Hawaii is lifting its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing restaurants and bars in certain regions to return to service with full capacity, Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday. The governor explained to media at a press conference the next phase COVID-19 measures for states and counties ahead of the Nov. 30 expiration of the current emergency proclamation. As of Dec. 1, the statewide limits on social gatherings in bars, restaurants, gyms, and other establishments will be lifted. However, individual counties will be free to mandate restrictions based on their own situations without the need to obtain the governor’s approval, Ige said. “The counties will continue to have direct responsibility for emergency management within their respective counties and they will perform emergency management functions that likely will continue to include emergency rules, orders, and proclamations or directives as necessary,” he said. “This is really just a return to the normal emergency situations in which counties …