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| Jane Yamaguchi, a Mizuno family member who ran the store with her late husband when Pāhala Shopping Center first opened, is 97 years of age. At Friday's blessing, she cheered on the transition that keeps Pāhala's only grocery store open. Photo by Julia Neal |
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| Olson Trust CEO Jeff Clark and Ed Olson, who purchased Mizuno Store to keep it open under the stewardship of Carl Okuyama who also operates his Nā'ālehu food store and gas station as part of 'Ohana Foods. Photo by Julia Neal |
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| Assistant manager Carla Andrade accepts a poi pounder on behalf of retiring Mizuno owner Rochelle Hara. The poi pounder was handmade by retired Kaʻū High teacher Adrian Akau. It is a gift from Pāhala Food Hub to honor Hara's 33 years of dedication in providing food for the village. Photo by Julia Neal |
Oldtimers who these days sit outside Mizuno in the early mornings came to the blessing and enjoyed free refreshments.
The blessing included rubbing a special oil on the main entry door of the store while attendees held up their hands for the blessing.
On hand on Friday were leaders of the Edmund C. Olson Trust, including Ed Olson himself who green-lighted the purchase of the store to keep it from closing down. CEO Jeff Clark, OK Farms head Troy Keolanui, Real Estate manager Dan Aldrich, and Kaʻū Coffee Mill manager Lou Daniele joined in. Olson Trust bought the main part of the shopping center in April of 2021, with its bank, post office, Longs and the addition of a hair salon and coffee shop.
Also at the blessing was Kona Moran, the real estate broker who praised all parties involved and the community for seeing that Pāhala kept its food store.
On hand on Friday were leaders of the Edmund C. Olson Trust, including Ed Olson himself who green-lighted the purchase of the store to keep it from closing down. CEO Jeff Clark, OK Farms head Troy Keolanui, Real Estate manager Dan Aldrich, and Kaʻū Coffee Mill manager Lou Daniele joined in. Olson Trust bought the main part of the shopping center in April of 2021, with its bank, post office, Longs and the addition of a hair salon and coffee shop.
Also at the blessing was Kona Moran, the real estate broker who praised all parties involved and the community for seeing that Pāhala kept its food store.
From the 'Ohana Foods family, were Carly Okuyama, Amy Okuyama and daughter in law Sherry Okuyama.
As a mahalo for caring about food for the community, Pāhala Food Hub gifted to Rochelle Hara, Ed Olson, Carl Okuyama and Kona Moran, poi pounders carved from stone by retired Kaʻū High School teacher Adrian Akau.
As a mahalo for caring about food for the community, Pāhala Food Hub gifted to Rochelle Hara, Ed Olson, Carl Okuyama and Kona Moran, poi pounders carved from stone by retired Kaʻū High School teacher Adrian Akau.
For now the hours remain the same, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m to noon on Sundays.
With the change in ownership, EBT and WIC registrations must be transferred and the ability to use these cards at Mizuno will be activated within a couple of weeks.
With the store depleted of much of its stock during the last weeks of sales, it will be restocked with familiar and new items this coming week, said Okuyama. He also said he is interested in hearing suggested services and items to carry. Suggestions can be dropped off at the store.
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| Pastor Troy Gacayan practices the tradition of oiling the entry to Mizuno as guests hold up their hands during the blessing for the opening. Photo by Julia Neal |
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PROMISE AND PERIL ARE IN THE LATEST UHERO FORECAST FOR HAWAI'I'S ECONOMY. University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization released its report on Friday saying:
Recent developments bring both promise and peril for Hawai'i. Tourism prospects are positive, despite the delayed Japanese market recovery. Construction activity will remain high, and inflation is receding rapidly, setting the stage for real income gains.
On the flip side, the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes and liquidity problems sparked by recent bank failures threaten the US and global economies. A national recession will weigh on Hawaii later this year, but local sources of strength should keep our heads above water.
• The external environment facing Hawai'i is dicey. The Federal Reserve appears likely to maintain its high interest rate policy for some time, and tighter lending conditions associated with recent bank failures will also weigh on US growth. A recession beginning late this year will hold US GDP growth to 1.5% this year and 0.3% in 2024. ![]()
• Tighter credit conditions will also contribute to a weaker global economy. Canada will fare only a bit better than the US. In Japan, lagging exports and high inflation will offset government support. Australia’s economy will expand only modestly, as inflation and higher interest rates limit consumer spending. While China’s economic recovery is underway, there is no indication of a pending upturn in their travel to the US.
• Despite weakening external conditions, the visitor industry has continued to perform well, with activity only slightly below 2019 levels. The US market still dominates, but it will soften as the year progresses. Further international market recovery will sustain visitor numbers. Lagging Japanese travel will continue to be a problem.
