Restrictions placed in City parks due to COVID surge

Mayor’s Order 2020-22 provides guidance for updated restrictions at public facilities

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, August 3, 2020

O‘AHU – Restrictions outlined in Mayor Caldwell’s Emergency Order 2020-22 have resulted in the reinstatement of some Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facility restrictions due to a surge in O‘ahu COVID-19 cases.

Most notably, Order 2020-22 does not allow for indoor or outdoor social gatherings to exceed 10 people, with face coverings and physical distancing requirements. This will result in the following procedures being implemented by DPR effective immediately:

New picnic permits will not be issued, including no new permits for use of inflatable structures in parks (commonly referred to as “bouncy houses”). Previously approved picnic permits will be honored. A picnic permit is required for any large event.

DPR will continue to permit for outdoor team sports events, which allow for up to 100 people to attend the event including athletes, coaches, and spectators. These events are not meant to be social gatherings, and participants are expected to leave the park once their event is complete while wearing facial coverings and physically distancing.

Outdoor social gathering limitations do apply to all areas in the City and County of Honolulu including beaches and other City park locations. Beaches may only be used from a half an hour before sunrise to a half an hour after sunset, unless being used for fishing or permitted outdoor exercise, per Mayor’s Order. Regular City park closure hours remain in effect.

Other outdoor facilities and DPR functions previously reopened / reinstated will continue with the above-mentioned restrictions. These include the: Honolulu Botanical Gardens, People’s Open Markets, Community Gardens, Koko Head Shooting Complex, archery ranges, campgrounds, playgrounds, City pools, dog parks and exercise equipment.

Permitted camping in designated City campgrounds remains available. However, DPR is reminding the public that campgrounds already have a 10-person limitation per campsite in the camping rules. If large gatherings occur in City campgrounds, they may be closed again, so please respect this rule.

Indoor City park facilities such as gymnasiums, recreation buildings, and meeting rooms remain closed except for government functions, which include Neighborhood Board Meetings. Previously opened comfort stations (bathrooms) remain open on their regular schedule, unless closed to address maintenance issues.

  *   *   *   *   *

Limit on gatherings to no more than 10 people approved for O‘ahu

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, August 3, 2020

HONOLULU – Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced that Governor David Ige has approved the City and County of Honolulu’s amended order that limits indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than ten people, regardless of household/living unit affiliation. This is effective immediately.

It also specifically restricts funerals and other death related events to ten people (consistent with the limit on gatherings). 

Both indoors and outdoors, groups of ten must keep a physical distance of at least six feet between members of different households, face coverings must be worn in accordance with the Order, and mingling between separate social gatherings is prohibited.

“Right now we’re facing a massive challenge to get this virus back under control and we don’t want to go back to where we were in March,” said Mayor Caldwell. “The goal here is to keep as much of our island open and running as possible, but in a way that’s safe. For example, instead of closing down facilities like parks, where people can exercise outdoors, we’re trying to control the size of gatherings in those parks. We’re trying to move forward in a way where we can avoid taking any major steps backwards. The only way we do this is with everyone doing their part.”

A signed version of Emergency Order No. 2020-22 (Amended and Restated Ho‘oulu i Honolulu – Restore Honolulu 5.0), can be found at Honolulu.gov.

If you have any questions on Mayor Caldwell’s Ho‘oulu i Honolulu Order 5.0, the City and County of Honolulu COVID-19 information call center remains open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. O‘ahu residents are encouraged to visit the website, oneoahu.org to get answers to frequently asked questions. If they do not find an answer to their questions on the site, residents can call the 768-CITY (2489) information hotline or email covidresponse@honolulu.gov.

—PAU—

LINK: CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU – EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 2020-22