MIL alters fan policy, to allow visiting guests
The Maui Interscholastic League will allow each student-athlete to have four guests at athletic events, MIL Executive Director Joe Balangitao stated in a letter emailed to The Maui News on Tuesday.
The letter, which was directed to parents of student-athletes, changes a sports attendance policy that limited fans at MIL contests to just home-team parents — that plan was announced on Oct. 21.
“Thank you parents for your cooperation at MIL events this past week and the patience shown with all the added protocols and procedures,” the letter started. “This week the MIL welcomes up to 4 guests per player from both the home and visiting team with the number varying depending on the size and capacity of the venue. All guests must be vaccinated, mask policies must be followed, social distancing is required, and please stay home if you are sick.”
The letter continued, “There is an admission fee at applicable venues. There will be no concession and no food to be brought in at the events. Water is allowed. Streaming options are available at select venues on the NFHS site (nfhsnetwork.com). Please understand that depending on the seating capacity at each venue, the amount of spectators allowed may be different from one event to the next.
“We ask for your continued patience and support as we move forward as checking in at events may take a little longer than usual as proof of vaccination and proof of ID will be required. Our student-athletes have been training hard and we look forward to more fans enjoying their many successes.”
The MIL decision follows recent decisions on Oahu that allow near full capacity at University of Hawaii and Oahu Interscholastic Association sporting events.
Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced rules for use of county venues in mid-October.
For outdoor county venues, no limit on fans was listed on the county website for individual venues — the most that can gather together in a single group within the venue is 25 people.
For indoor county venues, a limit of 50 percent of capacity was announced, with groups limited to 10 people.