With COVID-19 cases on Hawaii Island continuing to surge, Mayor Harry Kim announced Wednesday that all county and state beach parks will close for two weeks starting Friday.
The closures are being implemented to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus — which has infected 418 people and contributed to the deaths of three veterans as of Wednesday on the Big Island — by limiting gatherings starting Friday, through the Labor Day holiday weekend, until Sept. 18, Kim said.
On Wednesday, state health officials, for a ninth consecutive day, announced a double-digit increase in Big Island COVID-19 cases, reporting 35 new positives.
Kim said state Department of Health contact tracing has shown large gatherings to be a key source of spreading the virus. To date, several clusters have been linked to social gatherings, including a funeral service July 25 for Kaulana Pakele and most recently a party in Milolii.
“We are at a critical stage, and we must stop the spread of the virus,” said Kim.
Beach and coastal parks may be used for direct access to and from the ocean in order to engage in exercise, fishing and gathering of food, according to the mayor’s amended Emergency Rule No. 11 approved Wednesday by Gov. David Ige. Park restrooms and showers will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
The rule explicitly prohibits the use of pavilions, barbecues, temporary canopies, pop-up tents, tarps and similar shade devices and tables, hibachis, coolers, and other items commonly associated with picnicking and gatherings. In addition, all commercial operations and activities at the sites are prohibited.
Camping also is prohibited, and all existing permits were canceled.
At Old Kona Airport Park in Kailua-Kona, the restrictions only apply to the area makai of the old runway.
Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo will remain open, but with the same prohibited use of the items listed above for other parks.
“Everybody has kuleana to end the spread of COVID-19 on Hawaii Island, and by rallying as a community we can beat this,” Kim said.
The closure of state and county beach and shoreline parks effective Friday follows the county earlier this week announcing the closure of Waipio Valley. The county said the closure is necessary because of the anticipation of large crowd gatherings for the Labor Day holiday weekend, combined with the lack of resources to enforce COVID-19 safe physical distancing practices.
The access road will be closed to the public from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Local traffic will be allowed to pass through, one vehicle at a time.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
