LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i restaurants got the green light to operate at 100% capacity beginning Dec. 1, but for some managers the return to full dining spaces isn’t top of mind.
Restaurants had been required to maintain 50% capacity limits under gubernatorial emergency measures. But Gov. David Ige effectively terminated the restriction Monday.
Diners must continue to wear masks at all times indoors, except when eating or drinking.
Devin Portillo, general manager of Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Harbor Mall in Nawiliwili, doesn’t expect the development to result in a sea change.
“I feel like that’s good news. But right now, the issue hasn’t been customers; it’s been workers,” Portillo told The Garden Island. “If we don’t have enough workers, people are still going to be waiting just as long anyway. (But) the demand is there and people are willing to wait. I think people understand things just take longer nowadays.”
A Nov. 30 announcement from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and
Tourism noted the leisure and hospitality sector — which includes food services — had the lowest over-the-year job-recovery rate (74.4%) among Hawai‘i industries in October.
The construction industry led job recovery, tallying over 100% of its October 2019 job count in October 2021, according to the DBEDT announcement.
Patrons of Keoki’s Paradise in Po‘ipu can expect the restaurant to continue at 50% capacity for the time being, according to General Manager Darin Tann.
“We just want to make sure that we are operating well for the holiday season. We haven’t made any direct changes or anything like that,” Tann said. “Guest experience is very important to us. We still want to make sure that the community feels safe.”
In Kapa‘a, Olympic Cafe owner Troy Trujillo believes the removal of restaurants’ capacity restrictions is too little too late.
“Yeah, I’m happier,” Trujillo said of the Dec. 1 change. “But the whole thing, it’s just been ridiculous. It’s just nonsensical. Two weeks to flatten the curve turned into two years. Nothing they’ve done works. We just need to go back to normal, because too many people are suffering financially because of it.”
Trujillo, who denies the efficacy of face masks, social distancing and coronavirus vaccines, said government officials have shut down Olympic Cafe twice due to non-observance of coronavirus-related protocols.
“They’re stupid rules. I totally make sense of them, but they’re just not good, common-sense rules,” Trujillo said. “How is it that you have to wear (a mask) when you’re standing up, but when you’re sitting down and eating you don’t? What’s the science behind that?”
County, state and federal health officials continue to advocate vaccination as the most-important defense against the spread of COVID-19.
Routinely updated data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show unvaccinated individuals are at greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and of dying of COVID-19 versus vaccinated individuals.
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
Troy Trujillo from Olympic Cafe makes more sense than the rest of these people. 2 weeks to flatten da curve is still da biggest joke that people were dumb enough to buy into. Kauai being a place where convincing people to buy into anything seemed very easy da way dey bought into all deez restrictions. It’s been a laughable matter from da mayors office all da way down to most da residents.
The government asked everyone to pivot in business. It was the employees that did it best. Can’t find workers? The growing number of non profits have sucked up much of the work force. (Read today’s article) What’s disturbing is what they spend the money on. You would hope it would feed a family. Many NP’s love studies. What they almost always find out in the studies is that they need more studies. Meanwhile they pay themselves 60k a year, get new cars, offices, etc. Some, but not all, are parasites. Be careful who you give money to. Personally I like giving to the Salvation Army.
“..but they’re just not good, common-sense rules.” Common sense – something that is rare in today’s woke joke society of sheeple.
Why would anyone but tourists—who don’t know any better—ever eat at the filthy Olympic Cafe?
Love the Olympic. Great food people , and seating. Tru is correct. Stupid mask rules that make no sense what so ever. See you soon for Dinner Bro. God Bless the Olympic.
I’m really glad they posted this article so people know what restaurant to avoid.
Covid survivors UNDER 65 are twice as likely to die in the 12 months following their infection than their never-infected peers.
The practical offshoot of this is that the people who believe Covid rules and vaccines are a conspiracy to damage their health are more likely to damage their health with a Covid infection and die thereby removing themselves from the gene pool and their opinions from the conversation.
It’s almost like it’s a Republican conspiracy to eliminate the republican base from the population.
I’m surprised by the number of Olympic supporters commenting on this article.
Olympic Cafe owner is absolutely correct. None of the rules or mandates have worked or make sense. Are we still in a “State of Emergency?” Ige should’ve stopped that a year ago.
Wow – it’s hard to believe that a restaurant owner does not understand the difference between sitting in your own space with your guests or family is different then walking around among the general public when you are in a public setting. Guess I can check that restaurant off my list of safe place to go and to take visitors to as well. SMH in disbelief.
Mahalo Keoki’s for your common sense – love your restaurant and you will maintain my loyalty by your Akamai response
Petrina- you should cross all restaurants off of your list so that you can shed enough pounds so you are no longer terrified of a virus that has a 99.5% survival rate.
How’s business? Losing money. Another lockdown would be disastrous. I think they’re harder on small business owners.
Any income made from it?