COVID-19: Business Impacts |INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAIʻI
RETAILERS WHO HAVE MANAGED TO SURVIVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. WITH THE VIRUS STILL LURKING AND GENERATING CLUSTERS OF CASES THE THREAT OF FRESH GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS REMAINS…PUTTING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND WORKERS ON EDGE. WHAT THEY’RE DOING TO STAY IN BUSINESS AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THEIR FUTURE…COMING UP NEXT ON INSIGHTS. AS COVID 19 VACCINES CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED, STATE LEADERS ARE EASING MORE RESTRICTIONS. THAT’S GOOD NEWS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL.
AFTER A YEAR OF TURMOIL, MANY COMPANIES ARE STILL IN CRISIS MODE. FROM OVERDUE RENT TO ENFORCING HEALTH GUIDELINES AND CHANGING CONSUMER HABITS, BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO ADJUST TO THE EVOLVING SITUATION. WE’LL HEAR HOW THEY’RE MANAGING TO STAY OPEN. TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW. ¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII...I'M DARYL HUFF. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR, A SENSE OF NORMALCY SEEMS TO BE DEVELOPING AS VACCINATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED.
BUT DESPITE THE ROLL BACK OF RESTRICTIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE VULNERABLE AND NEED SUPPORT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED RETAILERS ARE STILL CLOSING, WHILE LARGER CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK OR EVEN FLOURISH. SOME OF OUR LOSSES INCLUDE LONGTIME HAWAII FAVORITES LIKE MONTEREY BAY CANNERS, LIKELIKE DRIVE INN AND MOST RECENTLY, LOVE’S BAKERY. OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL LOOK AT THE LINGERING THREATS TO BUSINESS LIVELIHOODS AS WELL AS THE OPTIMISTIC PATH FORWARD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW. YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS. AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE. NOW, TO OUR GUESTS. TINA YAMAKI IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE RETAIL MERCHANTS OF HAWAII.
SHE HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. FROM THE VALLEY ISLE, PAMELA TUMPAP IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MAUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMPRISED OF BUSINESSES OF VARIOUS SIZES FROM ALL SECTORS AND AREAS OF THE ISLAND. GREG MAPLES IS THE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWAII RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 3,500 LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE LOCATIONS. AND DEBBIE AH CHICK HOPKINS IS THE CO OWNER OF GLOBAL VILLAGE IN KAILUA. SHE, ALONG WITH HER SISTER AND MOTHER, CREATED THE LOCAL BOUTIQUE IN 1995.
THE SMALL BUSINESS HAS ABOUT 15 EMPLOYEES. START THE FIRST QUESTION WITH YOU. TELL ME WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU FOUND OUT, YOU'RE A BOUTIQUE, RIGHT? FORCED TO SHUTDOWN WITH THEY DID THE FIRST CLOSE YOU ARE? WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU? >> WE WERE. IT WAS LIKE A WHIRLWIND.
WE HAD A SEMBLANCE THAT IT WAS COMING. BECAUSE MY SISTERS, CHILDREN WERE TRAVELING, FOR A SPORTS EVENT, AND THEY SELF QUARANTINED BECAUSE THINGS WERE ROLLING REALLY QUICKLY ON THE MAINLAND. AND NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE HERE AT THE MOMENT. SO WE WERE KIND OF GEARING UP FOR IT. BUT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN BY THE STATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T REALLY HAVE THE RASH OF CASES THAT WE SAW ON THE MAINLAND.
SO IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO PANIC MODE. PART OF OUR SUCCESS, ALL OF OUR SUCCESS, WE BASED ON FACE TO FACE CONTACT. AND OUR CURRENT LOCATION, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 21 YEARS. AND THAT'S WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS CAME TO PURCHASE FROM US, THAT'S WHERE WE MADE ALL OF OUR REVENUE OFF OF.
SO IT WAS SCARY AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THERE WERE TEARS. THERE WERE SCREAMS. PANIC. HUGS.
>>Daryl: I THINK AT THE TIME, EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST BE FOR A FEW WEEKS. RIGHT. >> I MEAN, TINA, WHAT WERE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR CLIENTS RIGHT ABOUT THAT TIME? YOU AND I WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT TIME. I RECALL INTERVIEWING YOU ON A DAY WHEN THE CAMERA STORE RIGHT BEHIND YOU, WAS BASICALLY ONE DAY FROM SHUTTING DOWN. WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH YOUR KULANAS? WHAT WERE THE QUESTIONS THEY WERE ASKING YOU WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON? >> THEY WERE ASKING HOW LONG IS THE SHUTDOWN GOING TO BE.
WHEN ANYBODY DOES A BUDGET, RYAN FROM TNC SURF TALKED TO OUR GROUP. YOU NEVER BUDGET FOR A TOTAL SHUTDOWN. ESPECIALLY FOR TWO MONTHS. MAYBE REDUCED REVENUE. A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE NOT READY FOR THAT. THEY WEREN'T READY TO SEE HOW LONG IT WAS GOING TO BE.
BEGINNING, EVERYONE THOUGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS. MAYBE ONE OR TWO MONTHS. WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. KIND OF LIKE WE SAW WITH SOME OF THE THESE OTHER DOWN TURNS IN THE ECONOMY. WHEN WE SAW IT, IT WAS A WHIRLWIND, WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT LONGER. THEN IT WENT TO SIX MONTHS.
HERE WE'RE SAYING A YEAR. PROBABLY 2 YEARS BEFORE THIS WHOLE THING IS OVER WITH. EVERYONE VACCINATED. >>Daryl: PAMELA, FROM MAUI, WAS IT DIFFERENT ON MAUI OR WAS IT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING BECAUSE DIFFERENT COUNTIES WERE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON MAUI AT THAT TIME? >> WE LEARNED A LOT DURING THIS TIME. BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE VERY DEPENDENT ON VISITOR INDUSTRY AND WE USED TO SAY TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT IS ABOUT 75%. TODAY WE SAY ABOUT 90%. MOST DEPENDENT. WENT FROM THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE NATION TO THE HIGHEST.
WE, IN THE EARLY DAY, BECAME COUNSELORS. BUSINESSES, WHO HAD INVESTED IN THEIR BUSINESS. COMING OFF A GREAT 2019.
SUDDENLY SAW THE SHUTDOWN. INVENTORY WAS SITTING IN RETAIL STORES. THEY WERE SURPRISED TO BE SHUT DOWN. DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE IT. WE HAD PEOPLE GOING FROM JUST BEING TOTALLY DISTRAUGHT, ESPECIALLY AS THE EARLY ON IN MARCH, NOTHING WE WERE MISSING THEIR BIGGEST MARKET. TO APRIL.
THEN MAY. SO IT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME. WE HAD PEOPLE ANGRY. DISTRAUGHT.
AND PARTICULARLY ALSO VERY ANGRY BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROVISION. WHEN THEIR EMPLOYEES WEREN'T GETTING PAID. THAT WAS A STRUGGLE BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYEES WERE CALLING EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYERS LIKE FAMILY, WE FORGET THAT WE ARE REALLY A VILLAGE OF SMALL BUSINESSES. OUR EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE OUR FAMILIES. EVERYBODY WAS RALLYING TOGETHER.
AS WE STARTED TO ROUND JUNE, WE STARTED LOOKING AT, OKAY, SOME REOPENING IS POSSIBLE. IT WAS THEN A QUESTION OF WHAT ARE THE INCREASED COSTS THEY'RE GOING TO FACE TO KEEP THEIR PLACE HEALTHY AND SAFE. THEY KEEP SAYING, WHY DOESN'T GOVERNMENT UNDERSTAND THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE REOPENED DURING THIS TIME. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, VERY EARLY ON, INDICATED WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND HEALTH CRISIS IN TANDEM.
