LIHU‘E — Gov. David Ige has signed into effect a temporary pause of the Safe Travels program for Kaua‘i.
Mayor Derek Kawakami sent a proposal to Ige on Monday requesting the short-term opt-out, effective Wednesday, Dec. 2, after reporting a spike in both travel-related and community transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus.
Beginning Wednesday, any traveler coming into Kaua‘i will be required to quarantine, “regardless of a pre-travel test result,” Kawakami.
“A single, pre-travel test has not adequately protected our island from the rapid spread in virus,” Kawakami said in his COVID-19 briefing video Friday.
“The unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases on the mainland and the rise in community spread on Kaua‘i are of significant concern for the Garden Isle. We must protect Kaua‘i residents and visitors and ensure that Kaua‘i’s hospitals do not become overwhelmed,” Ige said Friday. “Kaua‘i county currently has the fewest number of ICU beds in the state, and private providers are seeking ways to increase capacity. This moratorium aims to stabilize the situation on Kaua‘i.”
The rule is in effect for those traveling into the county, no matter if they are coming from a neighbor island, the Mainland or an international location. The rule, effective Dec. 2 at 12:01 a.m., has no timeframe of when it will dissolve and is subject to modification, according to the rule itself.
Residents will be allowed to quarantine at their residence, but visitors will need to stay at a resort bubble. The county has partnered with Cliffs at Princeville, Hilton Garden Inn, Koa Kea, Kukuiula and Timbers. Through this program, visitors will be required to wear bracelets that track their movements but be able to utilize resort amenities like on-site restaurants and spas.
Friday, the county reported two new cases of COVID-19, including one adult resident and one adult visitor, both linked to travel. One individual had a negative pre-travel test, according to the county.
Kaua‘i currently has 18 active cases and 95 people in health department-directed quarantine.
To date, the county has seen 127 cases, 112 confirmed locally, one probable case and 14 that received positive test results after arrival to the island.
The Safe Travels program allows travelers to bypass a mandatory 14-day quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test through a trusted partner within 72 hours of arrival into the state.
In the period from March to Oct. 14, the county recorded 61 cases. Since the state’s Oct. 15 reopening, the county has recorded 62 coronavirus cases. Eight of these has have been attributed to community transmission and 49 linked to travel.
The temporary opt-out is one of three local rules Kawakami has sent up to Ige in the past month, and the second to be approved. Another rule, to require the pre-travel test results prior to boarding a flight or face the two-week quarantine was adopted by the state.
A third rule, which would have required a three-day quarantine and mandatory post-arrival test was not approved or denied. Without a negative test, the traveler would have to remain in quarantine for an additional 11 days. This is similar to a post-arrival test plan proposed prior to the Oct. 15 reopening that was denied by the state.
That’s unfortunate. In the direction of economic collapse we go. Crazy that they are only giving travelers flying in Tuesday one business day to cancel their plans.
TERRIBLE TERRIBLE DECISION. THE ECONOMY IS ALREADY COMPLETELY TATTERED BECAUSE OF YOU, AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. I didn’t know we lived in a dictatorship but I guess we do. Since when do you know what is best for me and my family?? What about the small businesses??? Derek you act like my 6 year old. When you don’t get what you want to cry until you get it. Makes me sick. You know what else makes me sick? You, you dictating SOB. Last time I checked, its a virus. YOU CANT GET RID OF IT YOU MORON!
The irony….
The alternative is to wait until our limit health care facilities are overwhelmed as they are in many mainland cities and then experience a lock down of the entire island. The governor refused to approve the most logical plan of a test prior to the flight and a second test after three days quarantine. Does anyone know why??
Does the rule go into effect Tuesday or Wednesday!! Look at your article it says 2 different things.
The right step for the island.
Now letâs find a sensible way to truly allow people to Safely some to the island. A negative test before getting on the plane, a quarantine period and a second definitive test at the end of quarantine. The CDC is suggesting that a quarantine period of 7 to 10 days with two tests may be sufficient. We should move to that as it is established. Hopefully, the rest of Hawaii will adopt a similar standard. This would allow us to travel interisland freely.
We should take this pause to eliminate community spread. The ill conceived “Safe Travels” program means we have the disease IN OUR LOCAL POPULATION. Even with stopping the introduction of new infections from the mainland, cases are going to increase for the next two weeks and we should not be discouraged. If we all behave well, wear our masks, socially distance and practice good hygiene, we will be able to bring things under control in 2 -4 weeks If we assume “no tourists, no COVID”, we are going to continue to grow our case levels. With the travel quarantine, WE will have the ability and responsibility to control and eliminate the virus. But it requires short term discipline for a long term result of being able to live relatively normally until vaccines are widely distributed.
We need to solidify our testing and contact tracing. We need to increase our hospital capacity if possible. We need to develop a science based plan for reopening the island as the virus scenario evolves over the coming months.
Most importantly we need to care for each other. Prioritize other’s health and well being. Help others get through these tough financial times.
Easy to tell you are a doctor, who makes his living on disease and being a drug dealer for the pharmaceutical industry.
More $$$ for doctors: increase hospital beds as disease increases,
Bring on the vaccine with more side effects than the virus.
Kauaâi had a single death over 9 months. if you take 70,000 people over 9 months you have 1 death per 630,000 people.
Canât you,doctors make enough money off heart attacks alone. Tonight on TV, news: 1 person every 2 minutes is hospitalized for a heart attack in America. Add to that the stroke victims, cancers, diabetics, Alzheimerâs, liver , kidney, lung failures, and we are shutting down the island again.
