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The Marriott Maui Ocean Club in Kaanapali is pictured in August. A bill that proposes placing a moratorium on hotel building permits garnered early support from residents at a Maui County Council meeting on Friday, though others said it was the last thing Maui needed with the local economy reeling from the pandemic. The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo
A proposal to place a moratorium on hotel building permits is garnering early support from residents who say it will help balance an unfettered industry that reached record numbers before the pandemic.
Others, however, say the moratorium is the last thing Maui needs right now since it would limit job growth and business during a time when the local economy is reeling from the pandemic.
UHERO).
Despite progress in vaccinations, Hawaiʻi has undergone a rise in new infections with recent cases concentrated among younger, unvaccinated individuals. On April 3, the seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases hit a peak of 117 new daily cases and has since declined slightly.
A new mobility report by
UHERO shows 27% of residents are staying completely at home on a given day in early April 2021, only 7% more than pre-pandemic levels. During infection peaks in March and August 2020, 40% remained at home.
The mobility data allows for a comparison across islands and neighborhoods. Maui has undergone a steep decline in the share of residents staying at home, which correlates with the timing of rising infections.
The end of the session is looming and lawmakers have failed to deal with the ADC. They need to figure it out during the interim and return in January prepared to act.