When COVID-19 reached the U.S. and government restrictions set in -- closing indoor dining in much of the country -- millions of restaurant workers found themselves without jobs. May 5: The state goes into safer-at-home orders, allowing for low-risk facilities to reopen on May 7. The state says 109 visitors arrived at the airports on April 22, compared to nearly 30,000 daily passengers a year ago. ), A post shared by TOWN food & events (@townkaimuki). 500 Ala Moana Blvd. University of Hawaii announces it will do the same beginning March 23 and all UH athletic events are suspended immediately and indefinitely. (Total statewide case count: 349.). Southwestern joint Sierra Bonita Grill was one of at least 50 bars and restaurants in Phoenix that have closed their doors due to COVID-19. In early March, Peter Pomeranze saw how fellow Hawaiian residents were trying to survive as the lockdown wore on. The Honolulu mainstay employs 231 people who will all lose their jobs and normally distributes about 400,000 loaves to 1,800 customers every week, the website reports. >> Uncle Clays House of Pure Aloha, Ala Moana Center. All travel is banned from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday through Monday morning. Hawaiians are bidding a bittersweet aloha to a . COVID-19 has also impacted many of our mainland suppliers causing delays in the ingredients and replacement parts for our aging bakery equipment, itsFederal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter and Hawaii Dislocated Workers Act noticesaid. ROAD CLOSURE: (March 1, 2023, 5:15 p.m.) The Olowalu area of Honoapiilani Highway is closed due to a brush fire. See the newest food hot spots! The University of Hawaii said restaurants are being burdened by quickly-changing government mandates on such things as how many people are allowed to dine in. We're launching a newsletter all about Hawaii! 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Increased local competition had reportedly also taken a big cut out of Loves dough. 27 residents will die by the end of the month. Channon had to call for a favor from state representative David Tarnas to help push financial aid through, which was expedited with his help. (Daily statewide case count: 3. Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. It comes just as the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6 billion grant program for struggling small restaurants, bars and restaurant groups, is gearing up to take applications, and as. The past 365 days have been unlike any other this generation has ever known. Having trouble with comments? Masks are required in Honolulu gyms after COVID-19 clusters are tied to several on Oahu. In fact, by the time FEMA showed up, many homes had already been restored, though one disadvantage was that community support meant that Kupunas couldnt collect insurance. The survey said 9 out of 10 restaurants took advantage of the federal Payroll Protection Program, and the states restaurant card program also brought customers and money back to the tables. July 29: Daily cases hit triple digits. Since closing her doors, Channon donated her kitchen to the North Kohala Resource Center, which makes over a thousand meals a week for area Kupuna (senior citizens). Anyway Cafe in the East Village has closed. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. For me its a win-win. March 6: The DOH announces the first Hawaii case of COVID-19. A champion of Hawaiis agriculture industry and the statesculinary arts programs, Wong says its not the end and plans to return with something new. Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. Sign up for news, tips and in-depth features from the Aloha State here. April 3: An elderly Oahu man who went to Washington stateis confirmed as Hawaiis third COVID-19 death. (Daily statewide case count: 0.). Most students remain out of classrooms until November, when many return to campus for just a few days a week. Fuertes and Kahua Paa Mua are also working on an initiative for those who have been displaced from their job due to COVID. Total: 19,480 cases, 274 deaths.). Dine-in food courts, play areas and arcades must remain closed. Sept. 11: Lt. Gov. April 30: Honolulu announces shopping centers, sport fields and courts and drive-in services for religious purposes may reopen on May 15. All are travel related. April 2: An elderly Oahu man becomes Hawaiis second COVID-19 death. The Hawaii Restaurant Association is backing a measure that will slowly increases the minimum wage over time to $18 an hour so that mom and pop shops can adjust to remain competitive and to stay alive. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - If tourism doesnt make a rebound early on in 2021, more than half of Hawaii restaurants say they will be forced to close permanently by April, a new survey finds. By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. The state says he recently traveled to Las Vegas. Aided by several volunteers, mostly comprised of his former employees, he packs bags with the non-perishables hes purchased through donations over the weekend at Costco. In the meantime, restaurants are closing their doors just about every day. No secondary cases have been. Do you have a story idea? L&L Drive In has weathered most of the pandemic, but some of their nearly 70 franchises in Hawaii are starting to fall behind in rent. For 17 years, he had been the owner of Sushi Rock, a restaurant that was a local favorite. Aug. 13: A new daily case count record is set with 355 new cases as Hawaii endures its 15th straight day of triple-digit counts. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also sends a request to Ige to allow team sports to resume. Close to three years after New York's first indoor dining shutdown, restaurants . The restaurant's run is ending, its owner said, due to "not enough business, rent, everything, you know! Reopens on Jan. 19, 2022 LexBreezy Hawaii: Closed on Dec. 27, 2021 to Jan. 2022. Two more Hawaii restaurants are shutting their doors due to the pandemic. Business recovery has not come to full blown mode yet.". Not willing to change her identity to be part of the industry, Mahina Florence is at the height of her career because of her flawless Hawaiian complexion, strong athletic build, and friendly aloha spirit. April 19: Daily case counts fall to single digits. ", The Hawaii Restaurant Association's Victor Lim says, " We still have restaurants that continue to close every single week, purely because for our small businesses that pandemic is not over yet. Having trouble with comments? Feb. 25: Honolulu moves into Tier 3 which allows people to gather in groups as large as 10. More than 1 in 4 restaurants reported being four or more months behind on payables, including rent, utilities, wages or supplies. Nine people have died. Its good to have somebody in the building, she said. (Kenney also runs Mud Hen Water and Kaimuk Superette in Kaimuk and Mahina & Suns in Waikk. The list now numbers 47 closed restaurants statewide. Pomeranze understood exactly how other residents of Hawaii were struggling: He was one of them. Swap Meet & Marketplace will be reopening starting June 13th, Bishop Museum closed until further notice, Blaisdell Center all events canceled through June 30, Hanauma Bay closed until further notice, Hawaii Childrens Discovery Center closed until further notice, Hawaii Mission Houses closed until further notice, Honolulu Museum of Art closed until further notice, Iolani Palace closed until further notice, Kawaiahao Church closed until further notice, KCC Farmers Market closed until further notice, Pearl Harbor National Memorial closed until further notice, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museums closed until further notice, Pearlridge Center reopening startng May 15, Peoples Open Markets closed until further notice, Polynesian Cultural Center closed until further notice, Regal Theatres closed until further notice, Royal Hawaiian Center reopening startng May 15, Sea Life Park closed until further notice, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park closed, Waikiki Aquarium closed until further notice, Waimea Valley closed until further notice, Akaka Falls State Park closed until further notice, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area closed until further notice, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park guided tours canceled & visitor center closed, Kekaha Kai State Park closed until further notice, Kiholo State Park Reserve closed until further notice, Wailoa River State Recreation Area closed until further notice, Wailuku River State Park closed until further notice, All Maui Fridays Town Party canceled until further notice, Maui Matsuri Japanese Festival canceled, Iao Valley State Monument closed until further notice, Kaumahina State Wayside closed until further notice, Makena State Park closed until further notice, Maui County facilities closed for 30 days, starting March 14th, Maui Historical Society/ Hale Hoikeike closed until further notice, Maui Ocean Center closed through end of May, Polipoli State Recreational Area closed until further notice, Puaa Kaa State Wayside closed until further notice, Waianapanapa State Park closed until further notice, 2020 Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair canceled, Flavors of Kukuiula Benefitting The 42nd Annual Kauai Charity Walk canceled, All State Parks, Recreational Piers, Wilderness Parks and Historic Parks closed until further notice, Kauai county facilities (including camping & community events) closed for 60 days, starting March 16th, Palaau State Park closed until further notice. Tourism, responsible for 25 percent of all jobs, declined at one point by 99 percent, leaving several thousand people without jobs. According to the Hawaii Restaurant Association, at least 15% of the states 3,600 restaurants have closed down since the pandemic began. He will continue his other project to feed kids at schools through FoodStart. Co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, left, and Hoda Kotb pose on "Today" show set at NBC Studios on June 27, 2018, in New York. Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. Jan. 7: The state adds daily vaccination data (25,470 administered) to its website on a day with the highest daily case count (322) since August. HONOLULU, Hawaii (KITV4) -- Two more Hawaii restaurants are shutting their doors due to the pandemic. (Total case count: 16 statewide.). Here is a look at key moments since the state began posting daily COVID-19 updates in late February. Learn more here. Sign up for the CRAVE email newsletter. Rental cars sat unused at Aloha Stadium in March 2020. You just never know when things are going to be shut down again, or the rules are gonna change, or everything else, said Bryan Andaya, president and chief operating officer of L&L Franchises. Chart House restaurant and Harbor Pub in Waikiki. I have 25 people and two people got [unemployment], and the rest were hung out to dry, said Joan Channon, who is the owner of Hawis treasured Bamboo Restaurant. The 15 cases push Hawaiis total to 706. Without a tourism rebound, half of Hawaii restaurants say theyll be permanently closed by April. For updates, go to foodagogo.org/closed-restaurants. By 1945, it was reportedly flying the bread to neighboring islands by charter plane as Hawaiis population rapidly grew. Hotels, flights, car rentals, experiences and more! Jan. 25: DOH lab tests find the first L452R variant of COVID-19 in the state. Furnishings, appliances from Shirokiya Japan Village Walk up for auction, Pacific Buddhist Academy set to hold 17th annual Taiko Festival, Oprah expands her upcountry Maui property by 870 acres for over $6M, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Josh Green tests positive for COVID-19 after a deputy sheriff with his security detail contracts the virus. Restaurants close due to labor shortages and the pandemic. Outdoor exercising is allowed for groups of 10 people or fewer. and M.B.A. DM her on IG @CynthiaYipTV to share stories. Still, it pushes the state total above 10,000, more than triple the total just a month ago. This list of 52 Hawaii restaurants permanently closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March is maintained by Food-A-Go-Go, an online consumer resource that provides information on restaurants, farms and food producers. The DOE announces all public school students will do distance learning for at least the first four weeks of the new school year. Results also indicated a strong perception statewide that government contact tracing has been ineffective, with less than 4% of restaurants seeing tangible results of the contact tracing efforts they have been directed to undertake. On March 4, 2020, Gov. Photo Gallery: Hawaii During the Pandemic in 2020, extend public school spring break by another week, Life Interrupted: 15 People. You have through Feb. 28 to join local luminaries in the multi-level dining room, or to place your last orders for takeout or delivery before the restaurant goes dark for good. David Ige issues his first emergency proclamation to prepare the state for possible emergency action. Victor Lim says, in order for restaurants to stabilize they need time and a part of that adjustment will be passage of the minimum wage measures making their way through the State Legislature. Aug. 4: Hawaii surpasses 3,000 cases and 31 deaths. Director of Public Safety Nolan Espinda announces he will retire in September. Furnishings, appliances from Shirokiya Japan Village Walk up for auction, Hawaii reports 12 COVID deaths, nearly 1,000 new cases, Health Minute: First at-home flu and COVID test authorized, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Your top local headlines for March 3, 2022. Yoas Sorbet & Aquascapes: Closed on. Thanks for contacting us. Dec. 10: The first positive case is reported on Molokai in an asymptomatic adult who traveled interisland. Statewide, the figure is 39%. Its owner, Martha Haleakala says due to lack of finding staff and the current state of the economy, she had to shut her doors 2 months ago. Submit your coronavirus news tip. 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Lets hope he finds a way to bring back his famous ginger-crustedonaga(Hawaiian red snapper), twice-cooked short rib and the showstopping dessert simply called The Coconut. SEE ALSO:COVID-19 Hits Home: Three Oahu People Who Contracted COVID-19 Talk About Their Illness and Long Recovery. * Plans to close Kakaako Kitchen and Kobe Japanese Steak House were announced earlier in the year, and were not directly related to the pandemic. Beginning Sept. 15, customers who want to dine inside at restaurants and bars must show proof they are fully vaccinated. Maui Memorial Center soon deals with an outbreak as well. Some 42% of restaurants on Oahu say they havent reopened for in-person dining even though theyre allowed to.