Doctors advising politicians, what a joke.
The Mayor needs to stop taking a paycheck to really understand how much he his hurting our local families. He is a fool. They should have waited
Til January 1 if anything, to allow our small businesses to capitalize on the holiday after an awful year already. Politicians for you, never worked in a small business. 0 hospitalizations, 0 in hospice, so letâs shut us down!
At least offer some tax benefit for screwing us. Ugh.
A guy literally died the other day.
The gentleman who died last week was 85 years old with pre-existing disease conditions and taking toxic prescription drugs. Oddly enough, he is no longer mentioned in the statistics. Faulty testing ? Could that be why?
Death is not to be taken lightly, but that man likely was near death anyways. The rona is not deadly
I am really encouraged by the comments and replies from the community, it has been terrifying to witness and experience the cognitive dissonance. STAY WOKE..STAY VOCAL.. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME HOPE.
So, do you think the main group bringing in the virus, local residents, are going to respect the 14 day Quarantine?
We should be in Tier 3 by now (more than 1 new case per day). Why aren’t we? Oh yea, that would be unpopular with parents (voters) shutting down kids team sports. So just shut down the economy instead?
As long as the Fed and State keep sending us relief money from off island taxpayers we can have our bubble. Are we the new “welfare island”? Will the rest of the US tolerate this? I guess we will see for how long.
The real question is: what happens when the food runs out?
Hunger takes only a few days before drastic measures are taken watching your children starving.
Gonna be hard to monitor the revolution since everyone will be wearing masks.
Oh boy. No federal stimulus package coming. Unemployment funds about to dry up. Tourist dollars shut out, except for a few idiots foolish enough to buy 14 days at a “resort bubble”, which benefit only the owners of 5 resort properties, and the workers desperate enough to work there . A sudden decision with 3 days notice and no end date in sight, leaving thousands of Kauai bound holiday travelers scrambling to cancel bookings, change flight reservations, and a myriad of other issues. Kauai is about to go underwater financially. All the locals impacted by the lack of funds will be unable to pay their mortgages, rents, and property taxes. Good luck surviving Kauai. Maybe we will meet again in another life on another planet. Hopefully things will be better then.
Whoâs paying for these two week stays at the Cliffs, Hilton, Koa Kea, and Timbers? Our Federal CARES money???
Have you ever heard the saying “Its better to be quite and have people think you are an idiot, than to open your mouth and prove it” ?
You know who pays to stay in hotels? The people staying there. Crazy idea, I know
This is insane!!! Waaayyy toooooo much!! What abut public health as a whole? By focusing on only covid so many other things are going down the tubes. Many people were hanging on by a thread and were starting to get back on their feet and now you pull the plug! PLEASE look at public health as a whole….do you mayor know how many suicides there have been on Kauai or in the state of Hawaii since March? I can’t find that information anywhere online. Does anybody know? Why is this information not available? How about increase in anxiety, which can lead to many other concerns, like substance abuse, etc. And there are other health concerns. We here on Kauai are/were doing fine. Yes cases were rising but that was expected. The Safe Travels program deterred many visitors and therefore are cases have been manageable. Currently at ZERO hospitalizations. You should have stuck with the plan….if you didn’t like what you agreed to in Tier 3 /2, then maybe your 25th proclamation (is that right…I can’t keep track!!) should have adjusted that. Hope you have more a lot more FREE MONEY to disperse. Or maybe you should open up your bank account and spread the wealth to your constituents.
Absolutely agree with Malia. Kawakami is pandering to those vocal few whose agenda is motivated by fear and politics. Kauai government has shown itself to be fickle, undependable and unprepared for todayâs crisis as well as future growth.
What a complete failure of leadership
I disagree! Hard to be a politician. You’ll never make everyone happy. Part of the job is having to call it like you see it. I’m sure he’s not sleeping well. I agree with this decision. Have you ever seen the IC at Wilcox? Keep up the good job!
“has no timeframe of when it will dissolve”
Yet this is called a “temporary” opt-out. I don’t see how it’s legal to have an order like this without an expiration.
“Through this program, visitors will be required to wear bracelets that track their movements”
Come Kaua’i and pay to stay in prison
It has been reported by the Garden Island since about the beginning of last week that Kauai had a Covid19 death, an 85 year old gentleman, however in the last few days in the Kauai Statistics given by the Garden Island, this person has not been mentioned, as if he had a false positive test and later retested as a negative.
What gives, did he have Covid-19, or not? Did he actually pass away from pre-existing conditions, disease(s), and/or was it the prescription drugs?
Enquiring minds would like to know!
I appreciate the Mayors concerns, we love Kauai, have a home is on island and have spent much of our time over the last 30 years there. Reading that the current active case count is 18 out of ~72,000 residents; that is a .00025 reported case rate. I was so saddened to read of case after case of people ‘participating in Safe Travels’, but allowed to land with ‘pending’ tests only to find them positive AFTER arrival, leaving the burden with Kauai County to quarantine them. I don’t understand is why Kauai accepted people with ‘pending tests’ vs only accepting negative tests. I agree this system had to change, but to swing all the way back to a mandatory 14-day quarantine regardless of test results on such short notice also may not be the best way to address the risks. Maybe an adjustment like requiring a negative test PRIOR to flight date/time to participate in Safe Travels, a rapid test upon arrival at the airport, with 72-hour post arrival test mandated and tracked in Safe Travels app to ensure adherence? I know there are complexities to enforcing this and there would still have to be quarantine facilities in place for those who tested positive after 72 hours, but reverting all the way back to total lockdownâŚâŚ? While I understand the logistics of expanding COVID-19 medical facilities has cost and logistics to work out, since the onset of COVID I have not read of any increase in hospital, ICU beds or ventilator capacity beyond the 9 disclosed.
