Japanese Tourism; Retail Merchants Hawaii; Reality Check: Statewide Mask Mandate; Pearlridge Center; Kauai Rice and Taro
Japanese Tourism
Japan is the first foreign country to reach an agreement with the State of Hawaii to allow its citizens to enter Hawaii without having to quarantine. HPR Reporter Ryan Finnerty brings us more on how this international travel partnership has worked so far.
Retail Merchants Hawaii
It’s that time of year again: Thanksgiving is a week and two days away. But as with so much else in 2020, the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the rest of the holiday shopping season is looking a lot different because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tina Yamaki is the president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. She spoke with The Conversation’s Jason Ubay about how customers and businesses are approaching this usually busy shopping time.
Reality Check: Statewide Mask Mandate
It’s now official: Hawaii has a statewide mandate for face coverings. It’s the focus of Governor David Ige’s latest emergency proclamation. Honolulu Civil Beat reporter Eleni Avendano has been following this story and joins us with the latest.
Pearlridge Center
We’re going to take another look now at Black Friday, the busiest retail shopping day of the year, and a little more than a week away.
Diana Su is the marketing director of Pearlridge Center. She spoke with The Conversation’s Jason Ubay about how the Oahu mall is preparing for the crowds while keeping people - and Santa - safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kauai Rice and Taro
Rice has a long history here in Hawaii, and this week we’re taking a closer look at some highlights of that history. Back before the pandemic, Catherine Cruz headed to Kaua’i and the Hanalei Rice Mill, where she talked story with Rodney Haraguchi.
His past is tied to the rice paddies there that are now all planted in taro. Hanalei is where most of the state’s poi comes from. Last year’s devastating floods forced the shutdown of the Historic Rice Mill that used to be open for tours. It also leveled the family home which is being rebuilt. The rice mill tours are still suspended due to the pandemic and the rice plans are also on hold. But you can still find Rodney Haraguchi out in the fields at 4’oclock every morning. He reflected on the setbacks to their fields and their plans for the mill.
