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Mauians show up for food, COVID-19 testing

About 700 tests given to health care workers, first responders and the general public

By Melissa Tanji 6 min read

KAHULUI -- Hundreds of Maui residents plugged the streets around War Memorial Gym and Keopuolani Regional Park on Thursday morning to get access to much-needed groceries and screening for COVID-19.

"This is amazing," said Dr. Scott Miscovich, of Premier Medical Group, as he surveyed the lines of cars that snaked inside Keopuolani Park, from the entrance on Wahine Pio Avenue, down to the playground area and back up to the exit along Kanaloa Avenue. Witnesses said people were already backed up along on Kahului Beach Road waiting for park gates to be opened at around 7:45 a.m.

The initial two hours of testing were reserved for first responders and health care workers. Several fire crews were in line along with at least two ambulances at around 9 a.m. About 200 tests were given in the first hour and about 700 tests by the end of Thursday, Mayor Michael Victorino said at a news conference later in the day.

Miscovich, whose practice is partnering with the county to offer the free screening, estimated that by today, they may have more than 2,000 people swabbed and tested in Maui, which is still yet a fraction of the population of approximately 170,000.

But, he added, "by the time we get up to having 2,000 people swabbed, we are going to have a much better idea of the prevalence of the disease as it stands on Maui."

Victorino agreed with Miscovich.

"I believe we'll find more positive cases, which helps us isolate and treat these individuals," he said. "That helps us lessen the curve early (rather) than letting it (get) out of hand."

On Thursday, three new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Maui County, bringing the county total to 57. All new cases were on Maui island. Molokai remains at two cases and Lanai zero.

In total, the state saw seven new cases, which brings the total to 442. Six new cases were recorded in Honolulu County, three in Maui County and two in Hawaii County. However, the number of cases with unknown residences decreased by four, meaning they had likely been assigned to certain counties.

Oahu now has 334, Maui County 57, Hawaii island 28 and Kauai 18.

The number of people released from isolation also more than doubled from 113 Wednesday to 251 Thursday.

Miscovich said the testing early Thursday morning was especially for those on the front lines, such as police patrol officers, and/or those who have come in contact with someone with COVID-19.

Hawaiian Airlines provided complimentary flights for Premier Medical Group's staff and volunteers to Maui for the large testing programs. The group of around 25 consisted of doctors, medical assistants, nurse practitioners and others, Hawaiian Airlines said. It is part of the airline's program to assist providers statewide to combat COVID-19.

Miscovich said it was important to test those on the front lines to ensure there is adequate staffing for first responders. He added that they tested all police officers on Molokai, as those with small populations may get hit hard if one comes down with COVID-19 and spreads to others.

"We don't want a (station) shut down with one positive," he said.

Testing at Keopuolani Park will continue today, with an 8 to 10 a.m. slot for health care workers and first responders only, and testing for the general public to follow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants should bring a valid ID and an insurance card if possible, though there will be no charge, co-pays or deductible fees.

Some of Miscovich's staff will also be in Hana today for drive-thru testing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the first hour for Hana's essential workers, including, police, fire, paramedics, health care workers, Maui Economic Opportunity drivers and others. Testing will be at the parking lot across the tennis court at Hana Ball Park. Priority will also be given to those who have traveled outside of Hana in the past two to three weeks, those who are symptomatic and those who are living in three-generational households.

Maui Medical Group officials said at the mayor's news conference Thursday that they have also screened some 1,000 individuals and tested 800 of them.

Dr. William Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of Maui Medical, said of those tested, "south of 20" individuals have resulted positive.

Maui Medical's main Wailuku clinic was initially taking its own patients, but is now taking others as well, Mitchell said.

While testing was underway at Keopuolani on Thursday, people lined up along Kanaloa Avenue for more than three hours prior to the start of a food distribution at the War Memorial Gymnasium parking lot. The line went onto Kahului Beach Road and then up Lower Main Street and even as far as St. Anthony School on Lower Main Street.

Another distribution was held at the South Maui gym.

Victorino said that more than 1,000 bags of food were passed out at the Central Maui and South Maui events. There were so many people that officials ran out of bags, he said. The bags contained food, produce, juice and eggs. When the bags ran out, Victorino said people were given juice and eggs.

Even the homeless living around Kanaha Beach Park were given food, with the help of the Salvation Army, he said.

Goods were also given to the Maui Food Bank and a couple of fire stations, Victorino said.

Among those who waited in line hours before the food drive opened at War Memorial was Danny Gines of Wailuku. The 60-year-old hotel housekeeper, who has been furloughed for two weeks now, was hoping to get some food for his household of 10, which includes in-laws who have also been furloughed.

He asked others in the household if they wanted to come, but they didn't want to because of the county order allowing no more than two people from one household to run essential errands at one time.

Gines did apply for unemployment and his claim is in, but he is still waiting for his first check, he said.

A woman from Waikapu who declined to be identified also waited in line in her car starting at around 8:20 a.m. Sitting near the Maui Family YMCA at around 9 a.m., she said she wasn't surprised by the line of cars about an hour prior to the start of the distribution.

The woman said she hoped the food would help her family, which consists of six people from multiple generations. She said she works as an on-call housekeeper for a hotel.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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