Police in Hawaii forced to arrest American tourists who keep refusing to stick to lockdown rules

It's easy to see why Hawaii – with its beautiful beaches and tropical climate – is an appealing tourist destination for Americans.

But it seems even in the midst of a pandemic where everyone is being told to stay home and maintain social distancing, some just can't bring themselves to let that vacation go.

As a result, police in Hawaii have arrested at least 20 people, who are now facing a $5,000 fine or up to a year in jail.

This is because Governor David Ige signed a stay-at-home order back in March – the strictest of any state – which decreed that anyone arriving from out of state would have to quaranteed for 14 days before re-entering society.

Needless to say, not everyone has been taking notice: tourists have been arrested at hotel pools, a Costco outlet, and in a grocery store parking lot.

According to the Associated Press, a newlywed California couple staying in Waikiki, Honolulu were arrested after repeatedly leaving their hotel room despite being warned repeatedly.

Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine pointed out that the laws which have been put in place to protect the public have had a huge impact on the state's economy, and plunged up to 30 per cent of the population into unemployment, making those who flout the rules "even more offensive".

The couple, Borice Lepovskiy and Yuliia Andreichenkoof Citrus Heights, California were reportedly on their honeymoon. Hotel staff say they read them the quarantine order, but the couple claim airport staff told them it would be OK to go outside to visit beaches and even see friends.

The problem has become so widespread that officials have reportedly considered having travelers wear an ankle bracelet during their quarantine period.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell told CNN:

We're a place of great aloha, and aloha still remains, but aloha works both ways. It works from the perspective of the people who live here and the people who visit here. If you're coming here and acting irresponsibly, you're not showing aloha to the place you say you care about.

Fair enough. Perhaps worth rescheduling honeymoons for a little while.