Dining & Shopping in the Time of Coronavirus: Supporting Hawai‘i’s Businesses in Troubled Times

These are certainly strange times we’re living in. For some, being forced to stay in may feel like heaven, for others a prison. For those who are still working from home, it may just be business-as-usual, though in more comfortable attire. (I, for one, find that I can think better when working barefoot.)

But let us consider those that are simply without work, their jobs or businesses shuttered. Other businesses are still managing to hang on, keeping their operations running one way or another, navigating troubled waters while still being conscious of the safety of their customers and employees.

Many restaurants, whose profit margins are already razor-thin, are struggling right now. Though they’re still able to provide take-out, curbside pick-up or even delivery service, the loss of dine-in customers has been a huge blow. We’re trying to give a shout-out to our friends who we know are open on our website and social media channels, but you can also find many of them listed on Food-A-Go-Go  and Hawaii Grinds @ Home , two resources which list restaurants that are still operating across all islands. These are crowd-sourced resources and not necessarily comprehensive, so if your favorite restaurant isn’t here, go ahead and check their website or just give them a call. You might be pleasantly surprised and they’ll be happy to hear from you.

But it’s not just restaurants who are hurting. Everyone from florists to wedding planners, souvenir shops and art galleries, and pretty much any industry in between.

Many retail operations may have been forced to shut their doors, but if they have an online store, it’s quite possible that they’re still able to satisfy orders. For visitors, souvenir shopping may seem impossible, you can still browse local delights by visiting the websites of tourist favorites like Crazy Shirts —with their eclectic selection of designs and unique colored dyes.

If you caught the literary reference in this article’s title, then you’ll appreciate this: Book lovers can still get their fix! Independent book shops like Basically Books  are still taking orders via phone and email that can be mailed out or picked up at their Big Island shop in Hilo. Meanwhile, da Shop: books + curiosities in Honolulu is still able to process online and email orders via their website. 

Even the arts are getting creative (ha!). While Honolulu Theatre for Youth has had to postpone or cancel some of their stage productions, they’ve turned to creating online content for their youthful audiences via a new series called The HI Way. Yes, it’s free, and it’s a great way to keep children occupied while being away from school. YOu can find episodes of The HI Way on HTY’s website or YouTube channel.

If you’re looking for more things to do during the statewide stay-at-home order, we posted a bunch of virtual activities you still can do despite many attractions being closed. Now’s your chance to visit Iolani Palace or Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park without lines or entrance fees!