Restrictions to Ease on Social Gathering Sizes

Social gathering restrictions are slated to ease with county officials allowing 40 people indoors and 100 outdoors.

On Tuesday, Nov. 30, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami issued Emergency Rule 28, which will go into effect on Dec. 1. The new rule maintains COVID-19 protocols for professionally organized events.

Any event over the gathering limit of 40 indoors and 100 outdoors requires an event organizer who will be tasked with ensuring that all attendees are either fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of the start of the event. Event coordinators are no longer required to register event information on the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency website; however, they will be responsible for maintaining contact information for all attendees in the event the Department of Health needs that information for contact tracing efforts.

Emergency Rule 28 also continues penalties for violators, which includes a $250 fine for individuals or a $500 fine for an event organizer or business found to be in violation of this rule.

Pursuant to the Governor’s new emergency measures on COVID-19 – also effective Dec. 1 – restaurants will no longer be subject to capacity limits and may return to 100% capacity. The indoor mask mandate will continue. Masks must be worn at all times indoors, except when eating or drinking.

To view Mayor’s Emergency Rule 28, click here.

The new Mayor’s Emergency Rule 28 was issued after Gov. David Ige signed a new emergency proclamation on Nov. 29 stating that the counties are no longer required to obtain the approval of the governor or the director of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency prior to issuing county emergency orders, rules or proclamations.