Mixed messaging about masks puts Hawaii businesses at center of controversy
Hawaii retailers brace for more confrontations over masks after mixed messages from state, CDC By Allyson Blair | May 14, 2021 at 3:52 PM HST - Updated May 14 at 4:30 PM
While President Biden and the CDC told the nation this week that vaccinated people can go without masks, with some exceptions, Hawaii still requires them most places for everyone.
Store owners say they’re left in the middle of the controversy.
“Yesterday my phone was ringing off the hook,” said Tina Yamaki, the president of Retail Merchants of Hawaii. She says people often view what the CDC says as law of the land.
Frankenbill would suspend tax exemptions for some Hawaii businesses, raise conveyance tax
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Some feel the current reopening tier system is irrelevant and call for leaders to revisit rules
Some feel the current reopening tier system is irrelevant and call for leaders to revisit rules By Jolanie Martinez | May 11, 2021 at 12:06 AM HST - Updated May 11 at 12:06 AM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With 40% of Hawaiiâs population now fully vaccinated, some say itâs time to rethink the stateâs reopening strategy.
More states are speeding up their reopening plans, especially for activities outdoors where the risk of transmission is low.
Governor David Ige has been cautious from the start and with new variants in the mix, heâs not about to risk it.
Signs of economic relief abound as vaccination rates, visitor counts steadily rise
Signs of economic relief abound as local events are met with a steady tourism incline By HNN Staff | May 9, 2021 at 5:45 PM HST - Updated May 10 at 4:55 AM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With mass vaccinations and a rebounding tourism market, some feel Hawaii’s economy is finally turning the corner.
“It’s really becoming a much more healthy, normal psychological environment,” said Lt. Gov. Josh Green.
“There’s still a little bit ways to go probably two months away an approximation of herd immunity.”
On Friday, the daily visitor count hit 24,000. That’s about 75 percent of the 2019 peaks and compares with May 7, 2020′s daily count, which was less than 600.
Some businesses are facing a new challenge: Hiring workers back Restaurants in particular are reporting difficulty in finding new hires. (Source: HNN) By Samie Solina | April 9, 2021 at 6:40 PM HST - Updated April 9 at 6:40 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Businesses said they want to hire more people, but some managers report they’re having a hard time convincing folks to come back to work.
Restaurants in particular said that tough times haven’t allowed them to compete with unemployment benefits. Economists said there are many other obstacles they face.
Either way, businesses are happy more folks are dining in, but it’s hard to keep up.
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