April 2026

Monthly News & Updates

Chairman's Message

Aloha HRA Ohana,

Spring has finally sprung after a double-blow from 2 Kona Lows that made for an extremely wet March and first half of April. A huge mahalo to everyone who chipped in time, food, and/or donations to support our North Shore community and others in Hawaii who were impacted by the flood waters. Sheryl Matsuoka put the call out and rallied HRA members and volunteers to work with donors and the Mercy Chefs, who flew from the mainland and prepared meals for families in need, serving over 10,000 meals! Special thanks to Senator Donovan De La Cruz for getting approval for them to use the Wahiawa Value-Added commercial kitchen which helped this effort tremendously.  

Also a huge mahalo to 1311 Events, McDonald’s Hawaii, Y-Hata, Sysco, KYD, and Waiakea Water for donating both product and volunteers to help the effort. Shout out to Jordan Rabe, Tyler Roukema, Allen Farinas, and our very own Jaylina Abuy, and Michelle Roukema, along with everyone who helped our North Shore Ohana! Let’s hope the crazy weather is behind us! 

Oʻahu Restaurants Adapt to Rising Operating Costs

Rising fuel and shipping costs are putting significant pressure on restaurant operators across Oʻahu, with some businesses reporting cost increases of twenty to thirty percent in certain categories. Because Hawaiʻi relies heavily on imported goods, higher freight costs compound quickly — affecting everything from food and supplies to locally sourced products like spirits from neighbor islands.

Rather than passing costs directly to guests, many operators are getting creative — adjusting menus, sourcing more strategically, and streamlining operations to protect both margins and the dining experience. The ripple effect extends beyond restaurants — when operators feel the pressure, so do the farmers, suppliers, and distributors who depend on them.

Chick-fil-A Opens Its Biggest Hawaiʻi Location Yet

Chick-fil-A has opened a new dine-in location at the corner of Kapiolani and Kalākaua, marking the chain's largest restaurant in Hawaiʻi to date. The more than 200-seat dining room brings a full dine-in experience to the area — a departure from the drive-through only format at its Beretania location — and according to the owner and operator, the goal is to revitalize a well-known intersection and invite the community back in.



It's a welcome sign of continued investment in Hawaiʻi's restaurant landscape.

Hawaii Restaurant Association in the News

• KHON2 — Some Hawaiʻi Businesses Taking Big Losses from Kona Low
• KHON2 — Bill Looks to Prohibit Use of Forever Chemical PFAs in Food Ware

Kona Low Storm: Water Bill Adjustment Available for Affected Businesses

If your property sustained damage from the recent Kona Low storm, you may be eligible to have your March and April 2026 water bills adjusted. If you already completed the City's Residential Damage Assessment Report, no further action is needed — the credit will be applied automatically and reflected on your May 2026 bill.



If you have not yet submitted the report, you are encouraged to do so. You may also request the adjustment by submitting a Billing Assistance Request form, calling (808) 748-5075 Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, or emailing wecare@hbws.org.

Kona Low Storm: Report Your Business Damages

If your business sustained damage from the recent Kona Low storm, the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management is asking Oʻahu businesses to self-report through their online damage assessment tool. The information collected helps local officials understand the scope of impact and may support the City's ability to request federal assistance programs.

Please note this form is not an application for relief — it is a reporting tool only. Submit one form per affected business.

Info Session: Micro Business Loans for Small Businesses

The Office of Economic Revitalization and Feed the Hunger Fund are hosting a free virtual info session on May 12 from 2:00–2:30 PM HST covering the upcoming Microloan Business Support Program. The program offers low-interest loans of $5,000–$50,000 with two to five year terms at four to eight percent — designed specifically for early stage Oʻahu entrepreneurs with little to no credit history and no minimum credit score required.



If you or someone you know is pre-revenue or within three years of operation, this is worth thirty minutes of your time.

Member Spotlight: BioCare of Hawaiʻi

BioCare of Hawaiʻi is a locally owned and operated environmental services company that has been serving the restaurant and foodservice industry since 2000. They specialize in grease trap service and repair, cooking oil disposal, drain cleaning, and preventive maintenance.



For a free estimate, contact Jim Utsugi at jim.utsugi@biocarehawaii.com or call 808-672-3313.

Higher Gas Prices Are Challenging Restaurants — But Could They Give Some Brands a Lift?

Rising gas prices are putting additional pressure on already stretched consumer budgets — and restaurants are feeling it. When fuel costs cross key thresholds, industry data shows traffic drops measurably, with family dining and casual concepts taking the hardest hits. But the shift isn't all bad news. Fast casual and quick service brands appear poised to capture displaced traffic as guests trade down to lower price points without giving up the convenience of eating out.



For full-service operators, the takeaway is clear: you can't out-price the gas pump, so doubling down on service, consistency, and perceived value is the play.

What US Consumers Want From Restaurants in 2026

A new McKinsey analysis confirms that value and pricing remain top priorities for diners heading into 2026 — but they're not the only forces reshaping demand. Cost consciousness, shifting health considerations, and channel preferences are all influencing where and how consumers choose to spend on food away from home.

With restaurant spending growth plateauing amid ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty, understanding what actually drives guest decisions this year has never been more important for operators.

OpenTable Training: Managing Private Dining & Large Group Reservations

OpenTable's Hawaiʻi Restaurant Partner Training Series returns this month with a focus on private dining and large group bookings. This thirty-minute session covers how to manage large reservations, handle private dining inquiries, and streamline event bookings more efficiently through the platform.



Sessions are held the second Tuesday of every month from 2:00–2:30 PM.

What Top Restaurant Performers Did Differently

When consumer spending tightened in 2025, the brands that pulled ahead weren't the ones that simply cut prices — they were the ones that paired accessible value with menu innovation, kept their marketing consistent, and used digital loyalty programs to turn casual guests into repeat customers. An analysis of Q3 earnings reveals a clear playbook: structure menus around good-better-best tiers, refresh product news regularly, and treat digital as a core revenue channel rather than an afterthought.

The lessons apply well beyond quick service — any operator navigating a value-conscious guest base will find practical takeaways here.

Making a Menu That Works Hard to Boost Profitability

When consumer spending tightened in 2025, the brands that pulled ahead weren't the ones that simply cut prices — they were the ones that paired accessible value with menu innovation, kept their marketing consistent, and used digital loyalty programs to turn casual guests into repeat customers. An analysis of Q3 earnings reveals a clear playbook: structure menus around good-better-best tiers, refresh product news regularly, and treat digital as a core revenue channel rather than an afterthought.

The lessons apply well beyond quick service — any operator navigating a value-conscious guest base will find practical takeaways here.

Webinar: Setting the Table — The Restaurant Industry's Immigration Principles

Immigration reform is one of the most pressing policy issues facing restaurant operators today. The National Restaurant Association is hosting a webinar walking through the core principles guiding its approach to comprehensive immigration reform — including protecting the current workforce, fixing the work visa system, and modernizing immigration policy for the future.



The session also covers where reform conversations currently stand in Washington and how the Association is engaging on Capitol Hill. Whether you're actively involved in advocacy or simply want to stay informed, this is a timely and relevant session for any operator.