Sen. Lorraine Inouye asks Mayor to crack down on COVID violations

August 24, 2020 at 4:09 pm Updated: August 24th, 2020 at 4:50 pm sbracken

State Senator Lorraine Inouye (Sen. District 4, Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona) has asked Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim to strengthen the island’s COVID-19 precautions. Inouye released a copy of the letter Monday, Aug. 24, after the State Department of Health reported that Hawaii Island now has 209 cumulative cases with 65 active cases.

Inouye suggests that the restrictions on the Big Island should be more extensive, and that there must be enforcement.

Inouye references large memorial gatherings, one multi-event remembrance for a Hilo-born musician held in East Hawaii a month ago, and a large memorial held Sunday, Aug. 23 at Kahalu’u Beach Park for a Hilo-born surf instructor. Both had scores of people, most not wearing masks and most crowded together. Hawaii County Civil Defense acknowledged that many of the new cases on the island are in Hilo, several as a result of the East Hawaii memorial events. Today at noon, Hilo Medical Center Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu said there were 10 patients with COVID-19 in Hilo Medical Center. Two weeks ago, the facility had admitted only one COVID-19 patient, at the very start of the pandemic–a passenger from the Diamond Princess.

Mayor Harry Kim’s spokesperson, Janet Snyder, said late Friday that the Mayor has asked for approval from Gov. David Ige of a new Emergency Rule No. 11. The Hawaii County Civil Defense announcements starting Saturday said gatherings must now be limited to 10, whether indoors or outdoors, although family gatherings of those in the same household and any faith-based worship services are exempt. Today Snyder said the new Rule 11, which has yet to be published, will contain the following:

Rule 11 re: Gatherings

Indoor or outdoor gatherings of groups up to ten (10) persons are permitted. Face coverings are required and physical distancing of at least six (6) feet between separate groups must be maintained. Gatherings of members of a single residential or family unit who share the same address are not restricted.

A gathering is defined as a planned or spontaneous event, assembly, or meeting that brings together multiple people from separate households in a single space or area, indoors or outdoors, at the same time and in a coordinated fashion.

A gathering includes, but is not limited to, such get-togethers as a banquet, barbecue, concert, conference, demonstration, exhibition, fair, festival, funeral, luau, meeting, parade, party, performance, picnic, presentation, service, or wedding.

Sen. Inouye’s letter:

Aloha Mayor Kim,

Hope all is well with you and safe. Thank you for all you do.

I ‘d like to share with you my deep concern of the rampant increases of the CORONA VIRUS on Hawaii Island. I have also received texts, emails and calls concerning crowd gatherings in our communities throughout and concerns of folks disobeying the RULES of The County and The Governor’s.

As an example, a call I received from Kona citing a large gathering at Kahalu’u Beach Park with almost all not wearing masks and distancing.

A recent large funeral services gathering that occurred last month in Hilo, is very disturbing when concerned folks emailed me to look at social media postings of the crowd gatherings and no face masks, no distancing.

Let me share with you the disturbing factors and you’re well aware by now:

Today news of COVID-19’s count for our County is at 209 including 9 reported, August 24th.

In the past 28 days – July 27th, the count was 117

On 8/10, the count was 133

It is unacceptable behavior of our people of this County not recognizing there is a Pandemic in this County, State and throughout the World. Our kupuna, keiki, brothers and sisters living in a household will suffer if just one member is stricken, could see the emergence of clusters not yet happening in East Hawaii. This is very disturbing and scary.

Your Emergency Rule #10 must be changed drastically. The specific Rule on Gatherings allowing 50 people and outdoor gatherings permitted with a maximum of 100 is significantly generous at this point in time, to what we all are experiencing

today, increases of positive numbers, as we were earlier known at the outset to have very small occurrences compared to Oahu and Maui.

I understand you have submitted Rule 11 to the Governor for approval and my hope is that it will be more restrictive in many areas.

Brings me to another point, why aren’t there any policing powers to carry out the Rules of this County? Creating rules without mandating offensive actions, such as the Police Department or use of National Guard, to police and conduct surveillance and penalize those who disobey these rules, is unconscionable. People are getting sick and are dying.

Please do all you can be proactive and take immediate actions to stop the spread of this horrible pandemic.

Best regards, stay healthy and be safe.

Lorraine R Inouye

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye

Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona

415 S. Beretania St. Room 210

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

P: (808) 586-7335

Sen. Lorraine Inouye asks Mayor to crack down on COVID violations

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