More than 70 people gathered around noon on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway near the Kona Mormon Temple to protest the state’s continued “stay at home” order.

One of the protesters said the group was not an organized one, but just an initial 9 people who started putting out word about the protest on social media.  He said it’s unfair to have the state still on lockdown with “stay at home” orders.

The protest slowed traffic, and protesters invited motorists to join them.  Several did, some even hand-lettering signs after they stopped.

One of those waving a sign was Inde Coggins, co-owner of Splasher’s Grill, a popular Kona restaurant across from the Kailua Pier and King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.  After 15 years, due to the cornavirus, Coggins closed down her restaurant in mid-March, expecting it to be closed for about two weeks.  More than two months later, Coggins said she will probably reopen June 15, now that Mayor Kim has given the go-ahead for restaurants to reopen.

But she expressed concern for her employees, some of whom have lost their apartments because of their inability to pay rent and who’ve been unable to get into the state’s unemployment insurance system to file a claim.  She also expressed concern for how any restaurant will be able to survive with continued expenses but no more than 50% capacity, if National Restaurant Association Guidelines for reopening are followed.