SO PEOPLE WERE VERY FRUSTRATED, NOT SEEING THAT, FEELING THEY COULD DO MORE. IN MAUI, SEEING, MAYOR VERY RECEPTIVE TO THIS, INDUSTRY DRIVING HOW THEY COULD REOPEN SAFELY. THEY WERE TELLING GOVERNMENT HERE IS WHAT WE CAN DO. HELP US REOPEN. MAYOR VICTORINO WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE TO DOING WHAT HE CAN TO DO THAT. WORKING WITH OUR CHAMBER BEFORE ANY FEDERAL ASSISTANCE ROLLED OUT, WE PUT A MICROBUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM >>Daryl: I'M GOING TO STOP YOU FOR A SECOND.
I WANT TO GIVE GREG A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. I WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH SOME OF COPING MECHANISMS YOU FOLKS USED IN A MOMENT. SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING.
GREG, RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, IT SEEMED THAT YES, SHOCK BUT ALSO, DID YOU FOLKS KIND OF GET A FEELING LIKE YOU GUYS WOULD BE THE HARDEST HIT BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY AND THE SAFETY ISSUES AROUND SERVING FOOD AND SO ON? >> YEAH. WE KNEW JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR MOUTH. MUCH BIGGER DEAL. DEAL WITH IT EVERY DAY.
FOOD SAFETY AND AUDITS AN INSPECTIONS THAT TELL US HOW WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ON A DAILY BASIS. THINKING BACK IN THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WERE TOLD 2 WEEKS. TO MEASURE THE CURVE AND GET IT ALL UNDER. THERE WAS A LOT OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS WOULD KIND OF SAID, WE'LL DO THIS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE RESTAURANT OWNERS SITTING ON PERISHABLES, UNLIKE MANY OF THE BUSINESSES. SITTING ON PERISHABLE GOODS AND GOING BAD FAST.
EVERYBODY KIND OF FIGURED IT OUT. IT TURNED TWO WEEKS INTO THREE AND MONTHS. WHAT HAVE YOU. AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED, I REMEMBER THE FEELING IN MY STOMACH OF JUST COMPLETE DREAD THINKING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IMMEDIATELY MADE PHONE CALL AND GOT INTO FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF ON A SATURDAY. TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IT GET THESE RESTAURANTS BACK OPEN. I DON'T THINK MANY UNDERSTOOD AT THE TIME JUST HOW BIG OF A TARGET THE RESTAURANTS WOULD BECOME. I KNEW WE ALL KNEW IMPORTANT, BUT FOR SOME REASON, ONE DAY I'M GOING TO WRITE A BOOK ON IT. WHY IN THE WORLD DID RESTAURANTS BECOME THIS TARGET, NOT JUST IN HAWAII, BUT EVERYWHERE. >>Daryl: DEBBIE, I TALK TO MANY RETAILERS ABOUT THIS.
YOU HAVE A BOUTIQUE. YOU PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS, NOBODY KNEW EXACTLY HOW THIS VIRUS WAS TRANSMITTED. WE FORGET HOW MUCH MISINFORMATION AND CONFUSING SCIENCE WAS OUT THERE. WEAR A MASK. DON'T WEAR MASKS.
IT'S AIRBORNE. IT'S SURFACE. REMEMBER? SO HOW DID YOU, WHERE'S THE PPE? AS A RETAILER, WERE YOU LIKE I THINK I CAN MAKE MY BUSINESS VERY SAFE, BUT NOBODY IS LISTENING TO ME AND I CAN'T GET THE STUFF I NEED. WHAT IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE? >> RIGHT. DEFINITELY. I THINK EVERYONE SCRAMBLED.
I WAS ON THE SEWING MACHINE TRYING TO SEW MASKS IN ANTICIPATION WE COULD POSSIBLY OPEN MASKS. START SELLING THINGS. AND I THINK PEOPLE FORGOT LIKE AS A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU'RE SO USED TO BEING SELF RELIANT AND WITH THE MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS, IT TOOK AWAY THAT FREEDOM TO KIND OF CONTROL HOW WE BROUGHT IN OUR REVENUE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT ANY BUSINESS PERSON REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT COMPLETE SHUTDOWN. AND SO TO COPE WITH THAT, TO FIND WAYS AROUND THAT, THAT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE. >>Daryl: WHAT DID YOU WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO HOW LONG WAS THE PERIOD BEFORE YOU WERE ABLE TO START SELLING AGAIN HAVING PEOPLE BACK IN THE STORE? HOW MANY WEEKS WAS IT, MONTH? >> I FEEL LIKE IT WAS MAY 15.
ALMOST 8 WEEKS OF THE BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN AGAIN. YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT, THEN AGAIN, AS I RECALL, THAT DATE, WAS FLOATING. BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS MAYBE, MAYBE MAY 1, OR MAYBE MAY 15.
MAYBE MAY 31. SO WE WERE KIND OF JUST LIKE SHOOTING TO GET IT, GET THE STORE SUPER CLEAN, GET OUR COVID POLICIES IN PLACE, MAKE SURE OUR TEAM WAS TRAINED BEFORE THE NEXT UPDATE WAS COMING. AND I THINK IT ENDED UP BEING MAY 15. >>Daryl: TINA, YAMAKI RETAIL MERCHANTS. HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SLIDING DATES? AND THE MIXED MESSAGING COMING OUT? JOSH GREEN WOULD SAY SOMETHING, THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
OR IT WOULD HAPPEN AND WE HAD A LOT OF CONFLICT IN GOVERNMENT. HOW DID THAT TAKE 2 YOUR FOLKS CLIENTS? >> THEY WERE VERY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY. THE LIKE, WHY ISN'T GOVERNMENT GETTING TOGETHER AND GETTING STORIES STRAIGHT.
WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO SURVIVE AND GET OUR STUFF TOGETHER SO WE COULD OPEN AGAIN. AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF THEM, IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US THE DATE OF MAY 15. GOING TO ANNOUNCE IT ON THE MORNING. FOURTEENTH. BUT NOT GOING TO GIVE US WHAT THE ORDER SAYS UNTIL 6:00 THE NIGHT BEFORE. AND SO MY GUYS ARE ALL SCRAMBLING TO TRY AND OPEN UP ON THE 15TH.
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE ORDER. WHAT IS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, DOESN'T NECESSARILY IS WHAT IS IN THE ORDER ITSELF. COULD BE MORE. IT COULD BE INTERPRETATION. THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRAMBLING. PHONE KEPT RIPPING.
I MEAN, FOR ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. I HAVE SOME OF MY MEMBERS, PARENT COMPANIES ARE ON THE EAST COAST. SO LIKE 2:00 IN THE MORNING, GETTING CALLS. WE WERE THERE. TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. CALL THE GOVERNOR AND MAYOR'S OFFICERS.
TRYING TO GET SOME ANSWERS FOR EVERYBODY. IT WAS FRUSTRATING. FOR A LOT OF US. LET AM ASK GREG. RESTAURANT OPERATOR, JUST THE OTHER DAY, WE WENT THROUGH AND, PLEASE DON'T EVEN ASK ME ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
WE WENT THROUGH A THING WHERE WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER REOPENING. UPCOMING. I THINK IT WAS MAYOR BLANGIARDI WAS SAYING I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO TIER 2. EVERYBODY WAS SAYING WE PROBABLY WON'T GO BACK TO TIER 2. LAW SAID WE HAD GO BACK TO TIER 2.
