Honolulu To Use Drones To Enforce Stay-At-Home Order

Drones will be deployed at Lanikai, Wakiki and Sandy beaches.

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The Honolulu Fire Department will deploy drone teams Friday to popular beach areas to enforce the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

Honolulu Fire Department drone flies along Waikiki Beach notifying people on beach with a small speaker that the beach is closed. April 10, 2020.
Honolulu Fire Department drone flies along Waikiki Beach notifying people on beach with a small speaker that the beach is closed.  Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Three teams of drones will be delivering public announcements at Lanikai, Waikiki and Sandy beaches between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a news release from the City and County of Honolulu.

The announcements will say: “Aloha, the stay at home order is in effect. Please do not gather or sit on the beach. Water activities are permitted, but please leave immediately after.”

The city said the drones are not equipped with video recording capabilities. They will only be used to deliver the announcements.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s stay-at-home order went into effect on March 23. A list of permissible activities can be found on OneOahu.org.

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