Rising costs, good timing lead longtime Hawaii restaurant to close
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Local restaurant owners are feeling the squeeze of rising costs from food to labor.KHON2 learned that a local eatery that has served up Korean dishes for 40 years will soon shut its doors.
Sorabol Korean Restaurant has been in business since 1985, but the owners told KHON2 that rising costs of produce, paper goods, minimum wage and planned renovations at the Pagoda Hotel have led them to retire.
House to close, Aloha lives on: What's next for Uncle Clay
'So the time had fit perfect, perfect. So you know so they decided instead of waiting until this renovation has been gone, you know, done and then reopened, they said it's maybe time to close for good,' a translator said for Sorabol owner Lisa Yee.
The koi that surround the restaurant have been temporarily relocated while crews clean out the pond, the restaurant owners said the fish will be back when renovations are complete.
The Hawaii Restaurant Association added that tariffs on lumber from Canada could trickle down to Hawaii's paper takeout goods.
'We anticipate with the tariffs and everything going on that the costs of running a restaurant is going to go higher. So then restaurants have to make a decision as their leases are coming up, will they keep continuing? Restaurants are hoping that the community is the ones who will keep us afloat as our Asian tourism hasn't returned.'
Financial experts said new administrations do bring change, but it is not anything that the United States has not seen before and the 2008 recession was worse.
'I think when we look at how disruptive and distressing that experience was, where we are, at least right now, I would say is nowhere close to that,' said First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president Raoul Magana. 'People don't have to be overwhelmed. They can come in, have a conversation, we'll help them get on the right path.'
Matsuoka said there is typically a slowdown in tourists at local eateries between Valentine's Day and Spring Break and encouraged local residents to eat out if their bank accounts can afford it.
Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8
'We need the community to really support their favorite eateries, their favorite restaurants, their favorite bakeries, their favorite coffee shops, support them because this is when the restaurants really need the support,' she said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Israel attacks on Iran inflame Mideast shipping tensions
There were no immediate reports of attacks on commercial shipping by Iran after Israel attacked nuclear targets there Thursday. But shipping analysts warned that could change amid rising tensions in the region. As of early Friday vessel traffic was flowing through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, the only route out of the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes. GPS data showed container ships from Taiwan's Wan Hai and CMA CGM of France in the area. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors Middle East shipping, said increased tensions in the region 'could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners. Vessels are advised to transit the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz with caution.' Iran still holds the 14,000-TEU container ship MSC Aries, which it detained in 2024. The air attacks by Israel also killed two high-level Iranian military leaders. Maritime analysts said increasing conflict could lead major container carriers to withdraw services in the straits, as attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels did in the Red Sea. 'If this leads to major container lines avoiding transits through the Strait of Hormuz, this will severely impact links to the major container terminal transshipment hubs inside the Persian Gulf such as Jebel Ali [in Dubai] and Port Khalifa [in Abu Dhabi], said analyst Lars Jensen, in a LinkedIn post. 'A ripple effect would be a sharp increase in handlings with a high risk of wider Asian congestion issues.' Iran's state news agency Friday denied reports that it had struck back at Israel with drones. Tehran also accused the United States of aiding Israel's strikes, a charge denied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The attacks by Israel pushed West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices by more than 9%, while crude oil futures rose 13%. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls upheaval tops new shipping concerns surveyHouse investigator Yi to lead Marad Early peak coming as trans-Pacific container rates double Retailers see cargo surge coming The post Israel attacks on Iran inflame Mideast shipping tensions appeared first on FreightWaves.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Israel's Attack on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring in Boost for Putin