YOU'RE A RESTAURANT OPERATOR, RESTAURANT OPERATORS, THEY GOT TO BUY FOOD. RIGHT? IF THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN UP, THEY GOT TO WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? HOW DID THEY EVEN MANAGE THAT? DID THEY TEND TO JUST GO, I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL I KNOW OR IT THEY SOMETIME TAKE RISKS AND GET THEIR FOOD AND THEN THROW IT AWAY? >> NOW WE'VE BEEN OPEN A WHILE, LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE WE WERE JUST, THE THOUGHT WAS GOING BACK TO TIER 2. EASIER WITH REGARD TO SUPPLY CHAIN. MAY 13 AND 15 SCENARIO, CRAZY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY STARTING UP A RESTAURANT, STARTING UP THE WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN. SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET FOOD FROM SOMEWHERE. GOT TO GET THE FOOD IN THE DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL.
THAT IS GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU. AND NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE ORDER LIKE TINA SAID WAS VERY FRUSTRATING. WE WERE LIVING BY THE PHONE. I WILL SAY THAT. BEGINNING, I JUST FELT LIKE THE GOVERNOR WAS LISTENING TO. DOING A GOOD JOB LISTENING BECAUSE WE GOT SEVERAL MEETINGS FACE TO FACE.
IN CONTACT. THERE WAS ZERO COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY. CITY WAS, IN MY OPINION, MAKING ITS OWN DECISIONS AWAY FROM ANYBODY IN THE INDUSTRY.
REALLY WAS FRUSTRATEING BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET OUR VOICE HEARD. OVER TIME, I THINK THOSE VOICES STARTED TO COME TOGETHER, FOR YOU MORE THAN EVER, WE ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK GOVERNMENT REALIZED WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THESE VOICES HERE BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS INPUT. IN THE BEGINNING, HOLY COW, RESTAURANT OWNERS, SOME OF THEM WOULD JUST SAY, WELL, IF WE OPEN ON MAY 15, THAT MEANS MAY 20. GET MY FOOD AND REOPEN. >>Daryl: PAMELA, WHEN YOU'VE GOT IT KIND OF AMBIGUITY, DID YOU SEE PEOPLE SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANY MORE.
I'M GOING TO WALK AWAY. WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, I'LL COME BACK. AND ALSO CURIOUS WHAT KIND OF SUPPORTS WERE PEOPLE ABLE TO GET QUICKLY ENOUGH TO JUST HANG ON? >> IT WAS REALLY TOUGH. WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT MAY AND JUNE. PART OF THE CHALLENGE WAS EVEN WHEN PEOPLE WERE LOOKING TO REOPEN, DIDN'T HAVE THE TRAFFIC. WE BUILT SO MUCH OF OUR RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AROUND VISITOR INDUSTRY.
WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE PIVOTING. DOING EVENING MEALS OR TRYING TO LET YOU STOP BY AND TAKE A LOT OF THINGS UP. SOCIAL DISTANCED.
A LOT PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING TO GET EMPLOYEES BACK. EMPLOYEES WERE AFRAID TO COME BACK AT THAT TIME. SO THEY WERE REALLY STRUGGLING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAYOR VICTORINO ASKED US TO DO IS, HE CALLED, SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE FEDERAL MONEY COMES OUT.
SO NINE DAYS, RAMPED UP MICROBUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM. STARTED DELIVERING LOANS 12 AND A HALF THOUSAND UP TO 25,000 DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESS AND ABILITY. TO REPAY. WHICH AT THIS POIPU, WAS INSANE.
AT THIS POINT. NOBODY KNEW WHAT THEIR ABILITY TO REPAY. IT WAS A ZERO PERCENT LOAN FOR FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.
DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT FILED. HELPED A LOT OF OUR SMALL RETAIL PARTICULARLY, BUT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS MAUI COUNTY SURVIVED UNTIL BROADER THINGS CAME FORWARD WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >>Daryl: WAS THAT A COUNTY PROGRAM, COUNTY DID THAT FOR YOU OR WHERE WAS THE MONEY COMING FROM. >> INITIALLY, COUNTY FUND.
DID NOT WAIT FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING TO COME IN. COUNTY FOUND MONEY. MAYOR VICTORINO FOUND IT. PARTNERED WITH IT TO RAMP UP QUICKLY. WE KNEW SMALL BUSINESS WOULD HIT HARDEST.
WHAT WE SAW OF THE GREAT RECESSION. WASN'T PROGRAMS FOR THEM BACK THEN. THANK GOD, THIS TIME, OF COURSE WE WERE IN MUCH MORE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS TIME, WE SAW FEDERALLY HELPFUL. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, COUNTY SUFFERED FIRST. >>Daryl: YOU'VE GOT THREE NAMES. DEBBIE CHICK HOPKINS. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? DID YOU GET A PPE LOAN OR DID YOU GET FEDERAL SUPPORT? WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT IN WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? >> THAT WAS TORTUROUS. I MEAN, I THINK AS SOON AS WE HEARD ABOUT IT, WE STARTED APPLYING BECAUSE HOW ELSE ARE WE GOING TO PAY OUR RENT? THOUSANDS AND THOUSAND OF DOLLARS WERE JUST RACK UP.
AS WE SAT. AND WE WERE ON LINE. AND WE WOULD GET KICKED OFF. ON LINE AGAIN. GET KICKED OFF. MAYBE HALFWAY THROUGH THE APPLICATION, AND THEN KICKED OFF AGAIN. THEN START THE NEXT DAY.
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF FILLING OUT THE OLD APPLICATION, FINDING OUT THAT NOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT A DIFFERENT APPLICATION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, BEING IF BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS, DEFINITELY HELPED IN THAT BANKER, WAS WILLING TO WALK DONE OUR PPE LOAN, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON EITHER. AND I THINK BUSINESSES ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT. AND AS FAR AS THE FEDERAL, WE JUST KEPT ON TRYING. IT WAS FRUSTRATING. WE WERE ON THE PHONE.
WAITING FOR 2 HOURS WITH NO ANSWERS. AND SO WE WEREN'T SURE. IT WAS DEFINITELY PANIC MODE. >>Daryl: BUT YOU DID ULTIMATELY GET SOMETHING AND WHAT DID YOU USE THAT MONEY FOR? >> WE USED PPE FOR ALL OF OUR PAYROLL. I MEAN, THAT WAS WHAT WE USED IT FOR. WE DID END UP HAVING TO LAY OFF, AFTER THAT TWO WEEKS, AND THEN WE WERE LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET EVERYBODY BACK ON BOARD.
AND SO WITH THE PPE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A SMALL BOUTIQUE AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TONS OF PPE COMING IN. BUT IT WAS JUST ENOUGH TO HELP US START TRAINING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BEFORE WE OPENED. AND STARTED SEEING REVENUE. WE HAVE TO REALLY BE THANKFUL FOR THE OVERWHELMING LOCAL SUPPORT. WHICH YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO SHOP WITH US ON OUR WEBSITE, ON INSTAGRAM, THROUGHOUT, AND THEN ON THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS. PEOPLE JUST CAME TO SAY, WE WANT YOU TO STAY IN BUSINESS.
AND SO THAT KIND OF HELPED. >>Daryl: TINA, WITH THE RETAIL MERCHANTS. DO YOU THINK THAT WHAT PROPORTION OF YOUR CLIENTELE, OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP, ENDED UP GETTING THE FEDERAL SUPPORT DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF ROUNDS OF HELP? >> I KNOW THE FIRST ROUND, MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS APPLIED FOR PPE LOANS.
