Oklahoma tourist dies in ocean in while defying Hawaii quarantine

HONOLULU (AP) — A tourist from Oklahoma who was supposed to be obeying Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving to the state, checked out of his hotel early and was later pronounced dead after emergency workers pulled him out of the ocean.

The Honolulu medical examiner’s officer identified him as 39-year-old Kristopher Michael Oliphant of Tulsa, Oklahoma. A cause of death is pending. The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii says Oliphant arrived on June 7th and checked out of his hotel on Wednesday June 17th, before his quarantine period was over.

The mandatory quarantine for arriving travelers is meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.