Maui’s new “Safer Outside” initiative is the most recent set of COVID-19 safety rules governing life on the island, and they’ve put much more than basic updates on the plates of businesses there.
“My staff is freaking out about it, like they’re crying, they’re in tears, they’re getting yelled at by customers,” said Javier Barberi, Down the Hatch and Mala Tavern owner. “We’ve had people that, when we asked them about checking their vaccine passport, they’ll get super upset. They’ll cause a big scene, they’ll call us names or say that we’re racist.”
The circumstance quit wasting time where the restaurant needed to secure its representatives.
“We have to hire extra security at Down the Hatch. We have an aloha ambassador that has to stand there, and we have to pay them. We have to train them and tell them what to do and what to look for,” explained Barberi.
Under Maui Safer Outside, unvaccinated clients have the alternative to eat in open air feasting regions, however clients should show confirmation of inoculation for indoor seating. Be that as it may, under Safe Access Oahu, clients should show confirmation of inoculation or a negative COVID test for both indoor and outside feasting.
Honolulu police have reacted to a couple of occurrences including clients who didn’t give verification of immunization against the Covid and afterward wouldn’t leave the premises.
At Duke’s Waikiki, albeit the eatery has not needed to call the police, they have seen a couple of clients that made more difficulties for staff.
“The person had their vaccination card, but really wanted to try and just be difficult and wanted to use a negative test that was not done at the right time and the timing was off,” said Dylan Ching, vice president of operations for TS Restaurants. “This sort of challenged the whole situation and when it was all said and done, they had a vaccine card. So it just seems to be some people just want to be difficult.”
The Liquor Commission has given four references since the beginning of Safe Access Oahu on Monday, Sept. 13. In the interim, Maui police have additionally given two references for infringement. Eateries ask that clients conform to the standards on the grounds that the outcomes will at last fall on organizations.
“If we don’t follow it, we could be fined $5,000 or jail time or both,” said Sheryl Matsuoka, Hawaii Restaurant Association executive director.
Their message for diners? If it’s not too much trouble, act with aloha.
“Understand that host, hostess, server could be your child, your niece, your nephew, your neighbor and they’re just doing their job,” said Matsuoka.
“When they tell us to do something, this is our business, our livelihood. It’s how we put food on the table, we got families that survive off of the money that they get paid. So we have to follow the rules,” said Barberi.
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