HONOLULU (AP) 鈥 When a curfew goes into effect each night for one county in Hawaii, the mayor gets bored — and posts videos on social media.
And his constituents? They鈥檙e entertained.
鈥淥ur Mayor is bettah than yours!!鈥 one woman commented, responding to Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami鈥檚 stiff but earnest version of the Renegade to the rap song 鈥淟ottery,鈥 one of the most popular dances on social media.
In other videos, posted to his personal Facebook and Instagram accounts, he creates a mask out of a T-shirt and makes ice cream.
Even before Gov. David Ige issued a statewide stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Kawakami set a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for his county, which includes the islands of Kauai and Niihau.
The videos, the 42-year-old mayor explains on Facebook, are meant to 鈥渂reak the boredom together as a community.鈥 And they seem to have succeeded.
As of Monday, a video he posted April 4 of him dancing generated more than 2,000 shares and more than 400 comments on Facebook.
鈥淎nd if you鈥檙e wondering why I鈥檓 out of breath and why I鈥檓 sweating,鈥 he says after his Renegade dance, 鈥渂ecause that was like take 1,022.鈥
Kawakami also uses his videos for some serious commentary, including demonstrating the proper way to remove disposable gloves, which he鈥檚 seen leaving behind in shopping carts and baskets.
鈥淎nd please folks, throw your opala away,鈥 he says, using the Hawaiian word for trash.
鈥淲e no leave our trash for somebody else pick up,鈥 he says in Pidgin, Hawaii鈥檚 creole language that he slips in and out of easily, reflecting his island roots.
He鈥檚 also garnered attention by publicly calling those who defy quarantine orders 鈥渃ovidiots.鈥
鈥淚 LOVE all your postings!鈥 a woman commented on a video. 鈥淪o fun, so caring, so empathetic, and a blessing to us all, even us who live on Oahu!!!鈥
Kauai resident Michael Miranda said the videos show a human side to the mayor.
鈥淥n the policy side, I appreciate all the hard decisions he鈥檚 been making,鈥 Miranda said.
Miranda said Kawakami seemed to be 鈥渁 couple steps ahead鈥 of Hawaii鈥檚 other counties — discouraging tourists from visiting Kauai, even before a statewide 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in Hawaii went into effect.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
Popular Honolulu Star-Advertiser columnist Lee Cataluna wrote earlier this month that Kawakami 鈥渉as emerged as one of the most decisive and blunt political leaders in Hawaii鈥 during the pandemic.
Many comments suggest he should be Hawaii鈥檚 next governor. He said he鈥檚 not thinking about his political future.
鈥淭hroughout this whole challenging event, all that it鈥檚 done for me is further solidified my heart where I belong,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd right now, it鈥檚 here on Kauai.鈥
AP reporter Jennifer Sinco Kelleher reported and wrote this story.
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