Business owners feel discriminated against

Tourism can open, but they can’t

News Release from Office of Councilmember Kym Pine

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I — Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine staged a virtual town hall for local businesses today in which they expressed great frustration. Business owners note that they are not being allowed to operate despite increased safety protocols they have put in place — at great expense — in addition to the already-stringent safety protocols that were already being observed.

“The blanket tiered system that is now in place is hurting local businesses, many of which have permanently shut down. The mayor and governor should switch to a system that instead, measures an individual business’ ability to keep customers safe and prevents the COVID-19 virus from spreading,” said Councilmember Pine.

“It's clear that many businesses are being discriminated against when tourism is allowed to open, yet local businesses must remain closed. Local leaders admit that there is a 20 percent chance for a visitor to bring in the virus despite being tested,” she said.

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VIRTUAL TOWN HALL for small businesses not allowed to reopen

From Councilmember Kym Pine, Oct 14, 2020

Closed local businesses feel discriminated against, seek to clear up misunderstanding

Virtual town hall for small businesses not allowed to reopen, or which are severely constrained.

WHO: Hosted by Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine, chair of the council’s Business, Economic Development and Tourism committee. All business owners are invited to join this virtual event.

WHY: To support small businesses and actively diversify the economy as we work toward recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn.

WHAT: Despite the reopening of many personal services businesses including barber shops, hair and nail salons, other, similar businesses have been misunderstood and are forced to remain closed by the city’s most recent order. Owners and operators feel discriminated against and Councilmember Pine seeks to restore fairness and the ability to do business, to the process.

Councilmember Pine’s guest panelists represent the massage industry, estheticians and the wedding business.

PANELISTS:

• Damian Caycayan - Regional Lead Therapist, Massage Envy Hawai‘i
• Kanoelani Woo - General Manager, Massage Envy Hawai‘i
• Nikki Sanchez - Owner, Lash Love Beauty Lounge
• Cariann Naguwa - Owner, Waxing by Cariann