and the rising of the full moon, there were no masks in evidence and there appeared to be little, if any, physical distancing between groups of people. The scene here was repeated on beaches and in parks across the state. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) reports receiving numerous complaints over the weekend of people, particularly in State Parks, not abiding by state and county emergency rules. This includes multiple complaints about people on small boats not following the required rules. “As long as individuals in our communities fail to accept personal responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, we are unfortunately going to see continued days of triple digit numbers,” said Anderson. “This already has resulted in the renewal of restrictions on large social gatherings and other conditions and is likely going to lead to additional ones.” Last week saw day-after-day of new record numbers, with most of the new infections being diagnosed in Honolulu. Today, 198 of the 207 cases are from O‘ahu, with seven (7) on Maui and two (2) on Hawai‘i Island. Anderson concluded, “We are once again, as we have from the beginning of this crisis, asking every resident of Hawai‘i to take this threat with the utmost seriousness. Life, as we knew it, pre-COVID-19, cannot return to normal until we again flatten the infection curve. It takes everyone doing their part by following the simple and now-common steps: wear your mask, physically distance, wash your hands frequently and, perhaps most important, stay home if sick. With everyone’s kōkua, we can get back to where we were and enjoy all the good things life in Hawai‘i has to offer.” RESOURCES (All images/video: Courtesy-Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center) HD video – Little Beach, Makena State Park, SOT with Larry Pacheco, Maui Superintendent, DLNR Division of State Parks (August 2, 2020): https://vimeo.com/444356579 Photographs – Little Beach, Makena State Park (August 2, 2020) https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tefb82wvn3mnyyw/AABgZ8CnjnrkP8s0NCPsN_7ba?dl=0

Updated Public Health Emergency Rules have been posted on the County of Maui website: “Public Health Emergency Rules, Amended July 31, 2020” The update is titled “Public Health Emergency Rules, Amended July 31, 2020.” It can be found under “COVID-19 Coronavirus Information.” The revised rules took effect July 31 and include a limit of indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than 10 people. Face coverings are required, and physical distancing of at least 6 feet between separate groups must be maintained. Businesses and places of worship will still be allowed to function under existing County and State rules. Businesses such as restaurants, bars and beauty salons must continue to follow health and safety guidelines outlined in the emergency rules. The Public Health Emergency Rules lay out best practices for the most effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. Violations of the rules are punishable as a misdemeanor, with fines of up to $5,000, up to a year in jail, or both.

Governor’s Office: Governor Addresses Spike in Cases, Gives Update on Contact-Tracing Capacity Gov. Ige held a news briefing Monday after DOH reported another spike in COVID-19 cases. A total of 207 cases were announced today, although 114 of those cases are due to delayed test results. The governor pointed out it is a result of community spread and that people have been relaxing and letting their guard down. He also gave an update on contact tracers in the state, providing assurances that despite concerns, DOH has enough contact tracers trained to handle the number of cases. Gov. Ige said, “The number of contact tracers currently on staff are managing today’s demands. The DOH is activating more contact tracers to handle the expected increase in cases.” He also pointed out the National Guard has 60 contact tracers available to assist at a moment’s notice and scale up on contact-tracing capacity. However, the governor and DOH have both noted that contact tracing isn’t a substitute for safe practices, such as physical distancing and wearing masks, that prevent the spread of the virus. In his briefing Gov. Ige said, “As we re-opened, many people have relaxed their vigilance and this new surge is a result. If we don’t get this surge under control, we may need to put back some restrictions and no one wants to see that. We can only beat COVID-19 by working together. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility. Wear a mask, wash your hands, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, stay home if you’re sick, and keep your children home if they feel sick. We were successful in keeping the virus under control and I know we can do it again.” Department of Health: Triple Digit Coronavirus Case Counts Continue into a Second Week The highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases is being reported by the Dept. of Health today, at 207. Approximately 114 of these cases are the result of delayed reporting over the weekend, a result of private clinical laboratory reporting issues. Health Director Bruce Anderson said, “It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to detail all of the situations in which people are becoming infected with coronavirus. It runs the whole gamut of hanging out with close friends, socializing in bars, attending religious events and funerals, and many other types other social gatherings. This virus does not discriminate on who it infects and the only way to prevent its spread is to limit exposure to others by using face coverings, physical distancing and avoiding gatherings and crowded places. Unfortunately, Hawai‘i is experiencing spikes in cases similar to many mainland states, and in most cases, we can track new infections back to those who have let down their guard. Everyone needs to take this very seriously.” Read more: https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/hawaii-covid-19-joint-information-center-news-release-triple-digit-coronavirus-case/ Hawai‘i Tourism Authority: 2,977 Passengers Arrive on Sunday Yesterday, a total of 2,977 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 713 visitors and 1,083 returning residents. There were a total of 29 arriving flights. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday but does not show interisland travel. Monday https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5008/080320-passenger-count-press-release.pdf Sunday https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5007/080220-passenger-count-press-release.pdf Saturday https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5004/080120-passenger-count-press-release.pdf Department of Land and Natural Resources: Beach Crowding & Violation of Safe Boating Rules Continues Many beaches on Oʻahu were as crowded as they were before the COVID outbreak. On Maui, Little Beach in Makena State Park was less crowded than normal. This was likely the result of social media postings that suggested law enforcement would be on scene to break up so-called drum circles. Health investigations have traced at least one case in a person who recently attended a drum circle. With an estimated 100 people on the beach for sunset at Makena and the rising of the full moon, there were no masks in evidence and there appeared to be little, if any, physical distancing between groups of people. The scene here was repeated on beaches and in parks across the state. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) reports receiving numerous complaints over the weekend of people, particularly in State Parks, not abiding by state and county emergency rules. This includes multiple complaints about people on small boats not following the required rules. “As long as individuals in our communities fail to accept personal responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, we are unfortunately going to see continued days of triple digit numbers,” said Anderson. “This already has resulted in the renewal of restrictions on large social gatherings and other conditions and is likely going to lead to additional ones.”