Nighttime curfew ends for now, mayor says

Roving checkpoints will continue

There will be no nighttime curfews for now, but roving checkpoints will remain, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced during a media update Tuesday.

Victorino said that the night curfew pilot program has ended for now, unless there is a spike in coronavirus cases or if it is necessary during another long holiday weekend, such as Memorial Day.

"I trust the people of Maui will exercise good judgment as they did over the weekend," he said, referring to continued efforts to restrict vehicular travel to essential reasons only.

The roving checkpoints, which are not part of the pilot curfew program, are ongoing and moving, Victorino said. Last weekend, the checkpoints operated in Paia, Maalaea, Waikapu and Upcountry, police said.

During a media update Monday, the mayor said checkpoints may be added at Hana and Kahakuloa gateways.

The mayor reminded drivers that they will need to show their license, registration and insurance and state a reason for travel at a checkpoint. The information should be displayed and conveyed to law enforcement without having to make contact.

After seven citations were issued at the roadblocks throughout Maui County on Saturday, no citations were issued Sunday, police said.

As for violations of public health emergency rules, there have been 16 arrests, including one on Molokai on Monday, and 328 citations since March 28, according to the Maui Police Department.

In other coronavirus developments:

• Coronavirus testing on Molokai slated for Tuesday was canceled due to poor weather. It has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Mitchell Pauole Community Center.

• West Maui COVID-19 drive-thru testing will be held today along Honoapiilani Highway, beginning near Launiupoko Beach Park, from 9 to 10 a.m. for first responders and health care workers only (enter on Kai Hele Ku Street) and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the general public (enter Honoapiilani Highway eastbound).

• West Maui food distribution will occur at the site near Launiupoko Beach Park with about 350 bags of food to be distributed starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

• Victorino said Tuesday that 1,000 face masks were provided to Molokai health care workers and first responders. Molokai General Hospital received 500 masks; police, 250 masks; and American Medical Response, 250 masks.

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