We just returned from over a month in Kauai; tested negative before arrival, masked everywhere, observed social distancing, washed hands, respected, and followed all the guidelines. We also immediately started visiting our favorite places – Aloha Spice, Angela Headley Gallery, Brightside Gallery, Banana Patch studio (online with local pickup) Midnight Bear, Monkey Pod Jam store, Chicken in a Barrel, Auntie Lilikoi’s, Koloa Fish, Merriman’s, ordered beef from Ranchers daughters, went to farmers mkts a few times a week, got juice and hot sauce at Kauai Juice, bought local honey, had a meal and drink at Stevenson’s at the Hyatt, Kauai coffee for coffee and gifts, found where to buy Island Soap and candle goods since Koloa store closed, got plate lunches at Bobby’s and Marks Place, filled our growlers and ate at Kauai Beer multiple times, frequented Kukuiâula market, DaCrack, Anake’s, rented bikes in Kapaa, bought some gifts at Bamboo store, went to Java Kai, headed north to Hanalei and paid admission to Haena Beach park, ordered rolls from back of Hanalei Dolphin, at a great lunch and drinks at Hanalei Gourmet, and in all dining establishments left the staff tips that reflected how much we appreciated being able to enjoy it. We also went to all the usual places like Costco, Big Save, Safeway, etc. Came home and no COVID, did not spread on island, did not spread here at home. Normally we might not do this much, but we wanted to make sure to spend money with the places we like. I can’t imagine businesses large and small having to ramp up and now down on just 3-4 daysâ notice. There are 10 places for sale in the community where our townhouse is. I do not know what the answer is, but I do not think our visit endangered anyone and we certainly did our best to inject some business to our favorite establishments and people.
I pray that Kauai can remain safe from the peril of COVID (I realize there has been one death on island, which is tragic and cannot be minimized) while also enabling the people whose hearts, dreams, and hard work are represented by the many small and large establishments that provide wonderful goods, food and experiences to somehow remain viable.
Reading this comment reminded us of all the things we will miss in the next two weeks. We cancelled our two week vacation because we felt the trip would not be like the ones we have enjoyed year in and year out. The residents of Kauai need to sort this out with their elected officials just like we on the mainland. âVirus gonna virusâ
Thank you Mayor and Gov Ige.
There is a huge collective sigh of relief.
All to do now is to wait patiently for the next several weeks and see how deep the virus has been spread around.
Itâs time to design a solid plan thatâs good for all.
Aloha, Since the Covid crisis began, our mayor has shown tremendous responsibility toward the people of Kauai, and I’ve supported him in most everything he has done toward that effort. But the decision to completely shut down the island again will damage our already struggling economy and is an overboard response to a manageable problem.
The state is sitting on millions of Cares Act dollars that we, as a state, will lose if the money is not used by the end of December. Why can’t we require a second test 3-4 days after arrival, paid for by the state, or at a greatly reduced price, and ban flying for anyone without a negative test. No untested flyers allowed.
This approach would go a long way toward ensuring the health and safety of our community without further ravaging our already delicate economy just before the holidays.
What????? Correct me if I’m wrong but DK seems to think he is some kind of god. That if we listen to his words and follow his commandments that we will be saved for eternity from covid. And if we dont, we will be branded a sinner, publicly humiliated and thrown in jail. And be gone all your hard work and worldly possessions for I am on a quest to save you from your selves and covid is all that matters.
What bothers me most about this is that there are many people who are part of this decision making process, the Mayor, the Council, the DIrector of Health, who are sacrificing NOTHING.
Their salaries are getting paid, their heath benefits, their paid vacations are getting paid.
I’m pretty sure these decison makers are clueless when it comes to running a business, they wouldn’t last a year if they had to juggle customer service, marketing, inventory, rent money, employee payroll in the BEST OF TIMES, let alone in the midst of these inconsistent, back and forth, bureaucrat directed Virus related restrictions.
I have an idea ! How about we all sacrifice Mr. Kawakami & Co. ?
How about, whenever you and your Council decide that more economic hardship is order by means of yet another quarantine restriction, you and everybody on the City Council donate 50% of your salary directly to families who have lost their business and have no government financial support and now have to rely on what little of their life savings they have left ?
How about it Mr Mayor and Council Members ?
It’s really easy to live with these economic hardship causing decisions when you and your cabal sacrifice nothing. How about you try out what it’s like to live with these decisions when you lose half your income.
Second guessing the mayor at this time does not solve a thing except I have a feeling the mayor has a good idea of what not to do next time. A program that let in knowingly a few covid cases was doomed to fail. These businesses who have been suffering had glimmers of hope with reopening but again, the program was not sustainable as we were bound to get community spread. I guess taking measures to assure was not doable even though I say this false start and hope is far worse.
The thing is there are island countries who have handles this splendidly like Taiwan but our people will not submit to certain things as they do in Asia like quarantine hotels(not bubbles) where the sick ae sequestered.
So I am with Dr JIm and let’s open up right but we have to keep an eye on the 2 ton elephant we are social distancing with, the US mainland.
Four day notice? No adequate time to see results of positive test before arrival.
Covid hotels charging $8000 for a family of four for one week. Some Covid hotels with no beach front, no pool, no restaurant.
