Hawaii women grapple with latest global supply chain hiccup: A shortage of tampons

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – World provide chains are stumbling once more.

This time, the scarcity is in tampons — thanks partially to excessive prices for cotton and plastic.

Hawaii Information Now checked a number of Oahu shops and located some empty cabinets for tampons whereas there was sufficient provide of pads. One teen who makes use of tampons mentioned she’s frightened concerning the scarcity.

“My menstrual cycle is one thing that I cope with each month. If I didn’t have these (tampons), I’d really feel actually sick,” she mentioned.

“I don’t wish to really feel soiled,” she added.

Ladies could not be capable of discover their most popular model due to the scarcity.

Sarah “Mili” Milianta-Laffin, a instructor at Ilima Intermediate, has female merchandise for college students in her classroom and hopes there’s sufficient provide when college begins again up within the fall.

She’s observed gaps with sure merchandise.

“Our Kapolei Goal, the aisle are at all times fantastically zoned and the containers are confronted ahead and also you discover these holes a bit of bit extra,” mentioned Milianta-Laffin.

“I need to be certain that my children have what they want this college yr to study,” she added.

Ma’i Motion Hawai’i is a non-profit that’s attempting to finish interval poverty and says costs of tampons and different female merchandise are going up.

“One factor we noticed for positive is a change within the costs,” mentioned Nikki-Ann Yee, co-founder.

Producers say the scarcity is non permanent, however supplied no timeline.

This yr, the Hawaii Legislature handed a invoice to approve $2 million annually in interval merchandise to public and constitution colleges. The invoice signing is Monday.

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