BUT YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND TOO, THAT WAS NOT JC A SMALL BUSINESSES BUT THE LARGER LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL. AND THEN WHEN THE SECOND ROUND CAME ABOUT, THE FIRST ROUND OF PPE LOANS STILL WAS A LOAN, DIDN'T TURN INTO A GRANT YET FOR SOME OF THEM. THEY WERE SCARED TO HAVE MORE DEBT. RENT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE ITEM FOR ANY BUSINESS.
AND NOW THEY'RE HAVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, EVEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BACK RENT AND THEY JUST CAN'T TAKE ON ANY MORE LOANS. WHAT WE SAW IS PEOPLE WERE SELLING THEIR HOME. PULLED THEIR KIDS OUT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
USED UP THE COLLEGE KIDS COLLEGE TUITION. DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD JUST TO KEEP STAY IN BUSINESS AND KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED. ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THE COUNTY, DID A GREAT JOB WITH HELPING SMALLER BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY TO WHO NEED $5 MILLION FOR LESS. ABOUT YOU THAT DIDN'T HELP A LOT OF THE LOCAL MEDIUM AND LARGER SIZE BUSINESSES. WE'VE BEEN TELLING GOVERNMENT AND EVERYBODY ELSE YOU'VE GOT STARTED THINKING ABOUT MEDIUM AND LARGE BUSINESSES AND THEN WHEN LOVE'S BAKERY CLOSE, IT WAS LIKE, KIND OF I TOLD YOU SO. THIS IS JUST THE FIRST BEGINNING OF IT.
YOU MAY BE SEEING EVEN MORE PEOPLE OR MORE LARGER BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCAL FALLING. IT'S NOT JUST LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE NATIONAL RETAILERS TOO WHO HAVE CLOSED UP DURING THIS TIME. EVERYBODY IS GOING, BUY LOCAL. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T LYLE IS THESE LARGE MAINLAND COMPANIES, THEY EMPLOY OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS. ALL LOCAL PEOPLE WORKING IN THERE.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF VENDORS THAT ARE LOCAL. SO WHEN THEY CLOSE DOWN, IT'S NOT ONLY MORE UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT A LOT OF THE LOCAL VENDORS CAN'T SELL THEIR STUFF ANY MORE. >>Daryl: RESTAURANT POINT OF VIEW, THE FOLKS ARE MENTIONING HOW RENT WAS NUMBER ONE COST. BUT IS THAT DIFFERENT FOR RESTAURANTS AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE INVENTORY YOU NEED, FOOD INVENTORY AND SO ON.
HOW DID IT WORK OUT FOR RESTAURANTS BECAUSE RESTAURANTS ARE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RETAIL. >> PPE WAS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY MOM AND POPS. A LOT OF THEM HAVEN'T HAD TO FILL THOSE KIND OF THINGS OUT BEFORE. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR YEARS. VERY FRUSTRATING.
WHAT WE DID, HRA, RECOGNIZING THAT IS WE SET UP OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO APPLY TO COME TO US AND WE ACTUALLY HAD INTERPRETERS, USED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES FROM POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER AND OTHER PLACESES SO THAT WAY, ANY LANGUAGE ON THE ISLAND COULD COME AND HAVE SOMEBODY INTERPRET FOR THEM AND HELP THEM APPLY. SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAD A GOOD AMOUNT, STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GET IT. SOME HAD TO GET THE IDLE MONEY.
AND SO I THINK WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH THAT. BUT AGAIN, RENT IS THE NUMBER ONE. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT RESTAURANTS IN WAIKIKI PAYING $35,000 A MONTH IN RENT. YOU GOT TO SELL AWFUL LOT OF HAMBURGERRERS AND FRENCH FRIES TO PAY THAT RENT. RENT SURVEY WENT OUT, STILL TO THIS DAY, SAYS ONLY 40% OF THE RESTAURANTS IN THE ISLANDS, ALL ISLANDS, MISSED A PAYMENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
THAT'S BEEN THAT CASE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THAT IS A HOLE THAT JUST KEEPS GETTING DEEPER. >>Daryl: I'VE GOT NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. COMING IN FROM VIEWERS.
COUPLE OF THEM INVOLVED WITH THE CHANGE IN TOURISM. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU GUYS, WE CAN DO THIS, DO YOU GUYS ALL AGREE THAT ESSENTIALLY SHUTTING DOWN TOURISM WAS A GOOD THING DO REGARDLESS OF HOW IT ENDED UP, DO YOU THINK WE NEEDED TO SHUT DOWN TOURISM IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THIS THING? EVEN LOOKING BACK 2020 VISION. I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF SUPPORTED IT AT FIRST. BUT NOW, LENGTH OF TIME, HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT IT NOW? DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE WERE TOO SEVERE IN CUTTING BACK TOURISM? >> A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS AND THINGS. I'VE ALWAYS FELT AS WE COULD HAVE COME TOGETHER MORE.
THERE WERE SOME GREAT PLANS EARLY ON. TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THAT. ALSO SEEN, OUR COUNTIES ARE UNIQUE ACROSS THE STATE. DIFFERENT MAYORS STRUGGLED TO COME TOGETHER. TOURISM INDUSTRY.
WANTED ONE STATEWIDE PLAN. FROM A CHAMBERS PERSPECTIVE, WE GET A LOT OF VISITORS CALLS. ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
PEOPLE OAHU, MAUI, HOW DO THE RULES CHANGE. UPDATING THEM EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. I FEEL LIKE WE LEARNED A LOT. MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL BE FAR BETTER AT THIS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE STATE PLANS FOR ANY KIND OF CONTINGENCY ON THIS. BEGINNING INDUSTRY WAS INFORMING GOVERNMENT ON HOW WE COULD DO THINGS MORE SAFELY. BUT THEY HAD PLAN. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION COMING DOWN WITH THINGS THAT COULD HELP. LOOKING BACK, COULD HAVE STREAMLINED THINGS AND GOTTEN TOGETHER BETTER. WE DID NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AT FIRST.
WHILE WE WERE LEARNING. AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, HE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW SEVERE THIS WAS GOING TO BE BEGINNING. EVERYBODY SORT OF ON BOARD BEGINNING.
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. VERY SCARED. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. OVER TIME, FELT THERE WAS MORE WAYS FOR BUSINESSES TO OPEN UP. AND THAT THEY COULD DO SO SAFELY.
IT'S A MIXED BAG. >>Daryl: ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT QUESTION? IF NOT, I GOT A COUPLE MORE HERE. MANY RESIDENTS ARE WARY OF RETURNING TO 10 MILLION TOURISTS PER YEAR. THEY WANT CHANGE.
HOW ARE BUSINESSES PREPARING FOR THAT AND ANOTHER QUESTION BASED ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ONLY HIGH END TOURISTS COMING IN? THERE'S A TALK ABOUT CHANGING THE MIX. MAKING HIGHER ENTRANCE I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT. HOW DO YOU THINK THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST HAVING FEWER TOURISTS IF INDEED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS? >> FIRST OF ALL, REMEMBER, WE HAD SO MANY RESTAURANTS CLOSE. SO AVAILABILITY OF SEATS TO EAT IN FIRST OF ALL, WERE CUT BY 50%, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SOCIAL DISTANCE, IN OUR RESTAURANT, BACK TO FULL CAPACITY.
I'M AT 50% CAPACITY BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO HAVE SOCIAL DISTANCING. SO THERE IS KIND OF THIS FUNNEL. PEOPLE COMING TO THE ISLAND. VERY FEW EVEN RETAILER AND RESTAURANTS OPEN. SEE LONG LINES AND WAIT TIMES. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD SAY WE NEED TO GET BACK TO 10 MILLION VISITORS.
