As COVID-19 cases hit record highs in Hawaii, once again we are hunkering down. The state has imposed new restrictions on social gatherings and vaccine mandates for public workers.
“We are on fire,” said state health director Dr. Libby Char at a news conference Friday.
It sounds like a depressing return to the early grim days of the pandemic, with lockdowns and living in isolation. But there are notable exceptions — at least for now. One of the bright spots has been the return of live arts performances, a sweet balm in these dark times.
The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has three “Rhapsody & Rachmaninoff” concerts scheduled for this weekend. Hawaii Shakespeare Festival is performing “Henry IV, Part One” for a two-weekend run that began Friday. Manoa Valley Theater and Diamond Head Theatre were making plans for performances next month.
Up to now, strict safety protocols — and crucially, vaccinations — have allowed the shows to go on. But the swift community spread of the delta variant threatens even the best-laid plans. Canceling live performances would be more than a shame; it would be a blow to whatever sense of normalcy we have left.
Live entertainment and those employed by it contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the community. And as with other businesses, they contribute to the economy as well. It’s important that we keep the footlights on.
To do so requires an increased emphasis on safety. To that end, the city requires organizers of professionally sponsored events to submit a mitigation plan at least 10 days prior to an event.
For better or worse, it’s becoming apparent that vaccinations will play a more prominent role in those plans. It’s not ideal — not everyone can or will get the vaccine — but it may be the only way to keep the doors open while the pandemic rages. In fact, it’s already happening.
Along with mask-wearing and distancing requirements, both Diamond Head and Manoa Valley theaters have required audiences to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to gain entry. Of course this makes sense: In an enclosed indoor space, a theatergoer’s chances of catching even the delta variant can be drastically reduced, if not eliminated, if everyone inside has been vaccinated.
While outdoor venues such as the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell and Hawaii Mission Houses may be less restrictive, it’s not hard to imagine similar vaccine mandates put in place should case counts not improve — whatever it takes to keep the shows going.
Everyone hopes that this COVID-19 scourge will pass. We all want to attend a live performance without masks or shot records, and we will. Just not yet.
