The Maui News
A 56-year-old Napili woman was arrested and charged Saturday with an emergency health rules violation for repeatedly not wearing a mask at a business while helping customers, police said.
Maria Maither has posted $2,000 bail after being charged, police said.
Numerous complaints were received between Dec. 6 and 12 via the Maui Police Department’s email portal saying that Maither and other employees at the business at 5095 Napilihau St. were not complying with Hawaii’s statewide mask mandate.
Investigators contacted Maither on Dec. 12 at the business, where she was observed not wearing a mask while interacting with customers. Police did not identify the business and could not be immediately reached for comment Monday evening. Past reports in Maui No Ka Oi Magazine in 2018 and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in April identify Maither as the owner of a’a Roots Cafe.
She was then issued a penal citation of violation of the rules and orders. She was also warned that she would be subject to arrest should any further complaints of noncompliance with the mask mandate be received.
On Saturday, another complaint was received via the email portal with a photo depicting Maither without a mask while interacting with customers, police said.
In an unrelated matter, a 66-year-old Kihei man posted $2,000 bail after he was arrested and charged Saturday with violating rules and orders of the travel quarantine, police said.
Steven Wright arrived on Maui from Oahu on Dec. 15 without a negative pre-travel COVID-19 test and was subject to quarantine until Thursday.
On Saturday police received a tip saying Wright was violating quarantine. One report said Wright was seen in the Kihei area on Friday.
Investigators located Wright near his residence, where he was arrested and transported to the Wailuku station.