WE CAN GO DAO A GOOD JOB. ECONOMY. WITH LESS.
WE CAN DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE ECONOMY WITH LESS. THE PROBLEM IS WE NEEDED PANDEMIC TO GET TO US POINT WHERE WE COULD LIVE OFF OF 8 MILLION. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY IT WAS GOING TO SUSTAIN ITSELF IF WE TRIED TO CUT IT BACK ANY OTHER WAY.
OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS ALL DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HEARD ABOUT LET'S DIVERSIFY. DIVERSIFY. DIVERSIFY. HERE WE ARE, BUSINESS PEOPLE. STUCK WITH THE BILL 40.
STUCK WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER BILLS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH OUR SUSTAINABILITY. NOT ONE NEW THING HAS HAPPENED. RIGHT BACK WHERE WERE HE WITH THE ECONOMY AND WHAT IS OLD HOLDING IT UP. PEOPLE SAY TO ME, WE COULD NEVER GO BACK TO 10 MILLION.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? NO ONE CAME UP WITH A PLAN. >>Daryl: BILL 40, IS THE MANDATE ON PLASTICS, RIGHT? >> RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. JUST GOING TO CAUSE MORE, TYPICAL HAWAII, WHERE WE MANDATE CERTAIN THINGS, IN THE SPIRIT OF SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ATTAINABLE, AND THE BUSINESSES PAY FOR IT, AND WE'RE TAXED AND WE'RE MANDATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS. THERE'S A LOT OF SUSTAINABILITY.
A LOT PEOPLE WANT LOWER TOURISM. NOTHING, WE HAD TEN MONTHS. A YEAR, WE HAD A YEAR TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLID PLANS. SOME OF US WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING.
RIGHT? LOCKED UP IN OUR HOME. STILL TODAY, DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE USABLE PLANS. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FRUITLESS LEGISLATION. THAT IS TO OUT THERE. TALKING ABOUT REAL PLANS.
JUST NOTHING. TO SAY WE CAN'T HAVE TOURISM. IS REALLY NAIVE. BUT WE DON'T NEED DOESN'T NEED TO BE 10 MILLION. >>Daryl: DEBBIE, YOUR BUSINESS IS IN KAILUA. WHICH HAS 25 YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS, KAILUA HAS JUST TURNED INTO THIS TOURISTS MECCA.
LIKE LAHAINA. HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING NOW THAT TOURISTS ARE COMING BACK? ARE YOU SEEING THEM COMING BACK STRONGLY? WE HAY BIG RUSH AT EASTER. DIALING BACK. HOW ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH, YOU WORK NEXT TO, THE OTHER RETAILERS, EMPLOYEES, IN KAILUA, HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT SEEING THE SURGE COMING BACK? >> I THINK IT'S MIXED. AND BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE ON THE SALES FLOOR AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND BEING RESIDENTS OF KAILUA, WE LISTEN TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND IT'S DEFINITELY A MIXED BAG.
FRIEND CAME IN, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, BUT I HATE ALL OF THIS TRAFFIC. AND I KNOW YOU NEED TOURISTS TO HELP SURVIVE, I HATE WAITING 15 MINUTE TO GET OUT OF LANIKAI. SO THERE IS SUCH A MIXED THINGS. THEN, YOU KNOW, BEING UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE WE ARE WOMEN OWNED, NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS, WITH MILITARY TIES, WE HAVE THAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE RESPECTING THE CULTURE, THAT ARE COMING IN.
THAT'S ANOTHER HOT TOPIC AS WELL AS THE MILITARY. THEY'VE GOTTEN A PAYCHECK THIS WHOLE TIME AND THEN NOW, THEIR FAMILY IS COMING TO VISIT THEM. SO IT'S SUCH A MIXED BAG. I THINK PEOPLE KIND OF WHAT GREG IS SAYING, THERE'S A PLAN. I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. BUSINESSES WANT TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY.
THEY WANT TO SUPPORT HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS. WANT TO SUPPORT OUR ENVIRONMENT. BEACHES. BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF PLAN VERSUS JUST LIKE CUT EVERYTHING OFF.
>>Daryl: PAMELA, FROM THE MAUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THIS QUESTION WAS SPECIFICALLY TO YOU. ANY DOES EFFECT ANYBODY 21 CLUSTER INVESTIGATIONS ON MAUI. I SAW THAT REPORT. LARGE NUMBER OF THEM WERE VISITORS RELATED. THAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT MAYOR WILL WANT TO IMPLEMENT MORE RESTRICTIONS AND FOR ALL YOU HAVE, PAMELA, I'LL ASK YOU TO ANSWER THE FIRST. FOR ALL OF YOU, ARE WE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW? DO YOU REALLY FEEL THAT RESTRICTIONS ARE EVEN NECESSARY ANY MORE? PAMELA, START WITH YOU. BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT MAUI. >> YOU KNOW, STILL WORKING OFF OF THE MATRIX. AND THE MODEL THAT WAS CREATED.
VERY EARLY ON. AND SO YES, WE ARE SEEING CLUSTERS GO UP ON MAUI. MAYOR VICTORINO HAS IMPLEMENTED, WORKING ON IT, AND SECOND TEST SO THERE WOULD BE A RAPID TEST AT THE AIRPORT.
TRYING TO IDENTIFY. AS WE'VE ALSO SEEN MANY CLUSTERS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND MOST RECENTLY, CHURCH NOTED. OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING BACKWARDS. BECAUSE BUSINESSES JUST, WE ALWAYS SAY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE MARCH MAKES.
MARCH WAS PHENOMENAL. BUSINESSES WERE JUST STARTING TO START CHIPPING AWAY AT SOME OF THAT BACK DEBT. STILL, OPERATING REDUCED CAPACITY. AND WE ARE TRYING TO CONTINUALLY REMIND NOT OPEN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT OUR VISITORS, THAT WE HAVE TO, HELP US. WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM.
PEOPLE ARE COMING IN. THEY CARE ABOUT MAUI. SEEN A GREAT INTEREST IN COMING BACK TO MAUI AND HAVE HAD A ACCOUNTS PICK UPGRADELY.
BUT SOME ARE COMING IN STILL NOT WANTING IT WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO IN THEIR STATE. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE EDUCATION PROCESS. MAYOR LOOK AT OVERALL CAPACITY. NOT JUST COUNTS BUT HOW MANY ARE THEN GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL.
HOW MANY BEDS ARE BEING USE. HOW MANY VENTILATORSMENT BEING VERY CAUTIOUS BUT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN ROLL BACK COUNTING CONTINUE TO GO UP. SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE WE LOOK AT THAT AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW, EVEN SOME OF OR RESTAURANTS AND OUR RETAILERS ARE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT TO EVEN IF WE HAD MORE PEOPLE COMING, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STRESSED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES COMING BACK TO REOPEN MORE. I'M GOING TO GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT SHORTLY. I WANT TO HAVE TINA WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT.
MAYOR BLANGIARDI MAKING A POTENT OF SAYING HOLD ON. WE'VE GOT ALMOST ALL OF OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED. VERY LOW HOSPITAL BEDS. YET WE HAVE THIS TIER SYSTEM THAT IS LEGALLY GOING TO FORCE US BACK.
DO YOU THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS READY TO OPERATE SAFELY KIND OF REGARDLESS OF THE COUNT? LIKE I HEARD THE OTHER DAY, 100 IS THE NEW 30. WE CAN TOLERATE 100 CASES A DAY. BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CHANGED. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR ROLLING BACK RESTRICTIONS MORE.
