April 24: Caldwell extends Honolulu stay-at-home orders through May 31. Co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, left, and Hoda Kotb pose on "Today" show set at NBC Studios on June 27, 2018, in New York. Instead, its all about defer, defer, defer. But that just gets you into more debt.. Director of Public Safety Nolan Espinda announces he will retire in September. All rights reserved. April 4: A 65-year-old man from East Oahu is the fourth COVID-19 death. Two more Hawaii restaurants are shutting their doors due to the pandemic. HONOLULU, Hawaii (KITV4) -- Two more Hawaii restaurants are shutting their doors due to the pandemic. More than 1 in 4 restaurants reported being four or more months behind on payables, including rent, utilities, wages or supplies. The upscale restaurant, known for its emphasis on locally grown and raised ingredients, was a popular spot for visitors and residents alike. Martha Haleakala, says "Labor is the main problem here on Maui, just everyone is trying to hire, it's really difficult now the labor shortages. April 19: Daily case counts fall to single digits. Loves homegrown operations rapidly expanded during the world wars, and by 1943 the company was baking bread around the clock in a 144-foot-long oven that put out 8,000 loaves an hour, SF Gate said. ), A post shared by TOWN food & events (@townkaimuki). 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. Roberson takes leave less than a month later, frustrated by being blocked in her efforts to make changes, according to lawmakers. Aug. 3: One-day case counts hit a new record at 207. David Ige imposed capacity restrictions on restaurants, bars, and gatherings, citing a surge in coronavirus cases in the state due in large part to the delta variant, though travel . 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. Calendar #7-500 Dine-in food courts, play areas and arcades must remain closed. SEE ALSO:A Locals Guide to Hawaii: Chef Alan Wong, Everyone is looking forward to a better day, and we are no exception, he said in an email that went to customers and fans. More than half of Hawaii 's restaurants will be forced to permanently close by April 2021, if tourism does not significantly increase, according to a survey by the Public Policy Center, which is housed in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa. He said that starting Kohala Cares has made the closing of his restaurant bearable. And even with the new influx of tourists, the Aloha State is experiencing 20,000 fewer visitors a day, spelling uncertainty for small businesses.Yet despite an uncertain future, community spirit is still thriving. M by Jeremy Shigekane, formerly known as Chef Mavro, announced Wednesday that it is closing. >> Uncle Clays House of Pure Aloha, Ala Moana Center. (Kenney also runs Mud Hen Water and Kaimuk Superette in Kaimuk and Mahina & Suns in Waikk. Create a password that only you will remember. Restaurants, stores and churches can operate at full capacity but are encouraged to keep tables socially distant. Dr. Emily Roberson takes over the contact tracing program from the much-criticized state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park. Sept. 11: Lt. Gov. Google Maps. The bakery has been spreading the love since 1851, and first fired up its ovens more than a century before Hawaii became the 50th state. Restaurants that hope to reopen in better times are not placed on this list. Jan. 25: DOH lab tests find the first L452R variant of COVID-19 in the state. Here is a look at key moments since the state began posting daily COVID-19 updates in late February. SEE ALSO:Lee Anne Wong: What its Like to Close a Restaurant During the COVID-19 Pandemic, April 25: The state extends stay-at-home orders and the 14-day quarantine for travelers until May 31. On Wednesday NBC addressed the mystery of Kotb's absence on the program. 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. ", 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. But most of those funds were spent quickly and its unclear when more help might be on the way. 7 people die. When Loves Bakery kneaded its first loaf of bread 170 years ago, King Kamehameha III was on the Hawaiian throne. He didnt give any details. And for many of the mom and pops, its their life blood. We pull together as a community when we have to, said David Fuertes, executive director of the nonprofit Kahua Paa Mua, an organization that teaches youth and adults to build community through agriculture. Submit your coronavirus news tip. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. A Maui restaurant commits to sustainability, zero waste as they avoid single-use plastic and receive farm-fresh produce, US Freight rail strike could cost US economy $1 billion in first week, Kauai County SBA loans, for those impacted by drought, available through April 2023, More Downtown Honolulu buildings may be redeveloped into residential towers, The Chevy Bolt's huge sales prove America is craving a cheap electric car, Hawaii businesses struggle to keep workers in latest COVID surge, Medicare Advantage plans at times deny seniors access to medical care, federal watchdog finds. Lantern Floating Festival will be broadcast on Hawaii News Nows KGMB feed and livestreamed online. At that time, the United States had 108 confirmed and presumptive cases with the World Health Organization recording almost 3,200 deaths worldwide. Outdoor exercising is allowed for groups of 10 people or fewer. We have worked diligently to cut expenses, to maintain our market share and to remedy our operational difficulties, however under the current business environment we are no longer able to continue operations, the company said in a statement to the media, the outlet said. July 29: Daily cases hit triple digits. 