LIHU‘E — Pending Gov. David Ige’s blessing, Kaua‘i County is hoping on June 1 to allow the reconvening of outdoor team sports, the reopening of gyms and fitness centers, the resumption of dine-in restaurant service, and the reopening of personal services, such as spas.
Mayor Derek Kawakami announced the proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule No. 11, with has been submitted to the governor’s office for approval and doesn’t go into effect until Ige gives the plan the OK.
The rule would kick off the next phase of reopening businesses and activities on June 1, as long as the Centers for Disease Control Industry Guidelines and Department of Health Safe Practices can be implemented and followed at all times.
The new rule would allow for the reopening and resumption of the following activities:
• Indoor exercise facilities, including gyms, fitness centers and recreation facilities
• Outdoor spaces, including playgrounds, skate parks, parks and playgrounds. Just like our beach rule, any gathering at a park or pavilion must be limited to a single residential or family unit, in a group no more than 10.
• Organized, outdoor team sports
• Personal services, such as spas
• Dine-in restaurant service, provided that the Department of Health “Guidance for Reopening Food Services Sector” can be strictly followed.
• Musicians and bands may also perform in restaurants as long as the performers maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from all restaurant patrons and staff, and are socially distant from fellow performers by at least 6 feet. It is recommended that performers be outdoors, if possible, and performers who can, wear masks.
According to a county spokesperson, organized team sports are defined as sports that have an association, such as AYSO, Pop Warner or Lihue Baseball League, which all require Parks permits to use county facilities for practice.
Those sports can resume, however as part of the county permitting process, the county will be requiring an operational plan from the association to ensure they are implementing health and safety protocols. The spokesperson said the Office of the Mayor will explain the permitting process in more detail in coming days.
For organized team sports that don’t necessarily require a county Parks permit, such as outrigger paddling, the club or association would be responsible for ensuring guidelines are followed.
Under the new proposed Rule 11, casual pick-up games at county parks are not yet allowed, but people in the same household, in a group of less than 10, are welcome to use outdoor parks to play or exercise, or just hang out.
High school sports are not included under the proposed Rule 11, as they have their own association rules.
“Again, Mayor’s Rule 11 requires the Governor’s signature of approval, but with the Governor’s approval, we look forward to those businesses and activities resuming on June 1,” Kawakami said in a Wednesday public address, adding that he and his team hope to have a status update on the proposal today.
