Second Colorado woman accused of violating Hawaii’s coronavirus quarantine

Police in Hawaii are searching for a second Colorado woman accused of violating the state’s 14-day novel coronavirus quarantine for travelers, they announced Monday, just two days after arresting a Boulder woman on similar charges.

Ashley Ruth Degraaf, 31, arrived in Maui on May 15, acknowledged the quarantine and gave authorities a hostel address where she’d be staying, according to the Maui Police Department, but then immediately canceled her hostel reservation and hasn’t been heard from since.

“Police attempted to contact Degraaf via the given phone number and email address, but no response was received,” the department said in a statement.

Degraaf could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, but told local TV news station KITV4 that she is vacationing and staying with a friend, and that she gave authorities the wrong address information because her friend didn’t want authorities to have his address.

Degraaf also said her phone stopped working and that is why she hasn’t returned calls from police, according to the KITV4 report.

“I didn’t come here to cause trouble, I just wanted to have a nice vacation with my sister,” she said in the TV interview, adding that she was considering moving to Hawaii.

As of Wednesday, Degraaf had not been arrested, according to KITV4.

“I’m an American in America and I’m being treated like a criminal for being in America,” Degraaf told the TV interviewer.

Degraaf is the second Colorado woman to be accused of violating the quarantine, which was put in place in March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 on the island state, and which requires anyone who travels to Hawaii to remain isolated for two weeks.

Tara Trunfio, 23, was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of violating the order, according to Maui police. She told The Denver Post that she thought she was exempt from the quarantine because she intended to work as a herbalist. Critical personnel, including medical personnel, can be exempted from the quarantine under certain circumstances, but even they can only leave their residences to perform their essential duties.

State officials said Trunfio, who visited the beach before she was arrested, was not exempt from the quarantine.

Those who violate the quarantine order can face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail.

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