Kauai COVID-19 Tier Level

Update: October 13, 2021 – Tier System Ended

Effective October 13, 2021, Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami has ended Kauai County’s Tier system restrictions while maintaining guidelines on professionally organized events, reports the County of Kauai.

Update: August 11, 2021

Due to rising COVID cases in Hawaii, precipitated in part by the Delta variant, Hawaii Governor Ige is reimposing new restrictions limiting social gatherings. Effective August 10, 2021, social gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. Patrons in restaurants, bars and social establishments must remain seated with their party while maintaining at least 6 feet distancing between groups.

The new restrictions will further limit the number of patrons allowed at restaurants and bars. Dinner reservations will be harder to come by, though some restaurants are setting up more outside seating.

In June 2021, social gatherings were increased to 25 indoors and 75 outdoors statewide but now it will be capped at 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.

Kauai will apparently remain at Tier 5 for now, pending further developments.

Effective July 8th, 2021, Kauai is at Tier 5.

The County of Kauai moves to Tier 5 on Thursday, July 8th after the state of Hawaii achieves a 60 percent vaccination rate for residents. July 8th also sees the end of the Resort Bubble program. Additionally, beginning July 8th, Trans-Pacific travelers to Hawaii can receive a quarantine exception by uploading their CDC-issued vaccination record card to the state’s Safe Travels Program website and having that card with them upon arrival in the State of Hawaii. For more information on the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com/travel.

Tier 5 is a tier level on Kauai’s current Business and Recreational Guidelines for COVID-19 tier chart (below). As of July 8th, Tier 5 will allow gatherings of up to 75 people outdoors or 25 indoors. Restaurants, gyms, buses, and attractions will be able to operate at 75 percent capacity. Once Hawaii reaches 70 percent fully vaccinated, Kauai will move to Tier 6 and eliminate all restrictions. The move to Tier 6 could potentially happen by the end of summer 2021.

Background

Kauai has instituted a tiered system of safety restrictions based on the average number of COVID-19 cases on the island over the past week. The system consists of six tiers, with Tier 1 being the most restrictive and Tier 6 representing a return to normal. The tiers regulate Kauai business and recreational activities depending on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tier level is important for Kauai tourists because it regulates many activities enjoyed by visitors to the island.

Perhaps most importantly for visitors to Kauai is the regulation of restaurants and bars. At Tier 5, for example, restaurants and bars can operate at 75% capacity (max group 25 indoors, 75 outdoors). At Tier 1, the most-restrictive level, restaurants and bars can only offer take out/outdoor only (max group 5).

The tier system also regulates a number of other business and recreational activities popular with visitors to the island of Kauai, including parks, beaches, trails, playgrounds, retail stores, faith-based services, museums, gardens, markets, craft fairs, helicopter tours and more. See the chart below for details.

Click on chart to see full size. Source: County of Kauai.

More Kauai COVID-19 information at www.kauai.gov/covid-19.