LIHU‘E – Bars and short-term rentals will be allowed to reopen on June 16 to people not subject to quarantine.
The next move in Kaua‘i’s reopening was announced Wednesday, after Governor David Ige approved Kaua‘i’s proposed Emergency Rule 12, submitted by Mayor Derek Kawakami on Tuesday.
Ige also announced that he will be removing the 14-day quarantine for interisland travel on June 16, however he has extended the two week quarantine for trans-Pacific travelers through July 31.
Ige said airports will be equipped with thermal screening which will also begin on June 16. People with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed to fly.
“Lifting the interisland travel quarantine is possible because of the low case levels on all islands,” said Ige in a Wednesday announcement.
According to Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information center, a new travel website and interisland travel form will be available in the next few days.
Mayor Derek Kawakami explained Wednesday that Rule 12 reopens bars and bartops, with pandemic-related caveats, and said “local residents and interisland travelers would be allowed to stay in a TVR beginning June 16. Those subject to quarantine would need to complete their quarantine in a hotel or motel.”
At Kaua‘i Banyan Inn in Lawai, owner Lorna Hoff and her husband have been waiting to welcome guests back to their homestay operation. They’ve been closed since the pandemic started and blocked off bookings from April through June.
“I have people on the books for August, but we just started blocking off in March when we knew this was going to happen,” said Hoff. “Its been tough, because we are retired but we understand the importance of cleaning and waiting it out.”
The couple started Kaua‘i Banyan Inn in 2004, when no homestay licensing was available, and were licensed last year, following updated permitting processes for homestays — owner-occupied vacation rentals. The couple lives on property full-time and have been in business for 20 years.
A woman in her 70’s Hoff said she’s lived on Kaua‘i for 53 years and plans to follow sanitizing and other COVID-19 protocols when officials allow their business to resume, not only to protect her guests and community, put also to protect herself. Living on the property provides the advantage of being able to frequently monitor cleaning and other pandemic precautions. She said: “It’s a matter of being cautious.”
Even though Hoff is excited to hear the great news, she said she will take her time and maybe open in July instead of August.
And in the meantime, Hoff has been doing upkeep work and odd jobs around the property get her property up to par before reopening and taking the time to focus on her own health.
“Even though it got approved, I will still need five weeks to get ready and I have my knee surgery coming up. Currently, there are rooms being painted (and) totally cleaned,” said Hoff. “I bought touch free thermometers (and) before anyone can enter, there will be special mounted hand sanitizer stations, more than a hotel would do.”
Hoff said Kauai Banyan Inn doesn’t serve breakfast — usually just juice in the mornings — but she and her husband are waiting to see what standards are attached to the proposed Rule 12 before making decisions on serving food and drinks.
The proposed Mayor’s Rule 12, will also reopen bars and bar top service, subject to safety precautions.
Verde restaurant in Lihu‘e is not sure yet if they will reopen their bar area. The restaurant’s dining room is open under the current social distancing and cleaning rules, but their bar isn’t open yet.
“When we find out the standards or guidelines, we will discuss it, as of right now the bar area remains closed,” said Manager Kristin Yanagawa.
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Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