>> WE ALWAYS SAID, WHEN CLUSTERS HAPPEN. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE IT'S HAPPENING. IF IT'S IN THE JAILS OR PRISON SYSTEM. WHY ARE YOU CLOSING DOWN BUSINESSES? DONE BECAUSE OF FAMILY PARTIES OR FUNERALS OTHER CLUSTER, WHY ARE YOU CLOSING DOWN RESTAURANTS OR PENALIZING BUSINESSES FOR THIS. SINCE THE BEGINNING, DEBBIE HAS MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN DOING THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, MANDATORY MASK WEARING, THE PLASTIC BETWEEN YOU AND THE CASHIER, CONSTANT CLEANING.
HAND SANTIZER. WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE DOOR. SO IT'S VERY SAFE. NOT OPEN FOR OUR VISITORS OR GUESTS, CUSTOMERS COMING IN, PICKUP FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CLUSTER ASSOCIATED WITH A RETAILER. YES, WE'VE HAD EMPLOYEES WHO HAD COVID. BUT WE SHUTDOWN THOSE STORES. THEY HAVE CLEANED AND MADE SURE IT WAS SAFE WHEN YOU OPEN UP. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO BRING OUT IS WITH THE TIER SYSTEM.
WHEN WE WENT FROM A TIER 2 TO A TIER 3, FOR A LOT OF RETAILERS. DIDN'T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO, EVEN WITH 100% CAPACITY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER LIKE IT WAS AT BLACK FRIDAY. TWO CHRISTMASES AGO. YOU STILL GOT TO SOCIAL DISTANCE. DO THOSE THINGS.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU'RE STILL ABOUT 50% CAPACITY IN THESE STORES. WE'RE SAYING IF YOU ARE GOING TO ROLL IT BACK, DON'T PENALIZE EVERYBODY. LOOK AT WHERE THE CLUSTERS ARE HAPPENING.
AND ADDRESS THAT. DON'T PENALIZE EVERYBODY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S MISTAKE. FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
>>Daryl: I SEE YOU VIGOROUSLY NODDING. >> YES. THE TIER SYSTEM WAS GREAT WHEN WE FIRST ROLLED IT OUT. >> ANTIQUATED NOW.
METRICS AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE GAME OUT WITH THE TIER SYSTEM. TODAY, OAHU HIT A MILLION VACCINATIONS OUT OF IS 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE. TELLS STORY. VACCINATIONS, PROTOCOLS PEOPLE CAN GET COVID WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNMENT IS TOO INVOLVED.
THAT TIER SYSTEM IS JUST NOT CHANGING ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE CHANGED. I REALLY PUSH BACK WHEN ANYBODY TALKS ABOUT GOING BACKWARDS. OR LOCKING DOWN. THOSE ARE NOT OPTIONS. THOSE ARE NOT OPTIONS. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE OPTION ANY MORE.
TO EVEN CONSIDER THAT WE WOULD LOCKDOWN DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. LOCKDOWN MEANS WE'RE IN BIG TROUBLE FOR THESE BUSINESSES. WOULD NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER LOCKDOWN.
FOR ME, IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THAT. IT'S NOT ABOUT GOING BACK INTO YOUR SYSTEM. IT'S ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT IS FOR OUR LONGIVITY. WE CAN'T LIVE WITH A TIER SYSTEM THE REST OF OUR LIVES. THE WHOLE IDEA GET VACCINATED. TEACH PEOPLE CORRECT PRINCIPLE, OPEN IT UP AND LET US GOVERN OURSELVES.
>> NOT TO GET THERE SOON. LG SAID, JUNE, JULY, OTHER DAY POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER. SAME THING, JUNE OR JULY, WE HIT HERD IMMUNITY. TO EVEN CONSIDER GOING BACK INTO TIER SYSTEM MAKES ZERO SENSE. >>Daryl: GETTING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE APPROPRIATELY FORWARD LOOK.
WE GOT ABOUT 20 MINUTES LEFT. I GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I THINK THIS ONE IS APPROPRIATE TO YOU, GREG. I HAVE HEARD THAT IS IT HARD TOO ATTRACT SOME EMPLOYEES BACK. WE'RE HEARING THAT THE RESTAURANTS IN PARTICULAR HAVING MORE A PROBLEM THAN THE RETAILERS.
THIS QUESTION GOES TO THAT. HOW DO THE PANELISTS FEEL ABOUT CALLING BACK EMPLOYEES TO WORK KNOWING THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE SAME HOURS AND PAY TO JUSTIFY? WHEN YOU'VE HAD EMPLOYEE, WHO BEEN ON UNEMPLOYMENT, REGARD LESS OF HOW GENEROUS IT IS, IF YOU CAN'T OFFER THEM WHAT THEY WERE MAKING BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE HOURS OPEN OR THE CAPACITY OR THE PEOPLE COMING IN, HOW DO YOU LURE A GUY, PERSON BACK INTO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES? IS THAT A BIG ISSUE HOLDING BACK HIRING FOR THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY? >> CLEARLY WE HAVE STAFFING ISSUES. A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO WORK AND PARTLY BECAUSE IT'S A VERY RICH PLAN.
GOVERNMENT'S FLOODING EVERYBODY'S POCKETS WITH MONEY. GUY WHO WORKS FOR ME. SIX KIDS.
JUST GOT $10,000 AND HE'S GETTING THAT PLUS UP WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER I THINK. I MEAN, WHICH IS CRAZY. I JUST HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR HIRONO. LITERALLY JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS. GOVERNMENT'S GOT TO BACK OUT BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD. WHAT DO YOU DO? IT'S SO TOUGH FOR A BUSINESS OWNER.
I NEED SOMEBODY TO COME BACK. YOU'RE MY EMPLOYER ON FURLOUGH. I KNOW THAT WHEN I'M BRINGING YOU BACK. LESS THAN THAT. THAT A TOUGH SPOT TO PUT US IN.
BLOW NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IT WASN'T THE RESTAURANT PUT US IN THAT POSITION. IT WAS THE PANDEMIC. AND IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS ON ALL OF THE MONEY AND ALL THOSE THINGS. WE'RE GRATEFUL THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. ESPECIALLY ALL SHUTDOWN. THOSE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS.
EVERY OWNER/OPERATOR MAKES DIFFERENT DECISIONS. IN OUR CASE, OUR RESTAURANT, WE'VE HAD TO TAKE ALL OF OUR JOBS AND UP THE PAY JUST TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO EVEN APPLY. WE'RE DOING BONUSES WHERE IF YOU WANT, IF YOU REFER SOMEBODY, YOU GET A $250 CASH BONUS FOR REFERRING SOMEBODY.
WE DO HAVE STAFFING ISSUES. FOR THOSE ON FURLOUGH GETTING MONEY CAN'T GO BACK. DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK.
WE GET IT. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A TOUGH CHOICE. BUT LOOK, UNEMPLOYMENT WAS ONLY MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY.
THIS IS NOT A LIFESTYLE. SO GET USED TO IT. YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO WORK.
