Aloha, I’m Addison Bulosan, owner and operator of The Specific Chiropractic Centers — Kaua‘i and Maui, and Tasting Kaua‘i.
This letter is directed to our Kaua‘i community as a plea to help local businesses. A lot of our local small businesses are suffering and having a hard time staying open. Can you hear us out and help?
Being born and raised in Molokoa, Lihu‘e, it was a dream come true to move back home in 2014 to start my own practice; just a 15 minute walk from my childhood home. My Grandma Castora Suero and Grandpa Catalino Suero moved from O‘ahu in 1955 because my Grandpa got a plantation job. My parents, Charlmaine and Adams Bulosan raised us on Kaua‘i and this community helped me have the greatest childhood anyone could have asked for.
Fast forward to today, I’ve been working closely with our local businesses throughout the island since the beginning of the pandemic through the Rice Street Business Association (RSBA) as President, Lihu‘e Business Association (LBA) as Vice President, and the Kauai Chamber of Commerce as a board member; however, in these last few weeks I have taken to grassroots efforts because the devastation that is occurring is too great.
Our unemployment rate is at an all time high and our small businesses have been shouldering the kuleana for the local economy for nearly a year. We’ve been adapting to every added protocol, rule, and have been innovative in so many ways. Many businesses have inevitably gone under. Many are about to go under.
Who are we? Many of us are local people just like you, born and raised on this beautiful island.
Some of us moved here to create a life just like many of you. We all share the same things. We love this island. We love each other. We care about the health and safety of everyone. We all made sacrifices during this pandemic.
A lot of small businesses have been silenced out of fear of being chastised for trying to save their businesses, despite following (and oftentimes going above and beyond) the Covid-19 health and safety protocols, but now is the time to RALLY TOGETHER.
Here is my plea that I hope businesses owners and community members alike can get behind and support the businesses that were there for everyone when help was needed:
• Stop stigmatizing and ostracizing local businesses who are trying to save their livelihood. We can help local businesses and be safe at the same time. It’s not safety versus economy.
• Stop attacking each other and start helping each other.
• Adopt a local small business. Look back at all the local businesses you asked to support your kids’ fundraisers, your nonprofit’s causes, your personal endeavors. Make a list with your family and friends, and each day, fully support them.
• Write a positive review.
• Share them on social media.
• Send them a letter of love.
• Buy their service or product.
• Buy local only. Make a commitment with your family and friends to buy local whenever possible and for the entire year.
• Volunteer with a local business. Whether it’s helping them clean their office, do their social media, etc…everything helps.
Many of us want to stay in business and keep calling Kaua‘i home. Most of us started our businesses because we believe it gives back to our community and helps us be a part of this community. We hope that we’ve provided enough value to you to keep us for years to come.
•••
Dr. Addison Bulosan is a resident and small business owner in Lihu’e
No truer words ever spoken. I owned my own small businesses for 27 years and supported everything and everyone in my community. But now, local business needs your support more than ever. It’s NOT safety vs. economy, both can coexist if everyone works together. If I were able to return to my home on Kauai I’d take every step I could to support all the small businesses trying to survive on the island. Hopefully that day will come soon.
Not to be mean and/or cold hearted.. But nope!!! And you know why. Because a lot of “local” businesses didn’t give a rats *ss about us pre-covid and now they want our business. Because no more tourist… Oh well, maybe they should’ve been more kind and respectful to everybody and not just visitors….Good luck!!! Go pursue other endeavors…
why do you hate people who provide jobs for Kauaians? Rich, entitled people like you would rather see people starve, is that it?
Only the rich and determined will last longer. Businesses change every time. Banana Republic a store which has been around almost 40 years has finally closed last year due to the pandemic. A new business is opening in its place. Free enterprise. If you’re rich, you’ll last. That is the way it has always been. Money is the main issue.
Aloha Kaaona Kipuka,
I am a small business owner here on island. Over the years, I have made it a point to take extra care of my local customers. Tourists come and go, but I have always understood that it is the locals who help to keep my business afloat in the “slow seasons”. It is unfortunate that our economy is so dependent upon tourism. I truly do wish that we could get by with the money that is generated by our community alone, but in the world of business – it is a “numbers game”. What I mean is that in order to make any profit, you need MANY purchases made throughout the day – each and every day. All the more-so given the high cost of running a business including: rent, percentages of our profits paid to landlords, utilities, high cost of goods, ever-increasing taxes, employee taxes, insurance, employee insurance, paid wages (I take good care of my employees, and I make sure to pay them well). The costs of running a business goes on beyond what I listed. I am not complaining. I am grateful to own my business and to still somehow be “in” business since the pandemic started. I just want to help you understand that running a business is VERY expensive, and because of this – some businesses do seem to cater mostly to tourists, but this is simply because it is tourists that are out spending money each and every day of their visit – whereas our local community may stop in every once in a while. The “numbers game” is also about the number of people making purchases in your store. Only a small percentage of Kaua’i’s small population may be coming in to buy from my store over and over again. In “normal” times, there are new patrons (ie: tourists) every week coming in to purchase goods during their stay. It’s a very unfortunate economy structure, that unfortunately Hawai’i depends upon until we can figure out something else to keep the economy going here. I would genuinely like to better understand your feelings about how the businesses did not care about our Kama’aina community before covid. I want to make sure I don’t ever make these mistakes in my business, and maybe some other business owners can learn a thing or two if you would be willing to share your thoughts.
Aloha.
From a mainlander perspective, the COVID response Kauai and its people’s representatives have made effective, has arguably caused more harm than the disease itself would have to your island. You are not alone worldwide with this blunder. I hope y’all learned how precious and fragile your community is. Hanging from a tree in Kalalau Valley the sign says “Don’t say, Do”
Thank you, Addison, for working to open Kauai for our small businesses. Now is the time.
Excellent points, Mahalo,
We two will be returning to Kauai, the island that we love, the people that we love, and the friends that that we love.
We had 13 years of visits, plus 10 years as full time residents. Due to circumstances, we had to leave the Garden Island and return to our mainland beach towns for five years now. But Kauai remains in our hearts every day.
We will be returning in Sept for a 30 day stay at Poipu Kai and fully intend on supporting Kauai’s local businesses, and greet and hug our special island friends. We also plan to give back to Kauai with beach and river clean ups, and supporting Malama Maha’ulepu, and Surf Rider.
We miss you all so very much .
Aloha hugs to all, and be ready for some Okole Maluna time at our fave hangs. We will respectfully follow the covid rules, and we have all of our vaccine injections.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Denny and Erica
Banyan Harbor ( 10 yrs)
now Dana Point, Ca.
The only way local businesses are going to survive is to insist on the Mayor opening up Kauai, insist on the governor to open up Hawaii. All these local businesses cannot be supported by the existing population base alone. A lot of them are only in business because of the tourist economy. The Hawaii State Legislature has to make the State more business friendly so we can diversify and broaden our base and variety of economic opportunities, so a variety of businesses can thrive here.