Wedding category added to Honolulu’s COVID-19 recovery framework

News Release from Office of the Mayor, March  26, 2021

HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu has received notice from Governor David Y. Ige and the State of Hawai‘i that the request to modify Honolulu’s COVID-19 recovery framework to include “weddings” as a category has been approved and is effective immediately.

“From photographers and florists, to officiants and planners, the entire wedding industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “My team and I listened to the business owners and voiced their concerns to the State. We are happy to announce these determined entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to expand operations in a safe manner. I would like to thank Governor Ige and the Department of Health for continuing this important conversation as we restore more of our local economy. At a recent demonstration at Honolulu Hale the wedding industry representatives assured us they can operate in a safe manner and we trust they will keep their word, while also doing their part to prevent large unpermitted events from happening. Keeping all members of our community safe is still our primary focus.”

The City monitors current conditions and recognizes there has been an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases over the past week on O‘ahu. Public health is the priority and the City continues to work with the State Department of Health and health experts to assess current risks and make adjustments as needed. We continue to safely reopen the economy allowing more people to return to work. The community must also work together to prevent the spread of the virus by continuing to wear masks, remaining physically distanced and abiding by the rules of the reopening strategy.

Under the amended framework, weddings under the supervision of event planning professionals are now allowed in Tier 3, with a maximum of 100 people per event (including staff), at outdoor venues only. For weddings, table seating in groups of up to ten individuals is required, everyone must follow proper use of face coverings as detailed in the Order, food and beverage service must comply with the requirements for Restaurants/Bars, temperature checks must be completed, and sign-in data must be collected for all guests.

Dancing is allowed at weddings on O‘ahu, provided dancers wear approved face coverings and follow spacing requirements of two dancers for every 36 square feet, with a maximum of 32 dancers.

To view the new Wedding category details and the reopening framework please visit https://www.oneoahu.org/reopening-details/#weddings

The City and County of Honolulu call center is available to public seven days a week, excluding City holidays (including Prince Kuhio Day), from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The call center phone number is 808-768-CITY (2489). Emails are also welcome at covidresponse@honolulu.gov 

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