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. Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. Murphys Bar & Grill St. Patricks Day Block Party canceled, National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific / Punchbowl all ceremonies postponed through May, Noodle Fest at Victoria Ward Park canceled, Prince Khi Parade & Hoolaulea in Kapolei postponed, St. Patricks Day celebration at SALT at Our Kakaako canceled, Waikiki Aquarium 116th birthday celebration canceled, Wiki Wiki One Day Vintage Collectibles & Hawaiiana Show canceled, All State Parks, Monuments, Waysides, Lookouts, Historical Sites and Recreation Areas closed until further notice, Ala Moana Center reopening startng May 15, Aloha Stadium closed. 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. "I believe food is love, said Pomeranze. Its good to have somebody in the building, she said. The daily case count drops below triple digits (66) for the first time since July 31. But now, as . Tourism, responsible for 25 percent of all jobs, declined at one point by 99 percent, leaving several thousand people without jobs. The survey received 184 responses with slightly more than 50% of respondents operating restaurants solely on Oahu. Food-A-Go-Go has added a list of restaurants that have permanently shut down since March. By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. All rights reserved. "M" by Jeremy Shigekane, announced it is closing its doors in McCully. #7-500 Hawaii re-opened on October 15 to tourists, complete with new protocol for rapid testing to bypass its 14-day quarantine. Dec. 29: The state launches a website outlining its vaccination schedule. Sept. 18: The state says that an outbreak first reported at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo in August has killed 12, pushing the statewide death total above 120. In early March, Peter Pomeranze saw how fellow Hawaiian residents were trying to survive as the lockdown wore on. "M" by Jeremy Shigekane, announced it is closing its doors in McCully. Hawaiis Pre-Travel Testing Program to Start Oct. 15 Beginning October 15, thepre With a traditional Hawaiian blessing, the city of Honolulu unveiled a new COVID-19 CDC, State Department warn against travel to Japan The Centers for Disease Control See travel info for more Covid information. March 26: Hawaii is first in the nation to require travelers to the state to quarantine for 14 days. Some landlords have refused to talk about abatement or forgiveness, said Andaya. Your top local headlines for March 3, 2022. (Daily statewide case count: 45. Everyone is short handed and Tepanyaki is a specialized type of Chef. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. March 23: Mayor Kirk Caldwells five-week stay-at-home order goes into effect for Oahu at 4:30 p.m. All businesses, except for those deemed essential, are ordered closed along with city parks and beaches. Dine-in food courts, play areas and arcades must remain closed. For one tiny town in Hawaii County (also known as the Big Island), gathering to help those in need during troubling times is one thing that has remained constant. Its scary. It will remain in this tier for more than four months. Statewide, the figure is 39%. Choose wisely! A passion for ice cream, and the energy to keep scooping kept the owners of "Double Fat Ice Cream" Moving Forward. ROAD CLOSURE: (March 1, 2023, 5:15 p.m.) The Olowalu area of Honoapiilani Highway is closed due to a brush fire. by Luke Fortney @lucasfortney Mar 3, 2023, 10:46am EST. The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to upend the economic order of the United States, causing upheaval in industries such as real estate, hospitality, retail, and transportation to name but a few. Ryan Tanaka is the incoming Chairman of the Hawaii restaurant association, he also owns Giovanni Pastrami in Waikiki. HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Another longtime Hawaii business has become a casualty of the pandemic. April 23: Face masks are required in all places of business and on public transportation in Honolulu. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. (Total statewide case count: 629. Total: 625. April 1: State enacts 14-day self-quarantine for Interisland travelers. That was also his 63rd birthday. Nine people have died. Reopens on Jan. 19, 2022 LexBreezy Hawaii: Closed on Dec. 27, 2021 to Jan. 2022. Total: 2,111.). By 1945, it was reportedly flying the bread to neighboring islands by charter plane as Hawaiis population rapidly grew. To keep up with updates to the list, go to foodagogo.org/closed-restaurants. July 14: Honolulu orders bars and restaurants to stop selling alcohol at midnight. Restaurants continue to struggle and the number of those gone for good continues to rise. March 6: The DOH announces the first Hawaii case of COVID-19. Bars and nightclubs must remained closed for at least four more weeks. (Total case count: 7 confirmed statewide. Aug. 26: Surge testing begins in Hawaii. The next day, the states total number of deaths will surpass 200. Yelp There were 26,160 total restaurant closures on Yelp as of July 10 and 15,770 of those have made the decision permanent, according to Yelp. (Daily statewide case count: 3. ), May 8: No new cases are reported for the first time since mid-March. I am sad to say that after over 25 years, its time to retire the restaurant.. Some fast food chains, including White Castle, McDonalds and Taco Bell, still have closed or limited indoor dining areas because of COVID. More than 106,000 vaccines administered. Telephone: 808-529-4747, Peoples