Today marks the beginning of something different in Hawaii: the return of tourism. Since March of this year, we’ve seen a 98% drop in tourist arrival, mostly due to a mandatory 14-day quarantine imposed by the State of Hawaii and numerous County of Hawaii rules. Good or bad, it is what is it, and there’s...Read More

In nearly 15 years in business, we’d heard just about every question imaginable. Some questions, though, we hear every week. When we hear these questions, we have a pretty good idea of the desired answers. Here’s our top question. When can you complete the project? About 95% of the time, the desired answer is “now.,...Read More

We generally try to avoid talk of specific politicians or political parties.  Kona Impact has never explicitly endorsed a candidate, nor have we ever had any candidate signs, banners, or handouts visible in our office. Why? It’s simple. We want everyone, regardless of beliefs, to feel comfortable and welcome. I don’t feel talk of divisive...Read More

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water” is the famous tagline from Jaws 2. It also describes my perception of what is happening with the COVID pandemic. Signs of hope–the reopening of tourism with a pre-flight test protocol–get crushed, and now we’re stuck with the status quo.  One step...Read More

I decided to do a post on a restaurant in Kona as part of my Small Business Shoutout series, but I could not decide on one, so I’m going to highlight several. They are all locally owned, some are Kona Impact clients, and they are all known for great food. I understand that the State...Read More

Bar Rescue, on the Paramount Channel, follows a familiar format: a failing business has an expert come in and make it right…all in a week of filming. The context is bars with some kind of foodservice. The show has seven seasons so far and is a staple on the Paramount, with reruns throughout most weekends....Read More

Tourism in Kona, Hawaii, is the lifeblood of our economy. Hotels, restaurants, small retail, and all the businesses that are supported by them have had a significant part of their livelihood taken away from them since mid-March. Tour businesses and most hotels have had zero revenue, and most restaurants are operating at a fraction of...Read More