Ige Grants Kawakami’s Request to Repeal COVID Tier System Restrictions

Gov. David Ige has signed off on Kauaʻi County mayor’s request to repeal its COVID-19 tier system restrictions while maintaining guidelines on professionally organized events.

Under Mayor Derek SK Kawakami’s Emergency Rule 27 signed by Ige on Wednesday, Oct. 13, the county will continue to limit professionally organized events to 40 indoors and 100 outdoors.

“Prior to the arrival of the Delta variant, we had hoped to end COVID-19 restrictions once 70% of Hawai‘i residents were fully vaccinated,” Kawakami stated. “However, due to the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant, it is clear that certain restrictions must remain in place.”

Event organizers wishing to exceed those capacity limits must ensure proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results for all participants prior to the event. COVID-19 tests must be taken within 24 hours before the start of the event.

Additionally, any event over 50 people – whether indoors or outdoors – must submit event information to the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency online at www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.

Kaua‘i County will continue to observe and enforce state rules on travel, face coverings, social gathering sizes, business capacity limits and other statewide mandates, pursuant to the Governor’s COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation and Executive Order No. 21-05.

As a reminder, any individual violating the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 safety rules is subject to a $250 fine. Businesses and organizers in noncompliance are subject to a $500 fine.

“Organizers of professional events are responsible for knowing and complying with the rules,” Kawakami said. “These rules help to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community, allowing all of us to continue daily activities, keep our businesses open, our hospitals running, and our keiki safe.”

For more information on COVID-19 regulations, visit www.kauai.gov/covid-19. For information on free COVID-19 vaccine clinics, visit www.kauai.gov/vaccine. For information on free COVID-19 testing, visit www.kauai.gov/covidtest.