Yesterday, Mayor Rick Blangiardi held a press conference to announce that Honolulu further loosens restrictions. Sort of. This loosening of restrictions isn’t seeking to make significant changes. Instead, it’s adjustments to the existing set of rules.
Earlier this month, Mayor Blangiardi made changes to Honolulu’s emergency orders. Those changes include:
- Outdoor seated events of up to 1,000 attendees or 50% of the venue’s capacity, whichever is lower. These events include things like the University of Hawaii football games.
- Indoor seated events of up to 500 attendees or 50% of the venue’s capacity, whichever is lower
- Outdoor interactive events – such as weddings and funerals – with capacities of up to 150 or 50% of the venue’s capacity, whichever is lower.
- Indoor interactive events have a strict limit of 10 attendees, or 50% capacity, whichever is lower.
- Road races with up to 500 participants so long as they have a staggered start of 25 people or less.
- Alcohol sales extended from 10 pm to midnight.
Those changes went into effect on October 8 and 20. But, now, those rules are changing again, for the better.
Honolulu Further Loosens Restrictions
During his press conference yesterday, Mayor Blangiardi outlined Honolulu’s new guidelines:
- Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol until 2 am
- Outdoor seated events can operate at 100% capacity so long as everyone is fully vaccinated and masked.
- Indoor seated entertainment venues can operate at 100% capacity if everyone is fully vaccinated and masked. Food and beverage service, except for water, remains prohibited.
- Outdoor interactive events can operate with up to 500 people so long as everyone is fully vaccinated and masked, though food and beverage service is allowed.
- Indoor interactive events are allowed at up to 50% capacity, or 150 people, whichever is lower, so long as everyone is fully vaccinated and masked, though food and beverage service is allowed.
- Road races can happen with an unlimited number of participants, provided they’re all vaccinated. These races must also employ staggered starts with a maximum of 50 people during each wave.
These changes go into effect on Wednesday, November 3. However, restrictions on interactive events will loosen further three weeks later. So, come November 24, outdoor interactive event capacities go up to 100% of the venue’s capacity with no maximum limit, indoor interactive event capacities increase to 300 people, and starting groups for road races expand to 200. All other restrictions remain in place.
Safe Access Oahu
Honolulu’s vaccine passport program, Safe Access Oahu, is getting extended through Christmas. As a reminder, under the program, all patrons dining in a restaurant must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken in the last 72 hours. The continuation of the program is considered key to keeping our numbers down, at least for now.
Final Thoughts
Mayor Blangiardi has the backing of the Hawaii Health Care Alliance for his latest moves. Hospitalization rates are low and 90% of Oahu’s population is now fully vaccinated, which is 73% of our total population. That said, Governor David Ige didn’t agree with all of Blangiardi’s modifications. For example, he doesn’t agree with the indoor rule changes. However, Ige agreed to disagree with Blangdiardi, which got us the above modifications.