June 2026

Monthly News & Updates

Chairman's Message

Aloha HRA Ohana,

As I wrap up the last month of my tenure as Chairman, I find myself reflecting on the incredible resilience, passion, and dedication that define our industry. Serving in this role has been both an honor and a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent the restaurant and hospitality professionals who make Hawaii such a special place.

Over the past year, our industry has continued to navigate challenges while embracing new opportunities. Through labor shortages, rising costs, changing consumer expectations, and an evolving business landscape, Hawaii's restaurant community has demonstrated remarkable strength. I have witnessed owners, operators, chefs, managers, and team members come together to support one another and advocate for the future of our industry. Reflecting on what the HRA has achieved this past year, I feel confident that we worked hard to represent and serve our industry well. Membership continues to rise, and according to the latest release from Pacific Business News, HRA is now the 2nd largest business advocacy group in Hawaii!

The Hawaii Restaurant Association has remained committed to its mission of protecting, promoting, and advancing our members. Whether through legislative advocacy, workforce development and educational programs like ProStart, networking opportunities, or community engagement, our association has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voice of Hawaii's restaurant industry is heard. None of this would be possible without the support and participation of our members, sponsors, volunteers, and board leaders. 

I would like to extend a huge Mahalo to Sheryl Matsuoka, Holly Kessler, the Executive Committee, and the entire Board of Directors for allowing me to represent the Hawaii Restaurant Association as your Chairman for the past 12 months. Their commitment, support, and leadership have strengthened our association and helped position us for continued success.  I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to our committee members, staff, volunteers, and industry partners who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Most importantly, I thank each of you—the restaurant owners, operators, allied partners, and employees who serve our communities every day. Your hard work creates jobs, drives economic activity, preserves local culture, and provides the aloha and ho’okipa that residents and visitors alike have come to expect from Hawaii. 

While my term as Chairman is coming to an end, my confidence in the future of our industry has never been stronger. The next generation of leaders is ready to build upon the foundation we have established together. The HRA’s mission is never done, and there are many restaurants still hurting, so I encourage every member to stay engaged, continue advocating for our industry, and support the association's ongoing efforts while strengthening our industry to ensure its prosperity now and in the future. Our collective voice remains our greatest strength. 

Mahalo for your trust, your partnership, and your commitment to excellence. It has truly been an honor to serve as your Chairman. I feel confident passing the torch to our next Chairman, Ryan Ko, to continue leading and doing the great work we will continue to do. I look forward to remaining an active supporter of the Hawaii Restaurant Association as part of the Executive Committee and celebrating the many successes that lie ahead.

Mahalo Nui Loa,



Mike Palmer

Chairman, Hawaii Restaurant Association

Managing Partner, Ho’okipa Partners LLC

Hawaii Restaurant Association Named Hawaiʻi's #2 Business Advocacy Group

The Hawaii Restaurant Association is proud to be recognized as the #2 Business Advocacy Group in Hawaiʻi by Pacific Business News. This honor reflects HRA's ongoing commitment to advocating for Hawaiʻi's restaurant and foodservice industry while advancing policies that support restaurants, allied businesses, and the thousands of people they employ. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our members, sponsors, Board of Directors, HRA staff, and industry partners. Mahalo for helping us advance Hawaiʻi's restaurant and foodservice industry.

Hawaiʻi Restaurants Recognized at 2026 Hale ʻAina Awards

Honolulu Magazine has announced the winners of the 2026 Hale ʻAina Awards, recognizing standout restaurants and restaurateurs across Hawaiʻi. Many members of the Hawaii Restaurant Association were recognized. Congratulations to this year's honorees for their contributions to Hawaiʻi's vibrant restaurant industry. Click below for the full list of winners.

Hawaii Restaurant Association in the News

• KHON2 — Hawaii Restaurants Seek World Cup Boost After Slow Spring
• Hawaii News Now — Worst Summer Hiring Season for Teens? Not for Hawaii Restaurants That Need Workers
• KHON2 — Kapolei's La Tour Cafe Shuts Down After a Decade

Member Spotlight: Mālama Media Group

Mālama Media Group is a Hawaiʻi-based multimedia company dedicated to supporting local businesses through radio, digital marketing, podcasting, social media, and community engagement. Their portfolio of radio stations — Decades 107.9, 975 KHCM, AM/FM The Answer, and 99.5 The Word — and digital platforms reaches thousands of Hawaiʻi consumers each week, helping businesses grow their visibility and customer base.



Mālama Media Group also owns and operates AlohaFridayDeals.com, a locally focused half-price deals marketplace designed to drive new customers to Hawaiʻi businesses. Through a unique gift card trade program, participating businesses exchange dining certificates, gift cards, or services for radio and digital advertising — an effective marketing partnership without a cash advertising expense. The program has become a valuable tool for restaurants and local businesses looking to increase awareness, generate trial visits, and build long-term customer relationships.

Executive Financial Workshop Series

The Oʻahu Business Connector is offering a five-session Executive Financial Workshop Series designed for established business owners looking to sustain and increase profits and cash flow. The series covers financial planning, cash budgeting, financial statement analysis, growth resources, and marketing and branding, with sessions held July 2, 9, 16, 23, and August 6.



The workshop is open to business owners with annual revenue of $250,000 or higher, three years of business tax filings, and businesses in good standing with the DCCA. It's a strong opportunity for HRA members in the growth phase looking to sharpen their financial strategy.

