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Hundreds protest mask and vaccine mandates

By Melissa Tanji 5 min read

WAILUKU -- Hundreds turned out Monday morning in Wailuku to protest masks mandates and recent sweeping vaccination requirements, with protestors saying they have a right to choose what they want to do.

"I think it should be a (personal) choice, bottom line," said Waikapu resident Mike Richards as he stood with hundreds of others in front of the Kalana O Maui building for the "Call to Freedom" rally.

Richards held a sign that read "Delay tourism, not MIL Sports."

He added he was at the rally to be a "voice for the kids who couldn't be here."

Richards was referring to the announcement Wednesday that all public school student-athletes, athletic staff and volunteers must now be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus to participate in school-sanctioned athletic activities for the 2021-22 school year. The public school athletic season last week was pushed back to Sept. 24.

And a day later, Gov. David Ige announced that state and county employees must show proof of vaccination by Aug. 16, or be subject to weekly testing.

Last week, health care facilities and some banks also made it public that they, too, are mandating vaccinations for their workers.

"We know our Constitutional rights, they're taking it away from us," said 73-year-old Pumehana Cobb-Adams of Kula, who stood in front of the Kalana O Maui building with her family.

She also took a jab at President Joe Biden, saying "Biden is mandating everything he can in the book."

Cobb-Adams said she did get the vaccine to ensure she wouldn't spread the virus to her grandchildren. But added that she took offense to the government mandating vaccines for high school athletes, saying she has a granddaughter in high school that is a bowler.

Makawao resident Jason Arthur, who held a sign that read "Freedom 2 Choose," was amazed by the crowd that had gathered as he stood across the state office building.

"If we say O.K. this time, it opens up the flood gates next time," Arthur said of the vaccination mandates.

Participants, bystanders and organizers estimated the crowd outside the state building and the county building to be around 500 people. Many were without masks.

Gov. David Ige on March 25 lifted the mask mandate for all individuals outdoors. But Ige said the mask wearing "is still highly recommended outdoors, when in large groups."

But masks are still mandated indoors.

A Maui Police spokeswoman said there were no arrests or citations Monday. In total 13 Maui Police Officers were at the scene along with three state sheriffs and one lieutenant.

Maui Police said that the state building was closed until 10 a.m. Monday by the state Department of Accounting and General Services.

A spokesman for DAGS could not immediately be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Some protestors said via social media said that their civil rights were violated Monday when they were denied a chance to file a complaint in person with the state Department of Education whose Maui office is in the state office building.

Parent and professional mixed martial artist Kendall Grove said on The Maui News Instagram page that not only was the DOE office closed off to them but other offices providing state services were also closed.

"Those are essential offices that should have remained open," he said.

State Department of Education spokeswoman Nanea Kalani said in an email Monday afternoon that the DOE offices were locked "due to safety concerns given the size of the crowd."

But she added that the two complex superintendents who represent Maui schools, Kathleen Diminio and Rebecca Winkie are located in the building and did go down to hear from the crowd and collected contact information from anyone who wanted to provide it.

The superintendents also provided people with their contact information, Kalani said.

She added this is similar to the actions taken on Thursday, when there was another rally in front of the building.

Kalani said DOE officials responded to the people individually over the weekend who left their contact information with them on Thursday.

"We value the voice of our students and our parents and we thank them for sharing their concerns," Kalani said after Monday's demonstration. "We are listening."

Based on everything we know right now, this is the best route we feel in the interest of safety for students to be able to be back on campus and learn in person," she added.

During the protest in front of the county building, the crowd shouted for Mayor Michael Victorino.

In an email Monday afternoon, a county spokesman said that Victorino did meet with Anna Grove and Cullen Bell, representatives of the demonstrators, on Monday morning.

"He heard their concerns and agreed to invite state officials to participate in a Maui community meeting in the near future," said spokesman Brian Perry.

Victorino did establish three terms for the meeting in which there will be mutual respect by all participants, no foul language or threats and to limit discussion to definitive solutions.

"This is the County of Maui where aloha should guide us when we resolve our disagreements," Victorino said in the email statement. "I appreciate that today's protesters were peaceful and respectful because this is how we solve problems together."

Victorino said that throughout the pandemic he and his administration have "taken a methodical and systematic approach to prioritize the health and well-being" of Maui County residents.

He said this "common ground" is shared, which is the desire to protect public health, property educate the keiki and keep the economy moving.

"If we begin there, I believe we can find workable solutions," he said.

Another rally is scheduled for Friday.

Staff Writers Lila Fujimoto, Dakota Grossman and Kehaulani Cerizo contributed to this report.

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

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