State, county report violations of COVID-19 directives

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Both the state and county are reporting numerous violations of Gov. David Ige’s stay-at-home directive, self-quarantine orders and park closures during the COVID-19 emergency.

State Department of Land and Natural Resources officers have cited 34 people statewide, including two on the Big Island, the DLNR said Wednesday.

Hawaii Island Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers cited 28-year-old Hanna Stauffer of Kailua-Kona for allegedly loitering at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, which had been closed by the Division of State Parks.

In addition, 31-year-old Sergey Bulgutenko of Russia was cited for violating terms of the state’s self-quarantine order.

According to DLNR, a DOCARE officer spotted Bulgutenko operating a small dinghy in an erratic manner at Waiakea Public Fishing Area in Hilo.

Bulgutenko had arrived in Hilo aboard a sailing vessel and was ordered to self-quarantine by the Hawaii Department of Transportation, according to DLNR.

And the Hawaii Police Department reported Wednesday that during the week of April 1-7, its officers arrested 14 people, cited 32, and initiated criminal cases against four people, for a total of 50 violations of the state’s stay-at-home order, which is in effect until April 30.

The breakdown by district is as follows:

• South Hilo — eight arrests, 13 citations and two criminal cases initiated;

• Kona — 2 arrests and four citations;

• North Kohala — two arrests, three citations and two criminal cases initiated;

• Puna — one arrest and five citations;

• South Kohala — 7 citations;

• Kaʻu — one arrest.

Police said offenses that prompted the police response and subsequent arrests include: burglary, theft, trespassing, contempt of court, open lewdness, obstruction of public passage, violating a protective order and DUI.

Behavior that prompted citations, according to police, include disregarding repeated warning by police, public disturbance, reckless driving, and congregating or loitering at a closed park or beach area.