NRA Supports Passage of the Dignity Act of 2025

The National Restaurant Association has announced its support for the Dignity Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation aimed at creating comprehensive immigration reform while strengthening border security. With more than one in five restaurant workers in the industry being immigrants, immigration reform remains a foundational issue for restaurant operators nationwide.



The Dignity Act aligns with several of the Association's core immigration principles, including creating a pathway to lawful permanent residency for Dreamers, overhauling the asylum process, and providing long-term adoption of E-Verify with a safe harbor for employers. The Association continues to advocate for additional legislation addressing the work visa system, including the creation of work visa programs for high-demand industries facing persistent labor shortages.

House Passes Labor Bill Opposed by Restaurant Industry

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act (H.R. 5408), legislation that would significantly reshape the collective bargaining process by introducing mandatory federal timelines and government-appointed arbitration panels. Under the bill, unresolved labor disputes would move to mandatory federal mediation after 90 days and, if still unresolved, to a binding two-year contract imposed by a government-appointed arbitration panel.



In a formal letter to Congress, the National Restaurant Association strongly urged lawmakers to oppose the bill, warning that it would replace good-faith negotiations with a rigid, government-imposed process and shift decision-making authority to arbitrators with no stake in restaurant operations. The companion bill (S. 844) now moves to the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to advance.

GLP-1s and Restaurants: Shifting Habits Won't Shrink Demand

A recent National Restaurant Association survey found that approximately one in eight adults are currently taking some form of GLP-1 medication — and that number is expected to rise as affordability and insurance coverage expand. While the trend could raise concerns for operators given that GLP-1 medications are known to suppress appetite, the survey points to a more nuanced reality.

Consumers taking GLP-1 medications are actually more engaged with restaurants than those who aren't. On average, GLP-1 users purchased a meal, snack, or beverage from a restaurant 7.6 times a week, compared with 5.1 times among non-users. Despite smaller appetites, GLP-1 users remain highly active restaurant customers.

PCE Deflator: Inflation Accelerates in April

The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) deflator — the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation — rose 0.4% in April, building on a 0.7% increase in March. On a year-over-year basis, headline PCE inflation reached 3.8%, marking the fastest pace of inflation since May 2023, with energy costs continuing to drive much of the upward pressure.

Despite elevated inflation and softer consumer confidence, personal consumption expenditures rose 0.5% in April, with spending on food services and accommodations strengthening 0.7% for the month. Higher tax refunds and a stabilizing labor market have helped support continued consumer spending, though the Federal Reserve is expected to maintain its current policy stance in the near term as inflation remains persistently elevated.

How Restaurants Are Turning World Cup Traffic Into Sales

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, running June 11 through July 19, brings five weeks of larger groups, longer table times, and match windows that fall outside a normal service flow. A new data report from SpotOn shows how restaurant operators across the country are addressing the rush with World Cup-themed menu additions.

Beverage items led at 65% of additions, retail and merchandise made up 27%, and themed menu items appeared across 25 states — far beyond the 16 host cities. The report also breaks down five practical steps operators can take now: building easy-to-execute match-day specials, promoting the tournament as a series, staffing for spikes, simplifying checkout for international guests, and turning tournament traffic into repeat business.

Court Approves $38B Credit Card Swipe Fee Settlement, but Restaurants Are Not Impressed

A federal court judge has given preliminary approval to a $38 billion settlement in the long-running lawsuit over interchange fees charged by Visa and Mastercard. While the settlement would reduce swipe fees by an average of 0.1 percentage points over a five-year period, restaurant industry advocates argue it falls well short of meaningful relief.

Swipe fees, which average between 1.4% and 3.25%, have become the third-largest cost for restaurants, having grown more than 80% since the pandemic. The National Restaurant Association has stated that the settlement does not adequately address the underlying anti-trust issues at the heart of the lawsuit and has pledged to continue pushing for reform at the Congressional level.

Sexual Harassment Compliance: What Restaurant Operators Need to Know

The restaurant industry consistently ranks among the highest in sexual harassment claims of any industry in the United States, according to EEOC data. With a growing number of states, cities, and counties now requiring formal harassment prevention training — each with their own specific content, hour, and documentation requirements — operators face an increasingly complex compliance landscape.



A recent article from Modern Restaurant Management outlines what an effective harassment prevention program looks like in practice: scenario-based training tailored to restaurant environments, state-specific content that meets local mandates, dedicated supervisor training, and rigorous record-keeping that holds up under legal scrutiny. For operators looking to protect their teams and reduce liability, the article offers a practical starting point.

SBA 90% Grocery Guarantee: Capital Access for Food Supply Chain Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that it approved 19 loans totaling more than $30 million in the first month of its enhanced 90% Grocery Guarantee program. The program provides a 90% federal guarantee for eligible small businesses across the food supply chain, including farming, ranching, fishing, food wholesale distribution, refrigerated warehousing, and grocery retail.



Compared to the standard 75% guarantee available under the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program, the Grocery Guarantee offers a stronger incentive for lenders to extend long-term, affordable financing. Note: this program is targeted at producers, processors, distributors, and grocery retailers — restaurant operations (NAICS 722) are not on the eligible list — but HRA members with operations across the broader food supply chain may qualify.