• Solid visitor demand continues to benefit hotels, causing room rates to soar on the Neighbor Islands. Statewide, real revenue per available room is now 6% higher than in 2019. Visitor spending has been strong despite the incomplete recovery of international markets. Both the number of visitor days and real visitor spending will fall slightly next year, before returning to moderate growth. Over the long run, climate change may become a substantial tourism challenge.
• The Hawai'i labor market is healthy, with about 3.5% unemployment. Labor force recovery and softening labor demand have largely eliminated the overall worker shortage, although businesses still report hiring challenges. Labor force recovery differs by county, mostly because of differences in inward and outward migration. Net out-migration at the statewide level may be due in part to heightened cost of
living concerns in the face of challenging pandemic-era economic conditions.
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| The team at U.H. Economic Research Organization. Photo from UHERO |
• Weakening US tourism, tight credit, and high interest rates will weigh on the Hawaii economy this year and next. The unemployment rate will rise above 4% by the beginning of next year, and moderate job gains will not resume until 2025.
• Hawai'i inflation has receded more quickly than in the US overall. This will support income gains. Real income nearly recovered to the pre-pandemic level last year and will grow at a 2.5% average annual pace over the next three years.
• Because of surging home prices and mortgage interest rates, affording a single-family home now takes twice the income it did a decade ago. The culprit is a lack of new supply, due in part to regulatory hurdles. Major public sector projects will support a high level of construction activity. The construction job count will top 41,000 by 2026.
• Despite heightened downside risks, Hawaii is still likely to avoid an outright recession. Like the US overall, how much our economy weakens will depend importantly on the Federal Reserve, in particular whether the Fed eases policy now that inflation is declining and the US economy is beginning to slow. Higher rates for longer would impose a significant burden.
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PRODUCERS OF KAʻŪ COFFEE AND OTHER LOCAL PRODUCTS are invited by state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism to the Autumn 2023 Tokyo International Gift Show, or TIGS. DBEDT sets up the Hawa'i Pavilion at TIGS, Sept. 6-8 at Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight). Deadline to apply is May 26. Cost of a booth is $1,500. TGS is the largest trade show in Japan with more than 4,500 booths and 200,000 attendees.n According to DBED Director James Kunane Tokioko, demand for authentic Hawai'i made products is growing.
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OFFICER OWNED TRUCKS WILL BE USED FOR POLICE DUTY, according to Hawai'i Police Department, which announced Friday the addition of trucks to the fleet of traditionally looking police cars and officer owned police cars. Police officers are now authorized to use pickup trucks with open beds as subsidized police vehicles. In the coming weeks, Hawai‘i Island residents may see more subsidized police pickup trucks on the road and more officers driving pick-up trucks with blue lights and sirens while on patrol.
Officers are authorized to use “crew cab” configurations with four full sized doors, including the following models:
• 2021-2023 Ford F150 Crew Cab, short bed
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| Pickups were recently approved for use by HPD. Back in 1978, HPD approved the use of four-wheel drive cars. Photo from HPD 1978-1979 report |
• 2019-2023 Chevrolet Silverado, 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 Ram 1500 (5th Generation/non-classic) Crew Cab short bed
“Given that Hawai‘i Island encompasses vast swaths of rural—and very rugged—terrain, we anticipate our police officers will be able to serve the community better, faster, and most importantly, safer,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz.
His statement echoes the past, when in 1978 police officers in Hawi'i County were first allowed to use four wheel drive vehicles, with HPD pointing to rugged roads and safety concerns.
As the public gets used to police pickup trucks, if motorists see one of these police vehicles in their rear-view mirror with blue emergency lights illuminated, please slow down, and pull over. Officers operating pickup trucks with blue lights atop the vehicle should be in uniform.
Those unsure about a police vehicle, slow down, pull over, and call the police non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 to verify the officer’s license plate.
A video describing the new initiative can be seen on the department's Youtube channel by clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/4JUMJvnUD-0.
As the public gets used to police pickup trucks, if motorists see one of these police vehicles in their rear-view mirror with blue emergency lights illuminated, please slow down, and pull over. Officers operating pickup trucks with blue lights atop the vehicle should be in uniform.
Those unsure about a police vehicle, slow down, pull over, and call the police non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 to verify the officer’s license plate.
A video describing the new initiative can be seen on the department's Youtube channel by clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/4JUMJvnUD-0.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
On May 31 there will be a two-hour dance party from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring a dish to share. Bottled water and sodas and snacks will be provided. Suggested donation is $10 per person for dancers, watchers, judges, photographers and eaters.
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