Oahu restaurants experience declines in sales after proving COVID vaccination mandate

HONOLULU (KHON2) – Restaurant owners across the island have seen a decline in customers and sales over the past few weeks. They said they were affected by a slowdown in tourism and Safe Access Oahu.

As restaurants began to recover from the 2020 losses, many of them suffered another blow.

Rick Nakashima, partner operator of Ruby Tuesday Hawaii and Gyu-Kaku Hawaii, said he has seen a sharp drop in sales since Safe Access Oahu launched. The program requires seated restaurants to ask customers for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken 48 hours prior to eating as part of Honolulu orders.

“When the Safe Access program started 15 days ago, we really felt it,” said Nakashima. “We have already cut another 40 to 50% of the really bad numbers.”

Walk-up stores like The Butcher and Bird in Salt at Our Kakaako are also feeling the loss. Owner Charles Wakeman said since customers order and leave within 15 minutes, they don’t have to follow the vaccination program but remain affected due to reduced foot traffic.

“The extra layer to something that is supposed to be leisurely and fun and something that is some kind of treat takes away the experience,” said Wakeman, “and I think a lot of people choose to just stay home and ride it out . ”

City communications director Tim Sakahara said they had received positive feedback on the program from certain companies.

We have heard from numerous companies that have reported that the Safe Access Oahu program was effective and we appreciate the move as it provides guidance and gives people added confidence that the facilities are safe. We have also heard from companies that are not required to implement the program but have voluntarily adopted an Oahu Safe Access Policy because they believe in the security measures it contains.

We understand the challenges our local businesses are facing with the pandemic and lower travel numbers. Safe Access Oahu was implemented in part to prevent the disease from spreading to the community and prevent a shutdown that would have had a much greater impact on businesses. We are encouraged by the declining case numbers and hospital admission rates, and we continue to monitor current conditions to adjust accordingly. Adjustments require the approval of the state.

Tim Sakahara

Sheryl Matsuoka, executive director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association, said she had heard of members whose revenues were halved compared to 2019.

“We understand that we were once a thousand a day and that’s really scary now as our numbers are falling,” said Matsuoka. “We hope that some of these mandates can be canceled.”

Safe Access Oahu was launched on September 13th, with the program expiring 60 days after its implementation.