>>Daryl: STORIES ABOUT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID HEAR WHEN WE ASKED THAT QUESTION, ISN'T IS IT POSSIBLE TOO GENEROUS? TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR A WHILE, AND NEEDS THE MONEY, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A FAIR QUESTION. IS IT TOO GENEROUS? I ANSWER I GOT BACK, THEY KNOW IT'S TEMPORARY. I'M OFFERING THEM A PERMANENT JOB.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON MAUI? MAUI HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE BACK? IS IT THE UNEMPLOYMENT OR ARE PEOPLE AFRAID TO COME BACK TO WORK? >> I THINK MIX OF BOTH. TO BE HONEST, SEEMS IT IS MORE ABOUT THE MONEY AT THIS POINT WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ALSO HELP SUPPORT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW. I AGREE. I WOULD SAY, PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO MAKE MORE TO COME BACK TO WORK RIGHT NOW. SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
A LOT OF PEOS, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYBODY TO GIVE BUSINESSES. THEIR RESOURCES ARE DRAINED. FINDING THE SAME THING. >>Daryl: WHAT A PEO? WHAT IS THAT? >> PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, DO PAYROLL, FIND EMPLOYEES, PUT THEM ON, CONSIDERED COEMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO FILL AN OPENING, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE PEOS AND THEY'LL ARE READY PEOPLE FOR YOU. THEY HAVE ZERO RIGHT NOW. BUSINESSES ARE REPORTING THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET PEOPLE BACK.
>>Daryl: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GETTING PEOPLE TO COME BACK? FOR YOU? >> I THINK WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION BECAUSE WE'RE SO SMALL. SO WE'VE KIND OF CREATED THIS COMPANY CULTURE, AND MORE OF THAT OHANA FEELING. SO WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT OUR TEAM MEMBERS WANTED TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY GENUINELY WANTED TO HELP US. SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC.
AND THEY WERE WILLING TO REALLY, THEY WORKED AS HARD AS WE DID. AND I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAD AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OR INDUSTRY, RETAIL BOUTIQUE, THEY COME IN AS MAYBE THEIR FIRST JOB, MAYBE SECOND JOB, OR SO WHERE A RESTAURANT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GROW, ENTRY LEVEL AT RETAIL, SO WE GET THE YOUNGER AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO DEPEND ON THEIR SALARY OR THEIR HOURLY TO SURVIVE. AND SO KIND OF CREATES THAT CULTURE OF FAMILY AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES A NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO SHOP BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT CONNECTION.
>>Daryl: TINA WITH THE RETAILERS. WHAT OTHER KIND OF REASONS ARE PEOPLE GIVING FOR NOT COMING BACK TO WORK? ARE YOU GUYS HAVING THE SAME LEVEL OF PROBLEM AND IN TERMS OF GETTING EMPLOYEES BACK? >> FOR MY MEMBERS, WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS CERTAIN COMPANIES, THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. OR WHAT DEBBIE SAID, IT'S THAT FAMILY CULTURE.
TYPE OF THING. THEY WANT TO WORK THERE. THEIR FRIENDS WORK THERE. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE FOMO. IT'S LIKE THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO WORK. AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING LYING, SPECIALIZED JOBS AND STUFF, WE HAD COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAD AN OPENING AND PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, THEY WERE LUCKY IF THEY GOT ONE OR TWO APPLICANTS.
THEY GOT LIKE 50 TO 100. PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THESE JOBS. WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING TOO NOW KEEP GETTING REMINDED >>Daryl: WHAT KIND OF JOB ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THERE? LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC? >> LIKE SPECIALIZED JOB. IF YOU'RE A CFO OR CPA OR YOU NEED IT'S NOT JUST RUNNING REGISTER OR HELPING SOMEBODY. YOU'RE WORKING IN THE OFFICE MUCH KIND OF THING. SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE MORE SPECIALIZED.
LOOK A BUYER. YOU KNOW, THEY HAD WERE ABLE TO FIND PEOPLE, OR HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE APPLYING FOR THOSE TYPE OF JOBS. BUT THEN YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO BEING TOLD A LOT OF TIMES, KEPT BEING REMINDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THAT IF SOMEBODY TURNS YOU DOWN, WE'RE YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. THEY GET CUT OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT. YOU DO OR YOU DON'T OF THE OTHER THING WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HOME NOW, WITH THEIR CHILDREN, WITH THEIR FAMILY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK.
THIS IS LIKE VACATION FOR US. WE HARD A LOT OF THAT TOO. >>Daryl: LOOKING FORWARD NOW. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. GREG, THIS ONE IS KIND OF FOR YOU. HOW ARE EATING OUT HABITS CHANGING? DO YOU THINK TAKEOUT, CURBSIDE, PICK UP OR DELIVERY WILL BE HIGHER EVEN WHEN WE WERE POST PANDEMIC? THAT'S THE KIND OF WE ALSO, WILL IT EVER BE BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN TERMS OF THE RESTAURANT FOOD BUSINESS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? >> I DON'T THINK IT WILL EVER BE BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS.
WE HAVE A NEW CHANNEL OF SALES AND REVENUE STREAM THAT WE PROBABLY KNEW WHAT'S THERE. BUT SOME TOOK REALLY GREAT ADVANTAGE OF T OTHERS DIDN'T. AT ONE POINT, RESTAURANTS ONLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TAKEOUT. SO EVERYBODY HAD TO PIVOT AND DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
I THINK THAT'S HERE TO STAY. I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE, GETTING TAKEOUT IN THE PAST, WASN'T REALLY SOMETHING YOU DID. WASN'T VERY FUN. GOING OUT. GO TO THE MOVIES. GO GET SOMETHING TO NOW, MY WIFE AND I, WE LOVE GETTING TAKEOUT AND WATCHING NETFLIX.
BIG PROBLEM. BUT I THINK WE'VE CHANGED FOREVER. I DON'T THINK IT WILL EVER BE THAT WAY. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THAT, GIVES US ANOTHER CHANNEL OF REVENUE THAT WE CAN WORK ON.
BEFORE, WE HAD ONE INDOOR, SEATING, NOW WE HAVE THESE OTHER CHANNELS THAT WE CAN NOW EXPLORE AND EVEN BUILD OUR BUSINESS BIGGER THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST. I THINK THE OPENED UP SOME BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR US. >>Daryl: PAMELA WITH RESTAURANTS THAT YOU WORK WITH, ON MAUI, SO DEPENDENT ON TOURISM, FOR SO LONG, NOT THAT BIG, LOCAL MARKET, NOT LIKE HONOLULU, DO YOU SEE THOUGH THAT BEING SORT OF SAVING GRACE OUT THERE? HOW BUSINESS PIVOTS A LITTLE BIT? >> YEAH.
WE'VE SEEN PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES NEED TO PIVOT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. CREATED NEW PARTNERSHIPS. AND THEY STARTED SPEAKING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS MORE. FINDING OUT WHAT THE CUSTOMERS NEED.
AND IT'S GETTING INTERESTING. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED. AND ALSO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A CRAZY TIME.
WHERE TO GET A RESERVATIONS ON MAUI, YOU REALLY BOOKING TWO WEEKS OUT. BECAUSE OF THE VISITORS WOULD DO COMING BACK. EVEN AS LOCALS IF WE WANT TO GO THAT THAT RESTAURANT, I RECENTLY HEARD NONGUARANTEED WAIT LIST. WE'VE GOT 8 PEOPLE AHEAD OF YOU.
CLOSING IN 30 MINUTES. BUT YOU COULD WAIT. NOW NONGUARANTEED WAIT LIST.
SO WE'RE FINDING YOU KNOW, IT'S A WHOLE NEW CULTURE. AND WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLIER. WE WANT TO DINE IN. MANY GUESTS ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET INTO RESTAURANTS. IF THEY WAITED TILL THEIR TRIP.
BUT WE CAN GET GREAT FOOD AND TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR HOTEL. BACK HOME. AND IT'S GOURMET. STILL FEELS SUPER SPECIAL. >>Daryl: YOU WANTED TO PITCH IN ON THAT? >> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THINGS CHANGING, SO WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN.