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Soaring oil prices following Israel's airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities could turn out to be a boost for Russia's war effort. The Context Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities in the early hours of Friday morning, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was "a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival." Iran is expected to respond, after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attacks a "declaration of war." This is a critical moment for the Middle East, but also for the rest of the world, as it has far-reaching consequences, including its affect on global oil prices. What To Know Brent crude oil prices were up almost 7 percent at $74.2 per barrel, said Reuters. They had been as high as 14 percent on Asian markets. Prices were headed for their biggest daily rise since 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, said the agency. This will be good news for Russia which, has been bracing for a budget shortfall with slumping oil prices, the Moscow Times reports. "Higher prices for Russia mean higher revenues," said Iulia-Sabina Joja, a European and Black Sea security expert working with the Middle East Institute. "Moscow will benefit significantly from this surge, given how much of its exports and economy overall depend on oil exports and how much of Russia's war machine is fueled by energy exports," she told Newsweek. Janiv Shah, an analyst at the energy research company Rystad said: "The key question now is whether this oil rally will last longer than the weekend or a week. Our signal is that there is a lower probability of a full-blown war, and the oil price rally will likely encounter resistance." Paul Salem, who specializes in international engagement at the Middle East Institute, said that while there is "no doubt" that oil prices will help Putin's revenues, it may be temporary and there may not be a "long-term effect." Smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel attacked Iran's capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran. Smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel attacked Iran's capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran. AP He told Newsweek there are other important aspects to this that Russian President Vladimir Putin has to consider, including how Iran, an ally to Moscow, has now been "degraded." Salem predicts that this attack may push Iran to make a deal with the U.S, "the outlines of which might be that Iran accepts to forgo enrichment inside Iran, with a big deal with the U.S. and the U.S. lifts sanctions on Iran and that could obviously lead to a sudden and rapid decline in oil prices, so one has to keep that in mind." Whether Iran makes a deal with the U.S. or not, Moscow may lose access to the missiles, drones and other equipment Tehran was supplying. "Tehran has made itself indispensable to Russia, said Joja. "The two countries have deepened their cooperation economically, politically and militarily. In exchange, Russia has backed Iran politically and diplomatically." What People Are Saying Matthew Haupt, portfolio manager at Wilson Asset Management, told Bloomberg: "We are seeing classical risk-off moves. What we are watching now for is the speed and scale of the response from Tehran. That will shape the duration of the current moves. Quite often, these moves fade after the initial shocks." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement about Israel's strikes: "Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Israel's strikes "tantamount to a declaration of war" in a letter to the United Nations, saying: "Israel, the world's most terrorist regime, has now crossed all red lines, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished. "The Security Council and the Secretary-General must immediately and unequivocally condemn this attack and take action … Israel will deeply regret this reckless aggression and the great strategic miscalculations it has committed." What Happens Next It remains to be seen how long oil prices will stay high and what affect that will have, all of which will be affected by Iran's next steps and action taken in response.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
In the Arizona desert, a farm raising fish raises questions about water use
DATELAND, Ariz. (AP) — Storks scatter, white against blue water, as Dan Mohring's pickup truck rumbles down the dirt road. He's towing a trailer full of ground-up beef, chicken, fish and nutrient bits behind him, ready to be shot out of a cannon into the ponds below. It's time to feed the fish. Mohring fires up the machine and the food flies out in a rainbow arc. Then the water comes alive. Hundreds of thrashing, gobbling barramundi wiggle their way to the surface, all fighting for a piece. Until, in a few months, they will become food themselves. In the desert of landlocked Arizona, where the Colorado River crisis has put water use under a microscope, Mainstream Aquaculture has a fish farm where it's growing the tropical species barramundi, also known as Asian sea bass, for American restaurants. Mainstream sees it as a sustainable alternative to ocean-caught seafood. They say chefs and conscious consumers like that the food has a shorter distance to travel, eliminating some of the pollution that comes from massive ships that move products around the world. And they and some aquaculture experts argue it's efficient to use the water twice, since the nutrient-rich leftovers can irrigate crops like Bermuda grass sold for livestock feed. 'We're in the business of water,' said Matt Mangan, head of Australia-based Mainstream's American business. 