County gyms, ballfields set to close today

Hall and Oates concert at MACC has been moved to Oct. 21

Maui County announced the shuttering of county ballfields and gyms; high school sports are halted; and the Hall & Oates concert set for later this month at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center has been rescheduled to October over the threat of coronavirus.

County fields, pools, gyms and other facilities, including public restrooms, will be closed for the next 30 days starting today amid health and safety concerns over COVID-19.

County community centers will close starting Monday.

County offices will remain open, as will county beach parks and the Waiehu Golf Course.

The temporary closures may be extended if warranted, the county said in an announcement Friday.

"To protect our players and their families, we recommend that our local sports leagues take added precautions and temporarily suspend all league activities until further notice from the county," Mayor Michael Victorino said in a news release Friday.

The Department of Parks and Recreation is working with permittees and providing assistance through the temporary closure period. For questions, call the office at 270-7389.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association, in conjunction with member leagues including the Maui Interscholastic League, announced that all competition will be suspended indefinitely Monday due to the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.

The resumption of play will not be made without the HHSAA first consulting with the state Department of Health and the Governor's Office, the Friday announcement said. The HHSAA also will continue to evaluate the situation and make a later determination regarding its spring state tournaments scheduled for May.

Also, the MACC announced that the March 29 Daryl Hall and John Oates concert will be moved to Oct. 21 at the Yokouchi Pavilion and A&B Amphitheater.

Ho'omau 2020 slated for March 28 at Maui Nui Botanical Garden has been postponed, according to the event's Facebook page. The event, a benefit for the Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion program, is tentatively rescheduled for June 27. Participants should hold on to tickets as they will be honored for the rescheduled date.

The 2020 Valley Isle Keiki Fest scheduled April 11 at UH-Maui College has been canceled, the Kiwanis Club of the Valley Isle said via Facebook. The festival will resume next year. Vendors and sponsors, who have already sent in their participation commitments, will be contacted. For information, email keikifest@gmail.com.

Other event changes tied to coronavirus concerns that were released Friday include:

• St. Joseph Feast, scheduled for May 1-3 at the Makawao church, has been postponed. Event officials said they plan to honor all presale scrip and hamburger tickets at the rescheduled dates.

• State Public Library System's Ukulele Lending Program launch event with Jake Shimabukuro and Andrew Molina for Maui libraries today at Kahului Public Library is postponed.

• Friends of Yuki Lei Sugimura campaign event Wednesday at UH-Maui College's Paina Dining Room is postponed.

• Maui County Farm Bureau general membership meeting Wednesday has been rescheduled to April 15.

• Hawai'i Energy Conference set for Wednesday and Thursday at the MACC is postponed.

• Kahului Hongwanji's Spring Bazaar on March 21 is postponed.

• Maui Preparatory Academy's grand opening of its Bozich Center for Athletics and Performing Arts on March 28 is rescheduled for Sept. 12.

• Maui Federal Credit Union's annual membership luncheon March 29 at the Maui Beach Hotel, is canceled (no food, refreshments, door prizes and gift distribution), but the business meeting portion will still take place at 11:30 a.m. at the hotel. Members who have purchased tickets may request a refund at the main office, 107 East Wakea Ave., Kahului, and will receive a free gift.

• The county's Fair Housing Training on April 3 at UH-Maui College is postponed.

• Malama Maui Nui's Art of Trash exhibition set for April 4 to May 2 at Maui Mall is postponed.

• Maui Police Department's 2020 Dare Rally on April 30 is suspended.

• Hana Advisory Committee meeting at Helene Hall set for Monday has been canceled.

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.