Hawaii

Several Lahaina small businesses say it’s been impossible finding affordable rentals

Published

4 months ago

September 3, 2024

Several Lahaina small businesses say it’s been impossible finding affordable rentals

LAHAINA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Several Maui small business owners affected by last year’s fires say more needs to be done to help them.

Many are still struggling to make ends meet, while some fear they will never be able to return.

“It’s a year now. There’s availability. There’s spaces, but they’re just not feasible for small business owners. It’s crazy. It’s a problem,” said Chyan LaPlant, General Manager of Pakaloha Bikinis on Maui.

Pakaloha Bikinis on Front Street was destroyed, along with the store’s warehouse at Emerald Plaza.

“I don’t know if it was a way to deal with the trauma, but after the fire, I was like, OK, what are we gonna do? How are we gonna keep going? And I was looking for spots before even processing. There’s nothing,” LaPlant said.

LaPlant is not alone.

“We’ve got some melons and tomatoes. That’s asparagus that kind of looks like pine trees in there,” said Moku Roots owner Alexa Caskey as she walks around her farm in Kula.

The farm off Waipoli Road once supplied her restaurant in Lahaina Gateway.

Before last year’s fires, she planned to move her farm-to-table, zero-waste eatery into the old Chart House off Front Street.

But that building was destroyed in the inferno.

“We tried to negotiate an extension,” Caskey said. “Obviously, our sales were way down from what they had been. They wanted more in rent, which obviously just wasn’t going to work.”

So Caskey was forced to close her restaurant and now only operates her farm which is 40 miles away from Lahaina.

Both Chyan and Alexa wish to return to Lahaina one day but fear they won’t be able to without the community’s help.

“To the extent that you can buy local produce, buy local, and support local businesses, that’s what’s going to help Maui recover,” Caskey said.

They hope everyone will come together to help find a solution.

“I’m down to rally. I just don’t have the means and brain power to organize, but I want to put the information out there that it’s a problem,” said LaPlant.

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Related Topics:businesses destroyed Featured fire Fires firestorm front street help Inferno Lahaina Local Maui owner owners small West Maui wildfire wildfires

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Hawaii

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Members of a prestigious leadership training program from Hawaii recently traveled to the Philippines on a special visit.

Former Honolulu Mayor and current President/CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association Mufi Hannemann founded the Pacific Century Fellows Program (PCF) in 1996, modeled after the White House Fellows program to empower emerging leaders across the state to solve local challenges.

Last month, this year’s cohort of 30 business and community leaders. along with some PCF alumni, met with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who lived in Hawaii for 5 years, when his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., was ousted following a nonviolent revolution in 1986 and exiled here.

Marcos Sr. died in Honolulu in 1989, and the family was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991 and rebuilt their political careers.

The fellows met with various Filipino leaders and discussed ways to boost business opportunities and tourism for both destinations, including more flights to Ilocos Norte, where many Filipinos in Hawaii have roots.

The group visited Ilocos Norte at the invitation of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and learned about Hawaii’s strong historic ties to the region.

For more information, visit pacificcenturyfellows.com.

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Hawaii

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

In 1915, Jhamandas Watumull, a 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur, arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, to establish a retail shop for his import business. Along with his partner Dharamdas, he registered the business under the name Watumull & Dharamdas on Hotel Street. The store specialised in selling exotic Eastern goods, including silks, brassware, ivory crafts, and other unique items.

Gulab Watumull’s father, Jhamandas, began the family business in Honolulu in 1915.(Flickr)

Tragedy struck in 1916 when Dharamdas succumbed to cholera. This prompted Jhamandas to invite his brother Gobindram to manage the Honolulu store while he oversaw business operations in Manila. Over the years, the brothers travelled frequently between India and Hawaii, strengthening their enterprise, reported the BBC.

The growth of the Watumull Business

The Watumull brothers renamed the business East India Store after Gobindram took charge in Hawaii. The company grew into a department store with branches across Hawaii and parts of Asia. In 1937, Gobindram constructed the Watumull Building in Waikiki to serve as the company headquarters. By 1957, the business had expanded into a multimillion-dollar empire with 10 stores, apartments, and various commercial properties.

The East India Store played a significant role in popularising the iconic “Aloha shirt.” In 1936, Gobindram’s sister-in-law Elsie Jensen created designs featuring Hawaiian motifs like hibiscus flowers, tropical fish, and gardenias. These designs were handblocked onto silk in Japan and became commercially successful. The shirts were embraced by tourists and even Hollywood stars like Loretta Young and Lana Turner.

A shift toward real estate

As Hawaii became a global tourist destination, the Watumulls diversified their business. They purchased the Royal Hawaiian Manufacturing Company and introduced matching family Aloha wear. Over time, the company transitioned into real estate, with its last retail store closing in 2020. In 2023, Watumull Properties acquired a major marketplace spanning over 205,000 square feet.

The Watumull brothers faced significant challenges due to restrictive U.S. immigration laws. Gobindram’s wife, Ellen Jensen, lost her citizenship under the Cable Act after marrying him in 1922. She later regained it in 1931 after advocating for legal reforms. Gobindram became a U.S. citizen in 1946 following a change in naturalisation laws for Indians. Jhamandas obtained citizenship in 1961 after permanently relocating to Hawaii.

The Watumull family contributed significantly to education, arts, and Indian independence. Gobindram supported India’s freedom movement and hosted prominent leaders in his Los Angeles home. The family’s foundation sponsored lectures by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in the U.S. and facilitated the creation of India’s first birth control clinics. They also funded numerous educational and cultural programs in Hawaii and India.

The Watumull family remains deeply rooted in Hawaii, where their name is synonymous with philanthropy and progress. JD Watumull, the current president of the family’s company, emphasised their commitment to the Hawaiian Islands, stating, “The Hawaiian Islands continue to be our family’s focus today and in the future.”

Also read: Chhattisgarh couple marries by taking an oath on Indian constitution instead of saat pheras: report

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Hawaii

SafeRide Hawaii offering an alternative for impaired driving

Published

21 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

SafeRide Hawaii offering an alternative for impaired driving

HONOLULU (KHON2) — With the holidays here, drinking and driving is on the rise. SafeRide Hawaii is offering services to help impaired drivers. If you find yourself intoxicated but are worried about leaving your car behind, SafeRide Hawaii will send a driver to take you and your car home safely, while a chase driver follows […]

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