The Honolulu Authority on Rapid Transit (HART) held a press conference Wednesday morning at Shiro's Saimin Haven at the Waimalu Shopping Center in Aiea to announce the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program that will help to support local businesses in the Aiea, Pearl City and Waipahu communities that are being affected by the rail construction.
“The businesses here we all know are suffering because of the construction, but there was real good energy here that I felt today with the attitude that we can make a difference,” said HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas. “I think we’re learning a lot, and we’ll learn a lot about how to help businesses in this area, and that’s going to translate as we go towards the next fifteen miles and towards downtown.”
"I think it’s a positive first step, said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “We need to do much more and be a lot more vigorous about reaching the businesses that have been impacted by the rail construction. It's our first step, and I think we can help and make a difference. We need to do a better job with traffic control, maybe in providing side routes to get to these businesses. These are all things that I'm going to be pushing hard to do. We are also going to be looking at other models that are adopted on the mainland and implement these. But it's a good first step, very positive."
A few businesses were also given an opportunity to go on camera and express their concerns with regard to the impact that the rail construction has had on sales revenue and access to their property and businesses. 65 businesses have signed up for the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program which includes the business speakers on Monday.
The Pearl City Shopping Center will be supporting the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program with participating merchants offering discounts for their products and services. The Pearl City Shopping Center sits between the future Pearl Highlands and Pearlridge Rail Stations along Kamehameha Highway. Rail construction traffic has made an impact on the merchants at the center, but the Pearl City Shopping Center ownership is committed to do what it takes to support their merchants and insure that their businesses and their products and services continue to thrive and serve Pearl City residents and neighboring communities
The Pearl City Shopping Center will host a group of 55 HART Bus Stop Lunch Tour participants on Thursday September 10. The PCSC will also contribute PCSC Gift Certificates in support of the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Program.
To learn more about HART's SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program, log on to their brand new website at: www.ShopAndDineOnTheLine.com
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas opened the press conference on
Wednesday with an introduction of the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program.
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
Mayor Caldwell expressed his concern for the businesses being affected
by rail construction in the Aiea, Pearl City and Aiea communities and gave
his full support for the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program.
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
HART Board Member Ivan Lui-Kwan spoke about coming
together and working together during the rail construction.
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
Linda Matsuo, president of Shiro's Saimin Haven, spoke about the drop in sales
due to the rail construction. Her company has joined 65 other businesses in the
Aiea, Pearl City and Waipahu communities who have signed up in support of the
SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE Discount Program.
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
Mahalo to the Shiro's Saimin Haven staff for hosting Monday's press conference.
Photo by Barry Villlamil | [email protected]
I will be working closely with the HART team and the SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE
Discount Program while representing the Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association.
Mahalo to Mayor Caldwell and HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas for their
commitment to our area businesses, residents and communities.
