Once again Mayor Kawakami is trying to place additional burdens on travelers that will further delay our economic recovery.

I am asking that Gov. Ige reject Mayor Kawakami's emergency rule 21 requiring an additional Covid test and 3 days of quarantine for travelers arriving on Kauai.

 The propsed additional measures will be a barrier to economic recovery that local business and families on Kauai can not afford! We already have unprecedented homelessness, unemployment and food vulnerable residents. 

We have seen more and more businesses opening to travelers over that last few weeks. Restaraunts, hotels, shops, and tour companies have just started hiring back staff. Adding barriers to travel now will drive many businesses to bankruptcy and place large numbers of workers back on unemployment. 

Travelers facing 3 days of quarantine and additional testing to come to Kauai will simply choose another Hawaiian island to visit that doesn't have these additional burdens. This is unfair to Kauai residents and businesses. The state should not allow the counties to make up their own rules regarding travel which cause undue harm to residents and businesses. Gov. Ige needs to enforce consistent travel rules that apply equally to all islands thus treating every state citizen and business fairly.

Since Kauai already has an emergency rule in place giving them the option to opt out of the state's safe travels program should Covid cases rise significantly, there is no need for additional measures or emergency rules at this time.