Such short notice, Restaurants have ordered food. Employees believe they will be working in shops next week. Airline crews on hold.
Follow your arrow.
WE ARE ALL LAUGHING WHILE YOU LEMMINGS ON KAUAI SUFFER KAUAI !!!!
LIFE IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN EVER
I CERTIANLY DONT CARE !! IT DOSENT AFFECT ME OR MY FRIENDS IN THE LEAST !!!
ARE THERE ANY SHEEP AND LEMMINGS LEFT ON KAUAI WHO STILL BELIEVE WE ARE NOT ROBBERS DISGUISED AS OFFICIALS ARE WHO ARE COMING AFTER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEXT.
ILL JUST DO ALL YOU LITTLE SHEEP A LITTLE FAVOR AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE TRANSFERRING THE EVERYDAYDAY CITIZENS MONEY INTO OUR OWN POCKETS ….HOW ?
ILLGIVE YOU A CLUE
1.) HAVE WE OFFERED A SALES TAX OR GAS TAX CANCELLATION FOR KAUAI RESIDENTS ?
2.) HOW ABOUT A PROPERTY TAX CANCELLATION ?
3.) IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR DID WE ADD EXTRA CAPACITY OR PREPARE IN ANY WAY FOR THE NATURAL AND INEVITABLE INCREASE ?
4.) HAVE WE EVER REQUIRED A SAFETY TEST TO PREVENT VISITORS FROM DROWNING ?
MANY MORE DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED ON KAUAI FROM DROWNING THAN COVID
LOOKING FORWARD TO A SHEEP OR LEMMING WHO WILL WRITE A LETTER EXPLAINING WHY THEY BELIEVE OUR LIES!!
LIES THAT WE SO EASILY PUSH ONTO YOU SILLY STUPID POT SMOKING UNINFORMED AND NOW ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENT LEMMINGS AND SHEEP!!! HAHAHA ,,IDIOTS
MALIA YOU ARE SO RIGHT THEY WE ARE LAUGHING AND SMILING WHILE SENDING ALL YOU WILLING SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER
WE HAVE BRAINWASHED YOU INTO SLAVERY AND SUBSERVENCE AND IM GLAD !!!
THAT WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN !!
THIS COVID JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER !!!
ALL MY FRIENDS AND I KEEP GETTING PAID AND ALL MY FRIENDS UP HERE IN THE PARALLELL UNIVERESE WONT BE AFFECTED IN THE LEAST !!
HAVE YOU TAKEN A LOOK AT THE STOCK MARKET LATELY ?
IM JUST FINE…… EVEN BETTER THAN EVER !
SORRY ALL YOU POOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD FOOD AND HOUSING HERE IN MANHATTAN
BOO HOO. LOL
WELL BE SAFE SHEEP!! WE ARE SENDING YOU TO YOUR ECONOMIC DEATH WHILE YOU INCREASE OUR NET WORTH …..AHHHH LIFE IN HAWAII IS INDEED HEAVEN ON EARTH !!
STOP CAUSEING TROUBLE MALIA BE QUIT DRUNK STONED AND UNINFORMED JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER KAUAI IDIOTS
HAHAHAHAAA LIFE IS GOOOOOD !!!
We struggled to survive the last quarantine. Put everything we had into our business to keep it going. Now we’re going to lose everything.
Regardless of how you feel about the Mayor’s decision, remember that you have neighbors who have suffered in silence, not wanting to talk about their economic pain when someone else is fearing for their health due to Covid. But we’ve been staring at the ceiling all night, trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Trying to figure out how to tell employees we won’t be able to keep them on. We never told them we haven’t been able to pay ourselves a dime since the spring because they are so nice they would actually worry about us just like we worry about them. We’re not just anonymous people. We’re your neighbors. Our kids play baseball and soccer with yours. We volunteer at school events, at church, and we would give to local organizations as much as we could and kept on doing it even when our business started to lose money.
Now we’re watching everything we’ve worked for go up in smoke, while trying not to let our kids see how bad it is, how stressed and broken we feel. Support the mayor’s decision or not, but when you say how glad you are there won’t be tourists around again, remember that someone else is trying not to cry as they watch everything fall apart.
WE ARE ALL LAUGHING WHILE YOU LEMMINGS ON KAUAI SUFFER KAUAI !!!!
I CERTIANLY DONT CARE !! IT DOSENT AFFECT ME OR MY FRIENDS IN THE LEAST !!!
ARE THERE ANY SHEEP AND LEMMINGS LEFT ON KAUAI WHO STILL BELIEVE WE ARE NOT ROBBERS DISGUISED AS OFFICIALS ARE WHO ARE COMING AFTER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEXT.
ILL JUST DO ALL YOU LITTLE SHEEP A LITTLE FAVOR AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE TRANSFERRING THE EVERYDAYDAY CITIZENS MONEY INTO OUR OWN POCKETS ….HOW ?
ILLGIVE YOU A CLUE
1.) HAVE WE OFFERED A SALES TAX OR GAS TAX CANCELLATION FOR KAUAI RESIDENTS ?
2.) HOW ABOUT A PROPERTY TAX CANCELLATION ?
3.) IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR DID WE ADD EXTRA CAPACITY OR PREPARE IN ANY WAY FOR THE NATURAL AND INEVITABLE INCREASE ?
4.) HAVE WE EVER REQUIRED A SAFETY TEST TO PREVENT VISITORS FROM DROWNING ?
