“We’ll see you later.” Photo: Allie Smith
Late last week, after a recent surge in Coronavirus cases, Oahu officials closed public places like parks and beaches until at least September 5 and issued an inter-island quarantine until August 31. The policy comes after three recent deaths and 140 new cases were reported in the state.
According to reports, the Honolulu Police Department issued “hundreds” of citations to people on the sand at area beaches over the weekend, which apparently didn’t deter people from gathering on the rocks along the North Shore and crowding the Kamehameha Highway.
Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell (working with Governor David Ige) issued the order where “no one is allowed to walk, stand, or lay out on the beach. People can fish below the high-water mark and go into the ocean for activities like surfing, swimming, and diving.” The decree is of course to prevent people from gather in large numbers.
“Yes, beaches are closed now,” wrote photographer Zack Noyle to The Inertia in a text. “The water is open, but (you) can’t shoot on the beaches at all.”
Production crews shooting surfing were ordered off area beaches last week: “Beaches are closing down tonight until September,” filmmaker Tay Steele told us. “We had to take our weekend production and wrap today (Friday).”
Residents weren’t exactly stoked even if the measures are meant to protect people.
“It’s really disappointing that the beaches are closed,” Courtney Khan, a Honolulu resident told local media. “Especially at the end of summer and when school has just been delayed.”
