Maui has seen its positive test results double during the past two weeks and has closed one of its popular beaches at Makena State Park. It was reported that there had been an average of over 12 new confirmed cases per day per 100,000 residents in the week ending Jan. 4, 2021, which is the highest rate of any county. Since the pandemic began, Maui County (which includes Lanai and Molokai) has reported about 1,100 confirmed cases and 17 deaths.
New edict from Lt. Governor.
Lt. Governor, Josh Green has called on Hawaii residents to cancel all social gatherings for the two weeks. Just today (January 7) the case total reached its highest ever at 322.
Meanwhile, the state of Hawaii saw an average of 138 daily new coronavirus cases during the same time period. Hawaii is still the lowest of all 50 states based on the rate of cases and other indicators. The number is growing, however, which is concerning.
Little Beach at Makena State Park.
How many of you have hiked the trail to the other side of Big Beach, checked the view from the top, and then actually went down to Little Beach? Maybe we should say, what happens on Little Beach stays at Little Beach. Your authors have done it in their younger days, but now we are not in a normal time.
Apparently, up to 400 people without masks have been gathering on Sundays at Little Beach at Makena State Park. As a result, the state has shut down the area based on “reckless and illegal behavior” that could cause the spread of COVID, according to state DLNR.
This harkens back to what happened at Polihale in July when reckless behavior from locals closed the beach on Kauai. After that, it reopened to the public two months later in September.
Until things change on Maui, anyone attempting to access the area may be cited for illegal entry to a closed area. Signage and fencing are being installed.
The state said that “Participants in the Sunday gatherings shoulder full responsibility for this closure.” It’s too bad their astounding lack of personal responsibility penalizes everyone else who abides by the rules.”
Like the one from DLNR above, photos show hundreds of people on the beach, disregarding social distancing and state mask mandates. Prior parties there have been tied to COVID spread. DLNR said that “The parties have the possibility of becoming so-called super spreader events.”
DLNR also mentioned that the traditional Sunday parties that feature drum circles on the beach have been long-plagued by nudity, alcohol, and drugs.
State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers have made repeated trips to Little Beach on Sundays and have issued citations for alcohol violations. Officials said that they do not have the ability to manage the size of these events, which resulted in the decision to close the beach.
Adjacent Big Beach is still open. DLNR will be monitoring the compliance of this temporary closure and examining other more permanent solutions to “impeding and eliminating this reckless and illegal behavior on public land that is a valuable recreational and cultural landscape,” the release said.
Photo courtesy of Hawaii DLNR.
Do you think Hawaii will allow vaccinated people to travel there without 4 day quarantine and or testing?
Imagine that you survived Covid and your new employer wants you to test for any illnesses. You have a pre-existing condition.
Do you think that your healthcare expenses will be less than someone who didn’t get corona?
After all, Covid is just beginning to be studied by the scientific community and they don’t know the long term effects.
Please look at the big picture; what you do now may affect you for the rest of your life and you don’t want to spend it regretting it
“You have a pre-existing condition.”
Care to cite some authority for this? In health insurance jargon, I believe “pre-existing” means an EXISTING condition that one has prior to “coverage.” I’ve heard nothing about the 20M++ people in the US who have had COVID being classified as having a pre-existing condition. Maybe some of the commenters who have had the virus can speak to this question?
Hello everyone
Good for them they might be the only sane people left.
While you hide in your house jobless, they are enjoying themselves as everyone should. Masks do nothing but let one group complain at the next. Look up Neil Orr’s study on masks from 1981. Here is a link on it. Choose freedom.
Good luck Kauai.
principia-scientific.com/unmasked-revealing-a-shocking-medical-truth/
CDC recently updated their mask “data”…
Whether two people ( or a group) are masked or not, any close contact longer than 15 minutes will have the same chance of spread. IE.. work, social gathering or any other event.
We can stop with the added ” not masked” BS any time now… All the media does is insert ” not masked” into any article.. It doesn’t matter as much as many people think.
Please retire to your “Parler”. It’s dark web excrement like this that does no good. Simply stay home. Keep close your other denizens, but these opinions have no place among more rational thinking human beings. Do you think that the election was stolen as well?
The CDC statement is “dark web excrement”? If you say so.
Do you think the (2016) election was stolen as well?
Why yes it was.
Please moderate these false statements. Nowhere on the CDC website does it say this. Statements like this are not helping to keep people in Hawaii or anywhere else safe.