MANY MORE DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED ON KAUAI FROM DROWNING THAN COVID
LOOKING FORWARD TO A SHEEP OR LEMMING WHO WILL WRITE A LETTER EXPLAINING WHY THEY BELIEVE OUR LIES!!
LIES THAT WE SO EASILY PUSH ONTO YOU SILLY STUPID POT SMOKING UNINFORMED AND NOW ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENT LEMMINGS AND SHEEP!!! HAHAHA ,,IDIOTS
MALIA YOU ARE SO RIGHT THEY WE ARE LAUGHING AND SMILING WHILE SENDING ALL YOU WILLING SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER
WE HAVE BRAINWASHED YOU INTO SLAVERY AND SUBSERVENCE AND IM GLAD !!!
THAT WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN !!
THIS COVID JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER !!!
ALL MY FRIENDS AND I KEEP GETTING PAID AND ALL MY FRIENDS UP HERE IN THE PARALLELL UNIVERESE WONT BE AFFECTED IN THE LEAST !!
HAVE YOU TAKEN A LOOK AT THE STOCK MARKET LATELY ?
IM JUST FINE…… EVEN BETTER THAN EVER !
SORRY ALL YOU POOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD FOOD AND HOUSING HERE IN MANHATTAN
BOO HOO. LOL
WELL BE SAFE SHEEP!! WE ARE SENDING YOU TO YOUR ECONOMIC DEATH WHILE YOU INCREASE OUR NET WORTH …..AHHHH LIFE IN HAWAII IS INDEED HEAVEN ON EARTH !!
STOP CAUSEING TROUBLE MALIA BE QUIT DRUNK STONED AND UNINFORMED JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER KAUAI IDIOTS
HAHAHAHAAA LIFE IS GOOOOOD !!!
Terrible decision. Looks like the gov and mayor were in disagreement so the gov let the mayor have his way which will help accelerate the collapse of the local economy. Doesnât seem like they care. With this kind of zero risk mentality Kauai will not open in 2021!
Anyone see the articles this weekend about how suicides in Japan are 10 times as high as COVID deaths?
This is what happens when the well thought out plan A is rejected for a compromised plan B. The experts said that a pre-travel test followed by a 5 to 6 day quarantine (min) with an additional test would be the safest route. The governor rejected that approach in order to invigorate the economy. Well, it also invigorated Covid cases and now there’s a 14-day quarantine for travelers. Unfortunately the entire island isn’t shut down like some major cities on the mainland, right now. I say unfortunately with a bit of sarcasm because the real unfortunate piece of this puzzle is that this island’s economy is based off of tourism. Kauai needs some bright ideas and the answers can’t be tourism.
Let’s be thankful that our way of life isn’t shut down in addition to the tourism.
Let’s get some thought leaders together with the boots on the ground and come up with solutions that address the facts. Truth is — the whole world is in shit right now dealing with local economies and cases, if you haven’t been paying attention. So if you can’t point to someone who you think is doing it right, and just want to complain but offer no solutions for Kauai… Do the world and the rest of your neighbors a favor and shhhh đ¤Ť. And blaming the mayor for destroying Kauai when he’s trying to save lives and the economy is immature and childish.
To the Mayor: Create a road map for where you see Kauai growing in face of COVID. This is a two to three year plan min. Otherwise all true actions taken will seem short-sighted and reactionary instead of well thought out and appropriately communicated. All support you once had will erode as fatigue sets in and no one is closer to exiting survival mode.
Also, this is what happens when you jump the gun. A slow rollback of quarantine with a two-step process for testing and five to 7 day quarantine would have signaled economic progress and caught more positive cases. Instead we have a failed pre-testing program that is putting us back at square one and creating more frustration.
My heart goes out to everyone who is struggling right now. We are all struggling with this pandemic. My prayer is that we all come together so that we can find the solutions that will allow us to thrive. But first we got to get real serious and reasonable about our goals before we decide how we gonna get there. âď¸đ
Two cents.
IN THIS LATEST UNCONSTITUTIONAL PROCLAMATION DID THE IDIOT WANA BE LOCAL DICTATOR ALSO DECLARE TAX CANCELLATION FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME HE WILL BE TAKING OUR MONEY TO PAY HIMSELF ?
Mahalo, Mayor! You finally made a sound decision: telling those local tourism business bullies to suck it up.
For some reason these selfish, greedy predators sincerely believe that selling snorkel rentals, timeshares and helicopter tours is more important than the lives of Kauai’s kupuna and the mental/physical welfare of our keiki! Well, they can bugger off to Maui if they don’t like it!
Tourism businesses in Kauai might be the more vocal minority, and they might have some local politicians in their hip pockets, but really, people: Kauai DOES NOT NEED TOURISM TO SURVIVE!
Now is the time to pivot to more sustainable sectors (such as organic agriculture) that will feed our families while also reducing our dependencies on tourists.
Go ahead Susan, pour your life savings into your “organic agriculture” business. Spend 7 days a week working at it and then watch what happens when you have to compete with other corporate farms on the mainland or abroad whose labor costs are half the labor costs of your business. Why do you think the agriculture industry left Kauai a couple of decades ago ? Obviously Economics and Finance are not your strong point. Dream on.
Hi Susan.
Are you a profitable organic farmer? So happy to know that you own a piece of land and can somehow clear the land, till the land, plant the land, install irrigation infrastructure, pay for organic infrastructure, hire farm workers, find a market only among local residents (restaurants are shuttering) and compete with Costco, Safeway, Food land, and Walmart and still make a living. That’s nice. Are you feeding a minimum of 50 other families on Kauai? How are those families paying for your food with no stimulus checks and unemployment $ running out? Oh, and about their property taxes or rent and fuel, and the myriad of other living costs? How are those being paid?
