Man on Hawaiian vacation arrested, charged with breaking quarantine rules

Hawaii's 14-day quarantine order for travelers has been in effect since April 1.

May 16, 2020, 1:18 PM

A New York City man who went on vacation amid stay-at-home mandates and lockdown orders, experienced some of his Hawaiian vacation from jail.

Tarique Peters arrived in Oahu, Hawaii, on May 11 then left his hotel and "traveled many places using public transportation," said authorities with the Department of the Attorney General Clare Connors' office.

PHOTO:A police officer arrives to tell people to leave Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.
A police officer arrives to tell people to leave Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Hawaii law enforcement authorities cracking down on rogue tourists visiting beaches, jet skiing, shopping and generally flouting strict requirements that they quarantine for 14 days after arriving, March 28, 2020.
Caleb Jones/AP, FIle

Travelers to Hawaii must self-quarantine for 14 days before venturing out to the islands, as per an executive order issued by Hawaii's Governor David Ige that went into effect on April 1.

Peters, 23, posted five photographs to his public Instagram account of him on the beach with a surfboard, sunbathing and walking around Waikiki at night, according to authorities.

Agents confirmed with hotel personnel that Peters was seen repeatedly leaving the premises during his stay, authorities said.

PHOTO: A surfer returns to Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, April 21, 2020. Hawaii has some of the lowest coronavirus infection and mortality rates in the U.S.
A surfer returns to Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, April 21, 2020. Hawaii has some of the lowest coronavirus infection and mortality rates in the U.S.
Caleb Jones/AP

"We appreciate the assistance of local people who spot flagrant violations of our emergency rules on various social media sites and report them to the appropriate authorities," said Connors in a press release issued on Friday.

Peters, who is from the Bronx, was arrested and charged with violation of the mandatory 14-day quarantine rule and unsworn falsification to authority, authorities said.

Bail was set for Peters at $4,000. His attorney's information was not available.

Violations of the self-quarantine order could result in a misdemeanor with fines of up to $5,000 and/or up to one year in prison, or both, according to the governor's office.

Over 200 tourists have flown into various parts of Hawaii since the self-quarantine orders were put into place, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

FILE PHOTO: Waikiki Beach is nearly empty due to the business downturn caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. April 28, 2020. Picture taken April 28, 2020.
FILE PHOTO: Waikiki Beach is nearly empty due to the business downturn caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. April 28, 2020. Picture taken April 28, 2020.
Marco Garcia/Reuters

Peters is not the first tourist to get arrested for violating the self-quarantine orders.

Six tourists have been arrested in Hawaii for violating the orders since the end of April, including a California couple on their honeymoon.

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