Statement from Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami regarding Governor David Ige’s denial of
Kauai County’s proposed second-test pilot program
“We thank the public for your patience over the course of the past 10 days while we awaited a decision on our proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule 18, which would have established a post-arrival testing program for all incoming travelers to Kaua‘i. Our proposed pilot was intended to augment the state’s pre-travel testing program.
“Unfortunately, we were informed by Governor Ige Monday morning that our proposed Rule 18 was denied.
“Our county administration has been clear that a single pre-arrival testing program alone does not provide the needed level of protection for our Kaua‘i community. However, our proposed second-test program has formally been denied.
“While this news is disappointing, we have said since day one that we must be flexible and ready to adapt to our ever-changing environment in order to keep our community safe. Today is no different.
“We will keep moving forward and utilize our resources to help protect our residents. We have already secured 15,000 rapid tests. We are now developing a plan on how we can still utilize these tests to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on our island in light of the Governor and Lt. Governor’s pre-travel testing program which will commence on Oct. 15.”