Agriculture is a marginal income-producer on Kauai. That is why the sugar and pineapple businesses on Kauai no longer grow food.
I am SO tired of people like you who talk “sustainable sectors” without being able to do anything about it. WE NEED TOURISM TO SURVIVE! Without tourist dollars, the local economy will wither and die. Game over. End of story.
You have attacked local residents who rely on tourist related income as “local tourism business bullies” and “selfish, greedy predators”. Are you surprised that reputable small business owners are going under quickly? You may be surprised when you discover how many local folks rely on tourist dollars, even if those dollars are “trickle down”.
Let me guess. You are not a farmer. You are older, possibly medically compromised, retired and have a nice retirement package salted away, a lot of it in stocks. You do not have children here who are in tourist dollar supported businesses.You do not much care that others who rely on tourist dollars are suffering. And you voted for tRump. How did I do? Well, regardless, get a life and have some empathy for others.
Hi Susan. I understand each of us has different strengths and skill sets and also have other areas where we have opportunity to strengthen our knowledge and understanding… Sometimes it is beneficial take in and digest information to better understand where perspectives from fellow Kaua’i residents are created.
It is an indisputable fact that tourism has been the major lifeblood to Kaua’i and the State of Hawaii… which directly and indirectly impacts most Kaua’i residents’ abilities to care for their families and plan for the future. If you weren’t born with or didn’t come to the island with a boat load of money and retirement plan, then you are a Kaua’i resident who will be impacted by a lack of tourism. Below link is a decade old study from First Hawaiian Bank that provides some context and a basic economic overview of how important tourism is to the State. You can apply your own logic / calculations / discounts to Kaua’i to estimate how important tourism remains today. Since the economic network is interconnected, everyone feels some kind of impact even if it is just one of your favorite restaurants or local shops closing its doors:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.4mauirealestate.com/sites/default/files/FHB_Tourism_Study_09325.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj1jbu31qntAhXkJTQIHaDOBNUQFjAOegQIKxAB&usg=AOvVaw1bFntL-pbC1OUxuk9wTxvY
Tourism is the only industry that Kaua’i can own that is totally unique to the island and can maintain massive amounts of jobs on the island… there is no replacement for a Kaua’i experience while sugar, pineapples, taro, or any other type of agriculture can be produced elsewhere in larger quantities for cheaper. So can nearly every other product that is and can be produced on Kaua’i.
If nothing else, I hope we all think about the big picture and try to put ourselves in the perspective of others who are working hard and trying to make ends meet for our families. My bigger wish that is more challenging is that we also be pragmatic and offer real solutions that residents of the whole island can get behind and ultimately helps the critical mass to care for their families and plan a future. I have yet to see or come up with a solution for Kaua’i that doesn’t involve tourism.
What I find curious about part of this..:. If you recall, kauai was going to be the first island to open up with a âresort bubbleâ championed by non other than derek. So certain places as mentioned above â The county has partnered with Cliffs at Princeville, Hilton Garden Inn, Koa Kea, Kukuiula and Timbersâ no one else signed on because it clearly was a dumb idea that lacked foresight. The money spent to install geofencing as well as purchasing the technology with the assumption that any visitor coming to kauai would be required to stay on property thus spending 90% of their money on site. Gov. Ige then decided we needed to open back up requiring pre travel testing. Which totally ruined the bubble idea, youâll remember this isnât the first time derek wanted to restrict travel to kauai since. He has been consistently trying to enact more restrictions on travel.
Iâd like to know how the county âpartneredâ with those resorts? If youâre going have untested visitors running around the resorts then Kamaainaâs wonât be allowed to use the same facilities because that would risk community spread of the virus, correct? So how will that work at kukuiula Club where a fair few people live and share the same facilities? All of the aforementioned bubbles have residents as well as visitors. Maybe bubble boy dewreck needs an audit.
Kauai Gal is on the right track. This sudden switch is extremely disruptive and damaging to the economy and to any sense of getting back on track. Wanting to be sure our hospitals can handle the cases is a legitimate concern, but back to a 14-day quarantine is overkill. Mr. Kawakami, wasn’t it your idea to have two tests? The article said it was neither approved nor turned down. It makes sense to me to require a negative test BEFORE boarding, testing upon arrival and quarantine in place for up to 3 days or until that second negative test comes in. That’s a heck of a lot less punitive than 14 days! And of course it has to apply to returning visitors and tourists alike.
Mayor Kawakami, along with Ige and all the other Mayors have not stopped collecting their salarites during this “pandemic”. This decision is RIDICULOUS. I am so sick & tired of people who have no COMMON SENSE. Any airborne virus is airborne. I used to travel 60% of the time for business. I can tell you that any virus emanating from say China, would have circumvented the GLOBE within a week, two weeks max. Someone gets on a flight in Wuhan,to London. Walks past people getting on fligths to L.A. NY, Dallas, Rome, you name it.
I used to notice how I would be in Hong Kong and people would have flu and less than a week later in London, the same flu would be going around. Then I’d talk to someone in LA and they would say they had it too. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. This virus swept through Kauai last JANURAY AND FEBRUARY. Does anyone remember having flu?
