David Y. Ige

(Honolulu) – Effective immediately, emergency restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic for commercial and recreational boating and ocean recreation are being relaxed statewide.

Commercial and recreational boating can now include up to ten people on a vessel at one time, operating under new COVID-19 “Act With Care” guidelines. This includes passengers and crew and applies to all recreational and commercial vessels. It applies in all four Hawai‘i counties. The ten-person limitation can be exceeded if everyone is from the same household.

Commercial water sports operators, like surf schools and kayak rental companies, can also resume operations with the same restrictions – a limit of 10 people including crew or staff.

Boating and Ocean Recreation COVID-19 guidelines are based on Dept. of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as input from boaters in Hawai‘i and in coordination with the counties. These guidelines remain in effect and call for physical distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing of masks, when practical. Boating and Ocean Recreation COVID-19 guidelines to be followed are linked below.

Additionally, offices of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) across the state will reopen for transactions tomorrow. All patrons will be required to abide by now

common health protections. This includes asking whether someone is sick prior to entering an office and only allowing one customer in at one time. Face masks are required. Maintenance of six-foot social distancing will be in place as practical and hand sanitizers or disinfectant wipes will be available.  Further protective steps include the installation of barriers to separate staff from visitors, frequent hand washing and frequent disinfection of high use areas. Note, that many boating and ocean recreation transactions can now be accomplished online.

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RESOURCES 

Commercial Boating and Watersports Operation Restrictions:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/covid-19-dobor-response/

Online boating and ocean recreation transactions:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/ 

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
[email protected]