Open Markets on Oahu to resume regular hours Saturday, Police say slingshot used in robbery near downtown, Lesion removed from Bidens chest was cancerous, Ocasio-Cortezs Met Gala dress rental may have violated house ethics, panel finds, Mayor Rick Blangiardi submits $3.4B budget to City Council, Power outage closes Kaimuki High School campus, Amazon pauses construction on 2nd headquarters in Virginia, Maine lobstermen have slower year amid industry challenges, Stocks jump as Wall Street cruises to best day since January, Federal Reserve officials sound warnings about higher rates, Rearview Mirror: Pizza, Lucky Luck, automats conjure up memorable stories, March 9, 1957: Aleutian earthquakes send killer tsunami waves to Hawaiian islands. Aug. 18: Caldwell bans social gatherings and reduces group limits to five or fewer. Having trouble with comments? Oahu Community Correctional Center battles an outbreak that results in 181 inmates testing positive. More than 61,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will arrive by the end of the month. Kauai reports its first new case in two months. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. He will continue his other project to feed kids at schools through FoodStart. Nobu Honolulu, chef Nobu Matsuhisa's Hawaii flagship restaurant on the ground floor of the Waiea luxury condominium in Ward Village, will not reopen after closing due to the Covid-19. Get It Now. Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. Total: 27,358 cases, 435 deaths. May 5: The state goes into safer-at-home orders, allowing for. Feb. 21: The state Department of Health begins daily COVID-19 updates after learning a visitor from Japan tested positive after a trip to Hawaii. 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. New guidelines are set to go into effect Aug. 1. REAL Gastropub on Keawe Street in Kakaako is one of the 44 restaurants in Hawaii that have permanently closed since the pandemic. Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. it's a crucial day lost for local restaurants during maine restaurant week, which rachel sagiroglu, the owner of the makers galley on commercial street, says brings in needed business at an off . Anyway Cafe in the East Village has closed. Directory Those who aren't vaccinated will only be allowed to dine outside, where. 88 people have died. According to the Hawaii Restaurant Association, at least 15% of the state's 3,600 restaurants have closed down. The poll, from the University of Hawaii Public Policy Center, is a stark reminder of just how hard the restaurant industry has been hit in the pandemic and what the stakes are in wooing tourists back. (Total statewide case count: 285.). Right. The more contagious B.1.17 and B.1.351 variants have not been found in the Islands. In the meantime, restaurants are closing their doors just about every day. 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. Home to several residents who work for the shuttered coastal resorts, Hawi is a bucolic tourist stop in North Kohala. 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. Close to three years after New York's first indoor dining shutdown, restaurants . The state says 109 visitors arrived at the airports on April 22, compared to nearly 30,000 daily passengers a year ago. View the entire report on the Public Policy Centers website. Over 50 Hawaii restaurants have permanently closed since pandemic began By Star-Advertiser Staff Sept. 10, 2020 Unlimited access to premium stories for as low as $12.95 /mo. 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. SEE ALSO:These Two Unlikely Friends Cooked and Delivered Free Gourmet Meals Throughout the Pandemic. 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. (Daily statewide case count: 4. ), SEE ALSO:Life Interrupted: 15 People. A bowl of saimin from Dillingham Saimin, which has closed after 64 years in business. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Data on restaurant and retail closures amid the coronavirus pandemic from Yelp. Without a tourism rebound, half of Hawaii restaurants say theyll be permanently closed by April. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. 15 Stories of Sudden Change, Courage and Community During COVID-19, Lee Anne Wong: What its Like to Close a Restaurant During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Honolulu announces shopping centers, sport fields and courts and drive-in services for religious purposes may reopen on May 15, Real Gastropub, Hawaiis First Restaurant to Focus on Craft Beer, Wont be Reopening, COVID-19 Hits Home: Three Oahu People Who Contracted COVID-19 Talk About Their Illness and Long Recovery, Hawaii starts three record-setting days of case counts, In the Room with COVID-19: Hawaii Nurses Talk About Patient Care in a Pandemic, These Two Unlikely Friends Cooked and Delivered Free Gourmet Meals Throughout the Pandemic, Mental Health Experts Help Us Unpack the Complicated World of Year Three of the Pandemic, COVIDs Taken My Sense of Smell, But Not My Appetite, Outdoor Masking Optional at Hawaii Public Schools, During an Uncertain Time for Businesses, Caf Kaila Gives Thanks, Where to Find Mochi and Other Sweet Treats for Girls Day in Honolulu, Why We Eat Mochi and Display Dolls on Girls Day in Hawaii, February 2023: Our Top 3 Most-Viewed Posts About Oahus Food Scene, Photos: 2023 Best Dentists in Hawaii Reception, The Top 5 Whiskey Drinks to Order at ELEVEN, The HDS Tooth Fairy is Coming Back to Kakaako, A Locals Guide to an Oahu Road Trip: Wahiaw to Salt Lake, Spring Fashion Feature: Proud Hawaiian Model Mahina Florence Inspires Murals, 10 Local Ocean-Friendly Restaurants on Oahu to Try Now.