LIHU‘E — A new statewide order that would abolish limits on restaurant, bar and gym capacity will only be applied in counties that require proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test for admission.
But vaccination requirements for entry are not currently required on Kaua‘i, and it’s a direction county officials have tried to avoid.
“Unfortunately, we did not have any prior knowledge or discussions with the Governor or his team about this new Executive Order until today (Tuesday),” Mayor Derek Kawakami said in a statement yesterday. “We agree that it’s time for our businesses to operate at larger capacity if they choose, but it should not require another county policy or program.”
Kawakami said he and his administration had “no intention of creating a vaccine or test program for private businesses, because we believe our businesses already know how to operate safely.”
Currently, safety measures dictate that these social establishments, restaurants and bars operate at a limited 50% capacity.
The statewide order, effective Friday, Nov. 12, would also allow outdoor restaurants and bars to sit patrons closer than 6 feet or require masks outdoors. Indoor masking and social distancing requirements will continue.
O‘ahu and Maui counties both require proof of vaccination or recent COVID-19 test results within 48 hours to enter these types of establishments, while Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i islands do not.
“The order does not require any changes on Kaua‘i or Hawai‘i islands,” Ige said at a Tuesday press conference. “That was a part of how we structured the executive order so that Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i islands do not have to make any other changes…”
However, the statewide order, Kawakami said, “essentially forces the County to implement such a policy in order to allow our local businesses to operate above 50%. We’re now in a position where we must make a quick decision.”
Kawakami said that officials will be reaching out to business partners, including the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce for discussion on how to move forward best on island.
There’s no specific timeline on if or when there will be a decision on requiring vaccinations for entry, but the order goes into effect later next week.
“We of course want to provide our businesses the option of increasing capacity as soon as possible, but at the same time want to make sound policy decisions,” Kawakami’s Chief of Staff Sarah Blane said Tuesday afternoon. “We’ll be reaching out to our business community in the coming days to get their feedback.”
You’re seeking re-election derek. And have state gubernatorial aspirations. So take a stand and represent your constituency and also stand up to discriminatory policies that push segregation. The only decision you made was to close kauai to make it extremely hard for people to survive financially. Step up or step down.
If businesses on Kauai knew how to operate safely then why did so many clusters break out in them ? Stop coddling the unvaccinated and make them realize the consequences of their choice. Don’t want to get vaccinated ? Cook at home !
How about if you are scared you can cook at home. The last time I checked this is one of the 50 states and not another country. I plan on enjoying my rights as an American.
Hey “Useyourbrain” Last time I checked each state’s government gets to make laws which its residents get to follow. Stay on the mainland if you don’t like out State’s laws.
Hey Peter… mandates and executive orders are not state laws. If Kaua’i had remained a separate kingdom, common sense and aloha would be the order of the day, not divisive edicts.
To Peter as a business owner I have been operating our business safely since day one. Have had no problems at all. I have common sense & sense enough to know that vaccines are NOT a one size fits all! Plus it is an individuals personal choice what they out in THEIR body. Ever lived w/vaccine injury? Go look at hospitalizations & deaths. Now they say the flu 😷 s worse than covid bit get a booster? Higher covid rates in 2021 than 2020! Does that make any sense with mostly everyone being jabbed? Critical thinking and do your own research for some hard facts about all this. Pandemic should be now an endemic.
OR… you could let businesses decide which route they would like to take and then let customers decide which establishments to patronize.
What a cowardly embrace of a vastly unsupported policy. This guy has to pretend “oh I didn’t want to do this, but I had to.”
For those who believe everything the media tells you about mandates being overwhelmingly supported by the public… here’s a poll taken by the Garden Island:
https://www.thegardenisland.com/thegardenisland-poll/do-you-think-kauai-should-follow-honolulus-vaccine-passport-plan/?pollresult=1&bust=230573444
Very few people want this; but they do it anyway. Then they convince you it’s because it’s what you wanted.
JB, honey, the media telling you about mandates being overwhelming supported by the public is based on *actual* scientific polls, not internet clicksies.