Knut WIttoski who was a SENIOR PROFESSOR at the Rockerfeller Institute for 20 years and who SPECIALIZED IN CORONAVIRUSES said the following at the end of March : there have been 2 Coronaviruses before this one. This one is no more virulent or deadly than the last 2. It’s spread by air. The ONLY WAY TO COMBAT AN AIRBORNE VIRUS IS TO DEVELOP HERD IMMUNITY The VERY WORST THING TO DO IS TO WEAR MASKS & ISOLATE PEOPLE. What neesd to be done is the same as with any other flu or virus, let the kids go to school, they bring it back, infect the family, everyone gets it and herd immunity is reached in two weeks. GO ahead and isolate those with UNDERLYING CONDITIONS or VERY ELDERLY only to start with. INTERESTING huh?
CHECK THE FIGURES ON THE CDC SITE: Check out the total number of deaths in 2020 from all causes against the same thing last year. The same. For every month up to now. So where are all the increased numbers from the terrible coronavirus?
I demand to know for the cases of people who died in Hawaii (which is a VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION) what underlying conditions they had because Doctors are coming forward across the nation saying a/ that they were told to list Covid19 as a cause of death EVEN WHEN PEOPLE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK OR SOMETHING ELSE b/ that it is not more debilitating than a bad flu c/. that HCQ works d/ that the figures of people dying (even counting the people who had underlying conditions) is NO MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIE OF REGULAR FLU EVERY YEAR.
SO WHY DID WE EVER LOCK DOWN? WHY IS OUR MAYOR LOCKING US DOWN AGAIN?
ASK QUESTIONS. STOP BELIEVING THE LIES PUT OUT BY MAINSTREAM MEDIA
THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE AND IT IS NOT ABOUT A VIRUS.
Finally, I TRULY RESENT the fact that the so called “leaders” of this State are STILL BEING PAID for ruining Hawaii’s economy, people’s businesses, jobs and lives. More people have died from suicide than covid.
Oh and Mr. WIttoski along with hundreds of other BRAVE DOCTORS willing to tell the truth (including my Brother) said masks don’t work. They don’t. STOP BEING SCARED OF A STUPID VIRUS, START BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY OUR FREEDOM.
DO YOU REALLY WANT OUR KEIKI TO BE WEARING MASKS ALL THEIR LIVES?
WAKE UP HAWAII
Thank you Amy.
Your the first person who has actually acknowledged the fact that covid has already run through this island in January and February. I know dozens of people that were sick then including me and my family. Does anyone remember the cruise ships that got stuck off of San Francisco, all three times there last port of call was Kauai. But DK and his cronies dont want to talk about it cause that would wreck there BS narrrative
This is behind anything I could ever imaging happening in a democracy. Insanity. Sure seems and feels like a dictatorship. Honestly how has this happened? Last minute yanking of a plan that you supported? Leaving so many spending their time picking up the pieces of the mess created by your last minute change of heart!?!? We voted Kamakami and Ige into office (not next time!!) and pay their salaries…they work for us! Remember that!! Yet they are taking away the income of the working class of Kauai with this last minute ego-driven decision. They should forgo their salaries (our hard-earned tax dollars…remember their salaries are money we earned and pay them with it to care for ALL of us) and give it to the people who are losing theirs based on their dictatorship decision. I am so serious. DK….you love and care for the people of Kauai? Why not give up your salary during this “crisis”? Or spend every single dime of your paycheck at local businesses, not Costco, Walmart, McDonald’s etc. Support the small local business with your pocket book. Let’s see that on the front page of TGI.
Glad bubble boy mentioned it. If anyone has actually tried to think about it, it takes 5 minutes to find gaping holes in the geofencing “solution”
1. As mentioned above. What do you do with tourists already on the island and Kamaaina who are at the resort or would like to visit the resort? Would they be banned? If not, how is that different from having guests in your quarantine? That is not a bubble.
2. More disturbingly is what mayor said during his last video. “…are welcome to quarantine at the resort bubbles.” What does he mean? Will he let tourists quarantine in the resort? What about overlapping stays. Someone could be in the resort “quarantine” for 10 days and then get infected by newly arrived visitors. It is impossible to maintain quarantine with mixing and co-mingling of those who would be later released on the island. That is a gaping, giant hole hole in bubble system.
3. I know a couple of those resorts. No extra staff/guards who are supposed to monitor and enforce the fencing with some amenities literarily feet away from other communities. Does anyone really believe that the GPS will work that well. How about GPS dead zones?
4. Once you let tourists come into a resort, why would anyone bother taking a pre-flight test? Then how about the poor staff who really don’t have much choice but to work, especially housekeeping staff. Would the cleaning ladies and gents have to clean rooms every day of potentially highly infectious pre symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals? What will happen to their families once they bring it home, or would you force them to live on the property as transients? Many examples of temperature testing failing to prevent multiple infections.
You don’t have a virus problem you have a politician problem. I live in a free state with no lock downs. Our infection rate is ave. in my town of 800 people 50 or so have had it including myself. Everyones ok and back to work. It is just the flu bro. My father told me a drowning man will reach for anything including the tip of a spear. Kauai is being drowned in a wave of economic disaster, when they offer you a way out be wary itâs not a spear. You have just been giving a free one year subscription to the New World Order.
Mayor Derek,
How will you protect the full time residents of these bubble communities being populated with suspect visitors? Or do you plan to impose security bracelets on them and treat all like criminals? Insanity, or at least a poorly conceived plan. The only people that will use these bubbles are locals unfortunate enough to need to make Interisland trips, perhaps for health care on Oahu or other necessary reasons. No tourists (the economic engine that makes life on Kauai beyond that of a subsistence farmer possible) will ever come and spend their hard earned savings to experience a 2 week quarantine in a bubble, but perhaps that is your goal anyway.
