The Maui News and The Associated Press

Maui County announced Thursday that it will reopen beaches to sunbathing, meditating and sunset-watching on a two-week trial basis from Saturday through May 30.

“You can go ahead and go onto the beach and sunbathe and meditate and really take some time to relax,” Managing Director Sandy Baz said during a news conference.

Baz added that the county will be monitoring the beaches and that people still shouldn’t be gathering in groups of more than 10 and must continue following social distancing rules. Commercial activities and one-on-one or team basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, football and similar sports are not allowed. Parks and beaches continue to be open for exercise and activities that allow for social distancing, including yoga, tai chi, tennis and pickleball.

The county is planning to reopen more than 60 additional parks on Saturday.

When asked how he would decide whether sunbathing would be allowed beyond the two weeks, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said that “compliance would be the first aspect.” Any decision would also depend on the number of cases and how the county fares in its recovery.

Meanwhile, Gov. David Ige said Thursday he’s inclined to extend his “safer-at-home” order through the end of June to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Ige said he also plans to maintain the state’s requirement that travelers arriving in the state observe 14 days of quarantine.

The governor explained his intentions during a talk streamed live on Facebook.

Ige said he would be examining allowing more businesses to reopen, including hair salons, barber shops and restaurants with dine-in service. These activities carry more risk for spreading the virus than activities already allowed, like golfing and takeout restaurants.

Ige said the state would look at guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information on how to keep employees and customers safe.

The governor was joined by State Laboratories Division Administrator Dr. Edward Desmond and state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park.

Desmond said that the capacity for lab testing has increased but that there still is no need for arbitrary testing for the virus. Park reiterated the importance of testing people who are symptomatic and who have talked with their health care providers to rule out other underlying health conditions.

She noted that testing really only provides a “snapshot in time.”

For the second time in a week, the Health Department reported no new cases of coronavirus in Hawaii. The state’s total is 637, reduced by one due to a laboratory reporting error.

Oahu’s total is 414 cases; Maui’s, 117 (including two on Molokai and none on Lanai); Hawaii island’s, 75; and Kauai’s, 21. A total of 11 residents were diagnosed outside of the state.

A total of 48 people arrived from the Mainland on Maui on Wednesday on two flights. Of that total, 14 were visitors, 26 residents, one intended new resident and seven crew members.