Did you not read the article? The law the governor passed says that restaurants can open at full capacity, but only if the county passes vaccine mandates.
So if the Mayor does nothing, we stay at 50% capacity.
The choice is simple: Full occupancy and vaccine mandate, or 50% capacity with distancing and no vaccine mandate.
Patting yourself on the back for discovering some conspiracy that doesn’t exist because its literally spelled out in the article isn’t the greatest.
According to this article, the gov’s order “will ONLY be applied in counties that REQUIRE proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test for admission.” (Emphasis added.) So it’s simple: DON’T REQUIRE IT, Kawakami. Yet, Kawakami and company are preparing to shirk responsibility once again, now saying this order “forces” them to go along with a vaccine requirement, which is a flat-out lie. Forcing you to make your own decisions for your community (what you were elected to do) is not the same as forcing you to make a particular decision. I hope every business on Kauai holds the line here so that our elected leaders can take a step towards reality, where the rest of the country has dwelt for some time now — not wearing masks anymore, not requiring vaccination/discrimination at eating establishments, etc. If you haven’t been off island for over a year, you have no idea that most of the country has gone back to normal. NY and CA are not “normal” and they certainly should not continue to be upheld as role models for this state’s leadership.
Got my up to date booster shot and vaccine card recently so that I may travel and congregate with others who agree to abide by medical care that protects the majority at large…..
Other than a sore arm and feeling tired, the only side effects for this Kupuna is extreme discretion with who, where and when I travel on Kauai and a sadness in my heart for all the MISGUIDED and drug addiction on here…. causing more dangers to us all than a simple, free vaccination .
I think they are canceling out some restrictions around sports arena. The soccer team at UH got canceled out. So to prevent this from happening to other popular sports like football, they are canceling out the check points and vaccine requirements for the football team so that they can bring fans back into Manoa again. This according to Stephen Tsai of Honolulu.
Very sad that the Governor had to force our mayor to make the right decision to protect Kauai residents who care about their community, and that’s he’s only doing so now that his friends’ business interests are in danger.
Not having been subject to the other 2 islands’ mandate the reopening of businesses/restaurants to full or larger capacity here on Kauai should not be subject to it any more than before.
A reminder—
The vaccine and any amount of boosters given do not guarantee you will not get the virus nor does it guarantee you will not pass the virus to others. The only hope the vaccine has is to lessen symptoms if/when you contract the virus.
That said, all the businesses having vaccinated employees and/or patrons is not guarantee the virus will not be contracted or passed.
Example: business here on island could not open because vaccinated employee had to be tested for covid because his vaccinated wife had contracted covid.
Check the math on any given day, take the number of cases and divide by population. That’s a mighty low percentage.
It’s time to move forward…it’s time to stop the control of government with a Kingdom Complex.
Let’s look at other examples, as stated above…maybe Florida since they have a tourist evonomy also?
Let’s tell the people outside, alone, sitting at bus stop or walking dog or driving alone in truck that the mask is doing them no good whatsoever.
Wow! This is the most discriminatory action the Governor could come up with. I honestly don’t know how he and others like him can continue to push restrictions down our throats just because they have the power to do so. As MamaTree stated, much of the country has gone virtually back to normal, yet Hawai’i (and especially Kaua”i) with its’ small population is being forced with some of the tightest restrictions in the nation. It doesn’t make sense. Do people that choose to work while they have the cold or flu get punished or discriminated against? If I don’t get a flu shot should I be discriminated against or not let to eat with friends in a restaurant? Where does it end? Our freedoms are slowly being taken away and why? It’s not a Democrat or Republican thing, it is a power thing.
Mayor Kawakami will not be getting a vote from me no matter what position he is running for. Our local politicians have no strength and continue to keep the status quo and nepotism running smoothly.
Mayor Kawakami, always better to wait and see than to go along with seriously questionable, technically illegal, mandates. Kaua’i is the The Separate Kingdom. Kaua’i does what’s right for Kaua’i. We don’t need stricter guidelines here, we just need to get through this unlawful patch of humanity-run-amok, and move forward as before. No one’s forcing you. Stand strong.