2020-04-10 County Orders Vacation Rentals, B&Bs to Cease Operations during COVID-19 Emergency -- press release

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Roy Takemoto Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 April 10, 2020 NEWS RELEASE County Orders Vacation Rentals, B&Bs, Time Shares to Cease Operations during COVID-19 Emergency The County of Hawai‘i has ordered vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts and time shares to cease operations and advertising during the period specified in Governor Ige’s Emergency Proclamations. The order, the Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule #1, is effective Monday, April 13, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue throughout the COVID-19 emergency, or until terminated sooner by the Mayor’s Order. Under the Governor’s Third Supplementary Proclamation issued on March 23, 2020, hotels and motels used for lodging and delivering or carry-out food services, were identified as essential businesses. “Bed and Breakfasts, short-term rentals and time-shares were not identified as essential businesses or operations under the Governor’s Third Supplementary Proclamation,” the Mayor’s Rule said. “The bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals and time-shares are spread out throughout the island, with many of them within residential communities, and many of their occupants, who are visitors, possibly not complying with the Governor’s Proclamations to self-quarantine for fourteen days at their place of stay,” the rule said. “Therefore, all of these specified businesses or operations, including advertising, must cease for the period specified in the Governor’s Proclamation,” the rule said. The rule said that current occupants of bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals, and time- shares may stay until the end of the pre-booked period. Violators of the rule, which has the force of law under HRS §127A-29. HRS §127A-29, will be subject to fines of up to $5,000, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.