Latest news with #SherylMatsuoka
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gunpoint robberies on Oahu: ‘Don't be a hero'
WAIPAHU, Hawaii (KHON2) — A string of armed robberies has left local businesses on edge. Experts said customers could see more establishments going cashless to deter thieves. Aiea business owner out over $10K after shoe, merch heist Police said three separate armed robberies have taken place on Oahu during the week of Monday, April 7. Video from Tuesday at the Mapunapuna Papa John's showed a suspect with a firearm demanding money and taking off in a dark-colored vehicle heading toward the freeway. Experts said the employee made the right move by cooperating. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'Whenever we hear about armed robbery and stuff, we always tell people, 'Don't be a hero. Your life is not worth it,' said Retail Merchants of Hawaii president Tina Yamaki. 'Your adrenaline is going. We don't want anybody to be shot. You know, a stray bullet hitting another customer or our worker. We just want it to be safe for everybody.' The Waipahu Papa John's also fell victim to an armed robbery on Monday. The Hawaii Restaurant Association said some eateries have cut late-night business hours in 2025 or are not even allowing customers to pay with cash. Oahu shops under siege: Smash-and-grabs ongoing 'Avoiding those times of the night, we're closing at maybe 9:00 or 10:00 is probably more favorable,' said HRA director Sheryl Matsuoka. 'Not only the armed robberies but also the smash and grabs. So they don't want to even entice any of these, you know, people that could come in and take their money so they go cashless.' Beside not allowing cash, experts said there are steps businesses can take to help deter crime or help officers if it happens. 'If businesses do have cameras, make sure the lenses are clean. You know, you don't want to have blurry images. Make sure the camera angle is at face level with people,' Yamaki said. 'Please be aware, even your staffing. Be sure that there's extra staffing if you can, especially at night. And then cameras and alarm systems, some kind of way that they can protect themselves because yes, it is it is very challenging times,' Matsuoka said. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Police said no arrests have been made in connection to the three armed robberies and all are still under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five years later, COVID lockdown consequences remain
HONOLULU (KHON2) — On March 25, 2020 Hawaiʻi's stay-at-home order took effect. It was meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and save lives, but the repercussions of the pandemic-era decisions are still being felt five years later. The restaurant industry was hit particularly hard according to Hawaii Restaurant Association Executive Director Sheryl Matsuoka. Wahiawa family one of first to receive fetoscopic surgery 'At the time, they're thinking, we're going to ride this out and we'll be okay,' Matsuoka said. But it wasn't. The restrictions lasted until February 2021. Matsuoka said more than 80 restaurants shut down due to the pandemic and many continue to struggle. 'You're seeing restaurants still, their hours are still reduced,' she explained. 'And you see a lot of the restaurants that are trying to stay open, or the smaller mom and pops, those are the ones that you know are really trying to still figure it out with the rising cost of food and utilities and supplies and rent.' Brick and mortar retail shops also took a major hit.'We saw a lot of local businesses, especially the smaller ones, taking out second mortgages on their home, taking out personal loans, home equity loans, anything to keep their doors open,' Retail Merchants of Hawaii President Tina Yamaki said. Yamaki said many folded under the weight of that debt and the drastic shift to online shopping was the nail in the coffin for businesses that weren't able to pivot. According to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 25% of Hawaiʻi businesses closed in the first six months of the pandemic. Some are gone for good, but many have since reopened. Most shops and restaurants that survived are now facing another unforeseen consequence of the pandemic: a worker shortage. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'During the pandemic, people figured out a way that they could make ends meet,' Mitsuoka explained. 'And they're not interested in coming back.' The pandemic fallout isn't limited to businesses. COVID is still around. Dr. Dominic Chow, a physician at Queen's Medical Center's Long COVID Care Center says long COVID is very real, impacting 10 to 15% of people who catch the virus. 'We have about 4,000 to 8,000 people with long COVID,' Chow said. Dr. Christine Akamine, an infectious disease physician, said they are continuing to look for answers regarding the illness. 'We're still trying to understand the mechanism by which long COVID is caused,' Akamine explained. 'We're still trying to understand the best ways to diagnose long COVID, and we're still trying to understand the best treatments for long COVID.' There is a saying that hindsight is 20/20. Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum worked with the health department during the pandemic, and said that hard calls had to be made. 'Some really tough decisions had to be made. But we came out with the lowest mortality right,' she said. 'But we are still seeing repercussions for sure. So then how do you decide?' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
