Retail stores, shopping malls allowed to reopen across Maui County

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Retail stores and shopping malls allowed to reopen across Maui County on Monday, but they must follow strict safety guidelines.

For stores that are ready to reopen, guidelines include no physical contact, wearing face coverings and limiting the number of people entering the business.

Businesses and spaces that are not allowed to operate include food courts (except for delivery or takeout), theaters, arcades, beauty salons and several others.

Maui Mayor Mike Victorino made the announcement last week Wednesday to allot extra time for businesses to prepare.

“It is my opinion that some businesses are not ready. Giving them until Monday will help them do it right rather than in haste,” he said. “A nice seamless reopening will help them do it right rather than in haste.”

Victorino also addressed the confusion about the reopening date for Maui County.

On Tuesday, the governor said retailers and shopping malls would reopen statewide on Thursday. But the Governor’s Office later corrected that message, saying that Oahu and Maui County would have different reopening dates.

On Oahu, shopping malls and retailers will be able to reopen May 15.

Victorino said he was able to clear up the confusion in a conversation with the governor Tuesday night and then again Wednesday morning. “He was very apologetic in the mistakes that were made,” Victorino said.

In a news conference Wednesday, Ige acknowledged his remarks were confusing but didn’t clarify whether he misspoke or changed his order to reflect concerns from the mayors.

“I’m not exactly sure what I said that was in conflict,” Ige said, when pressed on the issue.

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