'We want to be here in 20 years', 30 years' time.' But some experts question whether growing fish on a large scale in an arid region can work without high environmental costs. That question comes down to what people collectively decide is a good use of water. In Arizona, some places manage water more aggressively than others. But the whole state is dealing with the impacts of climate change, which is making the region drier and water only more precious. The farm uses groundwater, not Colorado River water. It's a nonrenewable resource, and like mining, different people and industries have different philosophies about whether it should be extracted. 'As long as groundwater is treated as an open resource in these rural parts of Arizona, they're susceptible to new industries coming in and using the groundwater for that industry,' said Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University's Morrison Institute. Some scientists believe aquaculture can play a role in protecting wild ocean ecosystems from overfishing. And it might play at least a small role in smoothing any supply problems that result from the Trump administration's tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, including those that send the U.S. about 80% of its seafood, per the United States Department of Agriculture. In the greenhouses at University of Arizona professor Kevin Fitzsimmons' lab in Tucson, tilapia circle idly in tanks that filter down into tubs full of mussels and floating patches of collard greens and lettuce. Fitzsimmons mentored the student who started the tilapia farm eventually bought by Mainstream about three years ago where they now raise barramundi. 'I don't think desert agriculture is going away,' he said. 'Obviously, we want to do it as water-efficient as possible.' But not everyone agrees it's possible. 'Artificial ponds in the desert are stupid,' said Jay Famiglietti, a professor at ASU and director of science for the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative. He worried about heavy water losses to evaporation. Mangan says that evaporation hasn't been an issue so much as the loss of heat in the wintertime. That has required pumping more water since its warmth when it arrives at the surface helps keep the barramundi cozy. But Mangan says they've been improving pond design to retain heat better and have found, after the last year of research and development, that they can cut their water requirement by about half as a result. Plus, he argues, the water coming out of the fish ponds is 'essentially liquid fertilizer,' and though it's slightly salty, they use it for crops that can tolerate it, like Bermuda grass dairy cows can eat. But that's supporting the cattle industry, which contributes more than its share of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, Famiglietti said. 'Doing two suboptimal things doesn't make it better,' he said. Purple flowers sprout alongside paddle wheels. Fish bones crunch underfoot. The faint odor of brackish water and ammonia catches in the breeze. Without groundwater, none of it would be possible. Some farmers in Arizona rely on water from the Colorado River, but many others use well water to irrigate crops like alfalfa for the dairy industry or the lettuce, cucumbers and melons shipped nationwide year-round. Arizona has seven areas around the state where groundwater is rigorously managed. Dateland doesn't fall into one of those, so the only rule that really governs it is a law saying if you land own there, you can pump a 'reasonable' amount of groundwater, said Rhett Larson, who teaches water law at ASU. What might be considered 'reasonable' depends from crop to crop, and there's really no precedent for aquaculture, an industry that hasn't yet spread commercially statewide. Using numbers provided by Mainstream, Porter calculated that the fish farm would demand a 'very large amount' of water, on par with a big ranch or potentially even more than some suburbs of Phoenix. And she noted that although the water use is being maximized by using it twice, it's still depleting the aquifer. When the company scoped out Arizona to expand, Mangan said they didn't see nearly the same kinds of regulations as back in Australia. As part of its growth strategy, Mainstream is also hoping to work with other farmers in the area so more can use nutrient-rich fish pond wastewater to produce hay. They say a few have expressed interest. The seafood industry needs to reduce its reliance on catching small wild fish to feed bigger farmed ones that humans eat, said Pallab Sarker, an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who studies sustainability in the aquaculture industry. He said seabirds and mammals rely on small species like anchovies and mackerel commonly used in fish meal. 'We should not rely on ocean fish to grow fish for aquaculture to meet the demand for humans,' Sarker said. Mainstream gets its fish feed from two suppliers, Skretting and Star Milling, but Mangan and Mohring said they didn't know for certain where those suppliers got their base ingredients from. Fitzsimmons, of the University of Arizona, also pointed out that between pollution, overfishing and oceanfront development for recreation, the commercial fishing industry had already been facing problems. He doesn't think that Trump's moves this spring to open up marine protected areas for commercial fishing will improve that situation the way aquaculture could. 'We can't keep hunting and gathering from the ocean,' Fitzsimmons said. ___ Follow Melina Walling on X @MelinaWalling and Bluesky @ Follow Joshua A. Bickel on Instagram, Bluesky and X @joshuabickel. Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
