Gov. David Ige on Wednesday signed the City and County of Honolulu’s new emergency order that will ease some business restrictions starting at midnight.

Gyms and arcades on Oahu will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity, and helicopter tours at 50% capacity. Legal short term vacation rentals and personal care services may resume operations.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Tuesday that Oahu was ready to move to Tier 2 of its reopening plan given the lower case counts, and was waiting for the governor to sign off.

Magnum Helicopters aircraft flies above Magic Island/Ala Moana Beach Park
Helicopter tours are among businesses that can reopen Thursday. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Also under the new tier, individuals that do not reside in the same household will be allowed to dine at restaurants together, so long as they limit groups to five or less.

Additionally, five people may gather for outdoor activities, according to a press release from the city. A full list of restrictions can be found on the city’s website.

Businesses are still required to comply with health mandates and social distancing requirements.

The conditions for moving to Tier 2 required Oahu to have a seven-day average of positive COVID-19 test below 100. To get to Tier 3, the case counts must fall below 49 and stay there for two weeks.

Oahu had 65 positive tests on Wednesday.

Bars and nightclubs remain closed.

On Tuesday, the owner of several Irish bars including Anna O’Briens sued Ige and Caldwell over lockdown orders that have caused several of those bars to permanently shutter.

Caldwell declined to comment on the pending lawsuit at a news conference Wednesday.

Read the emergency order below.



Emergency Order 2020 29 (Text)

Support Civil Beat during the season of giving.

As a small nonprofit newsroom, our mission is powered by readers like you. But did you know that less than 1% of readers donate to Civil Beat?

Give today and support local journalism that helps to inform, empower and connect.

About the Author