Schatz Urges Ige to Lift Restrictions on Youth Sports, Permitting Surf and Regatta Competitions

US Sen. Brian Schatz has called on Gov. David Ige to lift restrictions on youth sporting events, including allowing parents and guardians to cheer on their athletes in person and permitting surf competitions and regattas to resume while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

In a letter sent to Ige today, May 13, Schatz asks the governor to urgently reevaluate his prohibition on parents and guardians watching youth sports.

“We already allow people on beaches, to watch sports in bars, and to do other outdoor activities, but yet we do not allow parents and guardians to watch their kids play youth sports outside in the sunshine and open-air,” Schatz wrote. “Lifting your prohibition on parents and guardians watching their kids play youth sports and youth surf and outrigger canoe paddling contests can be done while remaining consistent with public health guidelines.”

In his letter to the governor, Schatz cites Hawai‘i’s progress on vaccinations and its low case counts, as well as the importance of safely lifting restrictions and returning to a more normal life.

On Wednesday, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reported 47 new cases of coronavirus. The statewide total is now 33,376. One new COVID-related death was also reported. The state’s two-week average is 78 new cases daily, with a test positivity rate of 1.4%.

Approximately 1.2 million of COVID vaccine doses have been administered statewide.

“Lifting your prohibition on parents and guardians watching their kids play youth sports and youth surf and outrigger canoe paddling contests can be done while remaining consistent with public health guidelines,” Schatz stated. “Furthermore, it would reward hard-working families for their exemplary behavior and advance the efforts to get everyone vaccinated.”

The featured image is courtesy of Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club’s Facebook page.