LIHUE– On Sunday morning, around 11:45 a.m. the line to get into Costco was longer than what was normal during days without the pandemic triggering social distancing rules at stores, but customers were finding ways to pass the time — and catch a little social interaction while waiting.
LIHUE– On Sunday morning, around 11:45 a.m. the line to get into Costco was longer than what was normal during days without the pandemic triggering social distancing rules at stores, but customers were finding ways to pass the time — and catch a little social interaction while waiting.
Among the shoppers waiting in the heat to enter Costco were Rhonda Moore and Amber Silverman, debating about the merits of evolution versus creationism and hoping to stock up on toilet paper.
Both Moore and Silverman came to Costco in hopes to get what they need to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and had a few opinions about how Costco should be running things.
“I think it [the Costco line system] is a little shotty to be honest ,” Silverman said. “I feel like if they are going to make people stand out here for 45 minutes, they should be giving people time limits inside of the store to get in get your stuff and get out. It is not a huge store like Alamoana, it does not take four hours to fill up your cart. This is Costco.”
Almost everyone in line waited for almost an hour under the hot sun and most were scrambling for water or a cold drink at the food court.
Claire Valley Domine from Hanapepe, was wearing a hat and her mask as she waited in line.
“Bring water and shade,” Valley Domine suggested. “We probably were in line for about 50 minutes. I took the bus to get here. I haven’t been here for two weeks. I have toilet paper, I just need some groceries so I don’t have to come back for a couple of weeks. I love Costco, I actually work for CVS, we just got laid off. “
Moore and Silverman were just two people away from getting into the store, when one of the Costco clerks dropped some bad news: “We have no more toilet paper.”
“Just two more people, and we could have had a chance,” said Moore in a disappointed voice.
Lines reached around the building at Costco over the weekend as designated family members went out in search of supplies to restock during the stay-at-home order.
