Puna woman arrested for emergency proclamation violations

A 59-year-old Keaau woman was arrested and charged for violating emergency rules on Thursday after refusing to put on a mask to cover her face and mouth.

Sandra Smart was contacted by police outside of the Keʻau Post Office and advised to put on a mask to cover her face and mouth which she refused to do, according to the Hawaii Police Department.Smart was issued a citation for violating Mayor Kim’s Emergency Rule No. 11.

On Friday, police again contacted Smart at the Keaʻau Post Office after observing her standing outside in line without wearing a mask covering her face and mouth, according to police. Officers asked Smart to put on a face covering, which she refused to do. Police then provided her with a sanitized bagged face mask and asked her to wear the mask and she again refused.

Smart, was then arrested and charged for prohibited acts emergency management after she refused to comply with Mayor Harry Kim’s Emergency Rule No. 11, which requires that all persons wear nonmedical grade face covering while in public settings.

Her bail was set at $2,000. As of Friday afternoon, she remained in the Hilo Cellblock pending her initial court appearance on Monday.