Aloha Members, we are quickly approaching the compliance deadline for Ordinance No. 19-30 (AKA Bill 40), which becomes effective April 1st, 2021.
The Hawaii Restaurant Association, along with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and the Retail Merchants of Hawaii are working tirelessly to submit a joint industry application seeking a 2 year industry exemption. Although this is a real possibility, it is recommended that all of our partners and HRA members ready themselves for compliance.
Although the Hawaii Restaurant Association’s staff and volunteer’s efforts are strong, we rely firmly on membership to support our endeavors as we work during this current legislative session.
We brought to your attention in last month’s newsletter the battle we are currently in for the survival of our industry. As many of these recent State and Municipal bills being introduced will have a damaging effect on how we continue to do business and ultimately impact our existence.
Legislation such as Bill 98, which broadens the definition of “food waste” as used in integrated solid waste management, which will impact the cost of doing business for all dine in restaurants in the City and County of Honolulu. Or take for example how Hawaii’s Senate Bill 626 – the minimum wage increase bill will impact our costs and how we must restructure our businesses and adjust for yet another expense, which ultimately is passed on to the customer. Right now, it is especially important to remember many of our local restaurants have not survived due to extreme hardships.
The Hawaii Restaurant Association is working extremely hard to fight each of these bills for our industry. However, we cannot do it alone, and it is with a sense of urgency we ask for your involvement. We need you, our members to write testimonials, attend hearings, and join our town hall meetings, to help create the change, we need for the survival of our local industry.
We thank you for all your support and look forward to engaging you soon.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in advocating and lending a hand in helping the Hawaii Restaurant Association to continue this fight, or just need information regarding the many pieces of legislation we are working on, please email us at info@hawaiirestaurant.org.
Hawaii Restaurant Association is The Voice of Hawaii’s Restaurants and Foodservice Industry!
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