I suggest you do the smart thing, the grownup thing, and open the county pockets to require and PAY for a follow up test for ALL visitors 3 days (or whatever interval you want) after arrival to manage this relatively small risk WITHOUT QUARANTINE. Discourage community movement during this three day period. Manage the very small number of pre-travel confirmed negative cases that are discovered by this follow up test with proven contact tracing and county provided dedicated quarantine facilities for those found infected and their close contacts). The tax income generated by these visitors welcomed back to Kauai, and the very disproportinate property taxes imposed on real estate that supports visitors, will more than offset these modest costs.
Use you abundant energy to bolster on-island surge capacity for healthcare and ramp up your preaching of safe practices to prevent community spread with everyone on island (especially for the recalcitrant locals) and require the airlines to read this message to all arriving passengers to level set their minds.
Execute solutions that reasonably work for all parties, thatâs what good leaders and good government does.
So, Mr 2 cents, here is how I can tell you are most likely a very well off liberal. The first and most obvious is that you want those that don’t agree with you to shhh! Liberals like to think that they are the more tolerant party but actually they are anything but tolerant. The only correct opinion is theirs and you really shouldn’t be allowed to voice your opinion unless you agree with them.
Secondly, you can afford to take a vacation where you can quarantine for the first week at your own expense before starting your vacation. And lastly, you think you’re smarter than everyone else that is responding to this decision.
You are really the perfect left wing candidate for office. You know best how everyone else should behave and live their lives but you wont be affected by any of the policies you create.
Here’s a novel idea. Why dont we give the public some accurate information on this virus and let them make up their own minds on how best to keep themselves and their families safe? States on the mainland that took this approach are doing just fine. Yes, cases are on the rise but it is manageable. And no, CNN is not an accurate source for COVID information. Unfortunately none of our news agencies can be trusted anymore. Right or left leaning. Oh wait, I forgot. Your side believes without the government telling us what to do we will all make terrible decisions and fail miserably.
The safe travels program is a solid solution. They made a good adjustment in requiring the negative test prior to arrival. This change alone would have have drastically reduced the number of cases on the island. Why is Kauai the only island opting out? Why are we throwing healthy people into quarantine? And then actually throwing them in jail if they dare to leave their house. Is this not alarming to anyone? How is a free society going along with this!?
Remember, those that are willing to give away liberties for security will have neither. Those that agree with these tactics want more control over your lives. They need to be able to dictate how you live your life because they are smarter than you.
We all get the government we deserve. Elections have consequences. I hope we all remember that the next time these dictators, I mean officials, come up for re-election.
Kauaâi has become the model for the New World Order starring Derek The Dictator.
Yes there is a virus however the government power grab should be much more concerning than this virus as the immediate and long term effects of these âsafety measuresâ taken are far more concerning than the virus itself.
People need to wake up and rise up… Your freedoms are dwindling by the day and itâs all being portrayed as what is best for you… since when has government cared about whatâs best on Kauaâi or anywhere else for that matter?!?
As has always been, anyone who does not agree with our way of life here is free to leave. The island accepts few and becomes inhospitable to many. We choose an uncomplicated healthy lifestyle. People that require anything different are welcome on the mainland. Many thanks to our mayor for helping our community move forward and maintain itâs place as the best place to live in Hawaii. Except for Maui, of course.
Kauaâi is becoming the model of the New World Order starring Derek The Dictator. The irresponsible reactions from the âgovernmentâ are going to prove to be far more damaging than this virus ever stood a chance of being.
Since when did the government care so much?!?! Since the government recognized the opportunity of the power grab, thatâs when…
If ICU beds are the concern, they have had plenty of time to implement a plan yet they havenât.
News came too late for us to scramble to get tested in time and fly home from visiting my father on the mainland who is about to start chemotherapy. Now we are stuck. Had planned to fly back the 17th, but the rules changed since we left. There is no provision in here allowing even residents who have been safe and following the rules (so as not to risk infecting higher risk elderly) to get home without strict quarantine. In addition, our small business is now going to further suffer. What happened to the tier system?
I am writing this because my wife has been crying on and off all day since my daughter cancelled her plans to come with our young granddaughters for Christmas due to the mayorâs new travel restrictions. They are partly escaping the cold winter and mainly returning to Hawaii where all their family lives. It would be difficult enough for the parents to stay in a house for 2 weeks but ridiculous to think 2 young children, born here, could understand why they canât go to the beach or see their family.
I am scrambling to try to salvage something from this absurd scenario. They can travel from the mainland to Oahu and stay with family there (who were also coming here), and we can possibly fly there and visit them (at great expense: air, car, hotel, food), and then quarantine when returning home. Not an easy solution. The new rules seem to be an over-reaction considering the more relaxed rules on Oahu and other islands.
I am 74 and will no doubt die in a few years, as we all will eventually. To me, the greatest danger here is not death, but not being allowed to live! Tourists have the opportunity to go elsewhere for Christmas, those who want to unite with family on Kauai will not have that choice.
Therefore, I urge the mayor to exempt those who are visiting family (with covid negative tests), from the 14 day quarantine. Destroying Christmas for families will leave a bad memory for a long time.
Sincerely, Ian Miles
I Agree with everyone who knows Kawakami is an idiot!! Such a fool. He single-handedly is destroying what has taken over 20yrs to rebuild since hurricane Iniki!! He’s either the dumbest mayor we have ever had or a selfish old-school local who wants the haoles gone and wants kauai to go back to poverty style living and sugar plantations.