Hawaii is facing massive unemployment as stay-at-home orders and a virtual shutdown of the state's once mighty tourism industry have left residents reeling, leaning on their savings or unable to pay rent and feed their families.
Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live in the US
"We used 9/11 as a sort of a proxy for what might happen because at that time all air travel had stopped for awhile, too," Kunstman said. “Of course, in hindsight, it was 9/11 and then some.”The department took on 531 volunteers from other state departments and the Legislature to help process the claims, setting everyone up at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Victor Leonardi, who oversees The Salvation Army's COVID-19 response in Hawaii, said the organization provided 24,000 meals over a recent six-day period. In a typical month, the Salvation Army distributes 2,500 meals a week.Lisa Maruyama, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, said many non-profits barely have enough funding to get through three months without new funds coming in.
In Oahu, Holly Harding and her husband opened O’o Hawaii, a skincare company promoting local ingredients like macadamia nut oil and coffeeberry extract, two years ago with ambitions of big sales with Asian consumers. They invested heavily in their dream, expecting it could take three or four years before their startup money paid off.But in January, their Hong Kong distributor cancelled orders because of the coronavirus outbreak then spreading across Asia and Europe.
, a tiny gift shop in Honolulu bursting with wood figurines of pineapple warriors, sumo wrestlers and sushi chefs. Since March, he's lost 80% of his profits.
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