GO TO VISIT THEM ON THE MAINLAND. MY DAUGHTER SAYS, DAD, WILL YOU TAKE ME TO TARGET. I GET IN THE CAR. TAKE HER TO TARGET. SHE SAYS PARK OVER HERE. ARE WE GOING TO GO OVER HERE? NO.
JUST POP THE TRUNK. THEY'RE DELIVERING IT. I'M LIKE, BLOWN AWAY. I'M THE OLD GUY.
NOW, WHY WOULD I GET OUT OF THE BEST BUY? I JUST ORDER IT, HAVE IT DELIVERED, I MEAN, THAT OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD. SHOP DIFFERENTLY. ALMOST EVERY CATEGORY. RESTAURANTS ARE NO DIFFERENT. BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, I LOVE TO GO TO HOME DEPOT AND HAVE SOMEBODY LOAD MY STUFF FOR ME.
>>Daryl: YOU WERE WAVING AT ME. YOU WANTED TO PITCH IN THERE? >> YEAH. I THINK EVEN FOR RETAILERS HAD TO PIVOT A LOT. A LOT OF THEM WAS ON LINE.
SO SAD, SECOND SHUTDOWN WEREN'T ABLE DO IT ON LINE. A LOT OF BILLS SUFFERED. BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAD 20% OF THEIR REVENUE COMING FROM ON LINE, 80% IN STORE PRIOR TO PANDEMIC, THEY ARE NOW SEEING ABOUT KIND OF DIFFERENT NOW. MAYBE 40%. 50%, IS ON LINE. AND IN STORE.
STILL SEEING THAT. PEOPLE STILL LIKE TO STILL GOT STORES. TOUCH AND FEEL. BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS PIVOTED TOO. EVEN SOME OF THE SHOPPING MALLS.
YOU CAN GET MARRIED IN THE SHOPPING MALL NOW. YOU CAN GET DOCTOR'S TEST WHEN YOU GO TO PICK UP YOUR PRESCRIPTION OR WHEN YOU GO PICK UP MAKE UP. PRIOR TO COVID, WE'RE SEEING, YOU CAN GET YOUR HAIR DONE OR FACIAL AND ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF IN STORE. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH NONTRADITIONAL PEOPLE TOO.
THE LIKE, I THINK THERE WAS A BAKERY AND A STORE THAT PARTNERED UP AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT TOO IS PRIOR TO PANDEMIC, 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR. COMPETITORS. EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FOR THAT DOLLAR. BUT YOU KNOW, COVID HIT, IT WAS SO FUNNY BECAUSE EVEN IN OUR BOARD MEETINGS, WE WOULD ALL KIND OF TALK ABOUT IT AND SHARE. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.
HOW DID YOU FIX THIS? CAN WE COME TOGETHER? BROUGHT A LOT OF BUSINESSES TOGETHER. AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, I AM A SHOPPING MALL. SOMEWHERE ON THE ISLAND.
I WALKED THROUGH THIS THERE. HALF THE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, THINK I'M THE CRAZY LADY LIKES TO SHOP. THAT'S FINE.
I TALK TO EVERYBODY FROM THE MANAGERS ON DOWN TO THE CASHIERS, TO FIND OUT AND GET A PULSE WHAT IS GOING ON. WHAT IS HAPPENING. WHO IS SHOPPING? ARE SHE SPENDING MONEY? WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING IT ON AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY'RE STILL HAVING? >>Daryl: AS SORT OF TRADITIONAL BOUTIQUE, RETAILER, ISN'T THERE SORT OF A SENSE OF FEAR THAT EVERYBODY HAS LEARNED, I'VE KNOWN MANY PEOPLE, NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES WHO HAVE NEVER SHOPPED ON LINE UNTIL NOW. AND WHAT GREG WAS DESCRIBING IDEA YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE YOUR CAR, GO SHOPPING, DOESN'T THAT GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE, DON'T REALLY CARE FOR THIS? >> DEFINITELY. IT DOES.
WHEN MY HUSBAND'S 80 YEAR OLD UNCLE IS ORDERING CAR PART AN AMAZON. IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR SURE. AND WE DID PIVOT AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A WEBSITE JUST KIND OF FLOATING THERE. RELIED ON THAT.
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. AND I THINK THE DIFFICULT PART IS FOR US AS A SMALL BOUTIQUE, ALWAYS GRAVITATED TOWARDS SMALL VENDORS. THOSE SMALL VENDERS EITHER DECIDED TO STAY IN BUSINESS OR NOW, THEIR BUSINESS SKYROCKETED.
ABLE TO SELL OFF INSTAGRAM OR ETSY. MORE OF HOW IT'S AFFECTING US IN THAT WAY. SO TRYING TO BE MORE UNIQUE. AND WHATNOT. SO INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING OTHER BRANDS, WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND WE'RE SEWING OUR DRESSES AGAIN. DESIGNING OUR JEWELRY.
KIND OF HAVING TO FOCUS ON US RATHER THAN THAT WHOLE GLOBAL VILLAGE CONCEPT WE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH. >>Daryl: INTERESTING. PAMELA, WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? >> I APPRECIATED TOO, EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY PIVOTED. EVERY YEAR IN MAUI, WE HAVE THE ANNUAL MADE IN MAUI COUNTY FESTIVAL. USUALLY ATTRACTS 10,000 PEOPLE. THIS YEAR, IN A WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
WHAT WE STARTED TO REALIZE IS AS WE WERE MOVING MORE ON LINE, PEOPLE DON'T SHOP THE SAME WAY ON LINE AS THEY DO IN PERSON. LOCAL FESTIVAL FOR SURE. BUT WE REALIZED THE ALSO A WHOLESALE BUYER'S SHOW. COULD NOW MARKET THE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONALLY, ON LINE, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND VIEW VENDOR BOOTH AND INTERACTED WITH VENDORS FROM ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE. SO WE STARTED THINKING OF NEW WAYS DO THAT.
CAME UP WITH SORT OF THIS WORK WITH THE VISITOR INDUSTRY. MILLION FOLLOWERS PLEDGE. REACHED OVER A MILLION PEOPLE THAT WAY. WOULD HAVE NOT NECESSARILY EVER GOTTEN THERE. WITHOUT THIS FOCUS.
SO IT IS DRIVING NEW INNOVATION AND PART OF IT IS SCARY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK THE SAME WAY AS WE'RE USED TO, BUT MANY ARE MOVING ON LINE. MANY SAW BRAND NEW BUYERS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE AT THE FESTIVAL. SO MOVING FORWARD NOW, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A HYBRID.
>>Daryl: YOU KNOW, GREG, ONLY HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU. THE QUICKLY. TOLD QUICKLY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO STOP. I'M OUT OF TIME. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. YOU GUYS ARE ALL VERY ARTICULATED AND LOT OF STUFF TO SAY. NOT GOING TO TRY TO GET AN ANSWER IN 20 SECONDS.
YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT – AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS TINA YAMAKI, RETAIL OF MERCHANTS OF HAWAII PRESIDENT, PAMELA TUMPAP, PRESIDENT OF THE MAUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWAII RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION GREG MAPLES, AND DEBBIE AH CHICK HOPKINS, CO OWNER OF GLOBAL VILLAGE. NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, THE PLAN IS TO TEAR DOWN ALOHA STADIUM AND BUILD A NEW ONE, ALONG WITH AN ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. BUT HOW WILL IT BE PAID FOR? WE’LL TRY TO FIND OUT NEXT WEEK. PLEASE JOIN US THEN.
I’M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I, ALOHA!
2021-04-21 02:24
