WAILUKU — Some businesses on Maui want a more consistent approach to pandemic mask rules.
Hawaii officials have been unclear about when or if mask rules will align with new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maui News reported Thursday.
The CDC now says people who are fully vaccinated can ditch the masks in certain outdoor situations. But Hawaii still requires outdoor masking in most settings where social distancing cannot be maintained.
“The latest CDC guidelines on mask requirements are being reviewed by Gov. Ige, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the AG’s office, the Department of Health and the county mayors,” governor spokeswoman Cindy McMillan said in an email. “If any adjustments are made to the emergency proclamation as a result of the latest CDC guidelines, the Office of the Governor will make that announcement.”
Maui has gone further than the state and requires outdoor masks regardless of physical distance, with some nuanced caveats. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino says he does not support the latest federal guidance and would have preferred the CDC had waited until herd immunity was achieved before making changes.
“I’m not in support of it because how do you verify whether you have (been fully vaccinated) or not,” Victorino said. “How many people keep their card when they’re on the beach or walking in the street? … Some people don’t even have their license. There are a number of questions that remain to be answered.”
Some businesses say rules need to be more consistent.
“What’s the most challenging about CDC guidelines and state guidelines and county guidelines is that they don’t all match up,” said Claire Byler, general manager of Cafe O’Lei at the Mill House in Wailuku. “For locals I feel like generally people are pretty good about it. But with tourists they’re coming from places where mask mandates are gone; they all have this feeling that they’re tested and they’re cleared. It’s been really challenging for us.”
Others say guests have the perception that businesses are making their own mask policies.
“At this point it’s more to have a unified approach to the constantly changing regulations so our customer or guest does not feel that each individual restaurant is doing its own rules,” said Giovanni Steven Cappelli, the owner of Bistro Casanova in Kahului. “I’m looking forward to the mayor coming up with a clear approach for what to do with people with parties, or people who are fully vaccinated.”
One business said following the rules has meant losing customers.
“We’ve definitely lost quite a few members who go to other gyms because they’re not wearing masks — and we’re following the rules as stated by the county of Maui,” said Staci Fujimoto, whose Wailuku gym operates in an open-air, partially covered space.
