restaurants

The Conversation takes you to the Kawaihae coast of the Big Island to get a behind-the-scenes look at Kuleana Rum Works. Founder Steve Jefferson spoke with The Conversation all about his distillery.

This Haleʻiwa small craft business opened its doors almost a decade ago and recently expanded its offerings to include gin. The Conversation talked to Ken Hirata of Hawaiian Shochu Company located on Oʻahu’s North Shore.

Maui County's ban on disposable plastic foodware was set to go into effect on Saturday, Jan. 1. But ongoing supply chain issues forced Mayor Michael Victorino to postpone its implementation until March. HPR's Casey Harlow has more.

The operator of two Oʻahu restaurants denied workers overtime wages and failed to keep records for work hours, federal officials say. Himalayan Kitchen LLC in Honolulu and Kailua owes $40,000 in back wages to five of their cooks.

A restaurant owner with three locations on Oʻahu shortchanged 71 workers. Sujin Tomita, owner of Sura Hawaiʻi in Honolulu and Kapolei, and Thank Q Pocha owes her workers over $200,000 in back wages and liquidated damages.

Hawaiʻi restaurants are trying to find workers as COVID-19 capacity and social distancing rules that have been in place for much of the pandemic are lifted. Restaurants and bars can operate at 100% capacity with no spacing requirements beginning Dec. 1.

With the holidays approaching, restaurants in Hawaiʻi want the state to ease coronavirus restrictions that limit their ability to fill their dining rooms. Despite capacity rules being eased for businesses that comply with vaccination checks, the state is still requiring social distancing rules to be enforced at restaurants.

The pandemic and subsequent mandates have wreaked havoc on businesses, especially restaurants, across the country. Still, there have been success stories — those businesses that have managed to not only survive the turbulence, but thrive. The Counter at Kahala Mall is one such example.

American Savings Bank will be relaunching their Hawaiʻi Restaurant Card Business Holiday Card program. Last year, the program brought in $75 million in revenue to the local food supply chain.

Businesses near the University of Hawaiʻi’s Mānoa campus are hoping the return of fans to home football games in the neighborhood will help revitalize the community. For nearly 50 years, the Rainbow Warriors played home games 10 miles away at Aloha Stadium. Starting this year, they are playing at a renovated athletic complex on campus.