Hi Elaine.
Please check this. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html. Scroll down to section starting with “Individual who has had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more).”
Aloha.
I think that Elaine’s point, aside from her CDC comment, is that mask wearing, social distancing, and regular use of sanitizer before and after close contact in public spaces (grocery store) is a harmless ask that we do what we can to inhibit the spread. You and mask deniers who continue to debate about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin totally miss the point and confuse people who just want to follow the rules if they want to come to Hawaii.
I think you and Elaine are just mad that you are in fact the one’s that spread disinformation.
Case in point, what I stated was 100% true from the CDC. Yet you refuse to accept it. So who is the one that is blind?
Sure, “S”, you found a section (Thank, BOH, for finding the specific link on the CDC website) that addresses the current guidance based on community exposure for people exposed to people with known or suspected COVID-19 or possible COVID-19. However, you are twisting mask guidance by stating that “the CDC updated their mask data”. They have not changed their basic tenet.
I’ll include it for you and anyone else who still is resistant to wearing a mask. The CDC has NOT changed their stance on wearing a mask. Twist all you like.
“Your mask helps protect those around you.
COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in.
Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.
You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. Wearing a mask helps protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.
It is especially important to wear a mask when you are indoors with people you do not live with and when you are unable to stay at least 6 feet apart since COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another.”
Per the CDC:
“This is irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a mask or whether the contact was wearing respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE)”
Doesn’t mean that wearing a mask or PPE is pointless, but it’s hardly a ringing endorsement.
FWIW, most of the face coverings I observe, including the one I wear when in a “must wear one” situation (e.g., going into a store or restaurant), are just pieces of cloth that quickly become sweaty-saturated.
I know that reading comprehension or just researching for yourself, is tough for some. I forgive you.
Problem is not reading comprehension. Even though you are violating BOH rules for first initial and last name, you probably forgot that “Q” is before “S”. Retire to Parler. Oh, I forgot, they can’t find a server farm.
please moderate Elaine’s false statement..
Man that is easy, no wonder you all get so much enjoyment out of canceling people. I need to try your rhetoric more often.
Next I’m gonna start being offended by everything.
Aloha BOH Bros
Thanks for the Beach Blanket Bingo 2021 edition photo.
So officials are closing the beach, why? Frankie, Dee Dee, Bonehead and Eric Von Zipper are just going to move the party to a different location.
Shout out to the squares these young Kool Kats don’t care about contracting covid my bet is many have already contracted it and survived. By the looks of things VD is more of an issue with this group then covid.
So if you’re over 55 I’d suggest sheltering in place cause there’s a good chance the avoided super spreader covid surge has finally arrived on the islands.
Peace not covid man.
Next time can you blur out the guy bending over with his balls hanging down to his knees. Thanks
Please, is there a way to get a copy of the photo used in this article? I can clarify my reason in an email. Thanks!
Hi Sandra.
That is on the Hawaii DLNR site.
Aloha.
We are planning a seven day stay on Maui in late, and then going to Oahu for five days, so will appreciate all updates. Also if there would be any travel restriction between the islands?
Hi Barbara.
Presently there will be nothing additional required for travel from Maui to Oahu.
Aloha.
Well GEE who besides me is NOT shocked by this? I/We warned all along this was going to happen and the detractors are still here saying Oh its fake its not real etc. IT IS real and its killed 350,000 citizens that we know of! Wear your damn mask. If not YOU are the one who should stay home. This is not about freedom this is about all of our health. Dont like it? Move out of our country NOW
How are those masks, restrictions and lockdowns working out for ya? Really curtailing the spread, absolutely!!
Does Hawaii have access to a National Guard or similar civilian law enforcement? This is a state emergency – those violating health protocols should simply be picked up and incarcerated. Fining is simply a slap on the wrist for offenders, it is too light given the circumstances. People worldwide have been warned what safety protocols are – you break them, you pay. The nation and world has seen the disruptive power of both the Virus as well as the man-made mitigation steps. Time to get serious and put an end to irresponsible childish behavior. Lock them up. JUST until the virus abates.
Desperate times call for desperate measure. Take the best practices from China – full lock down of irresponsible people.
I continue to pray for my friends, brothers and sisters for a swift recovery – this COVID situation has been difficult, I know. Aloha.
Thank you for your comments comrade.