HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0970.007 2018-2020 I
i
From: Cornforth
Seat: Monday, July 06, 2020 3:31 PM
To: Council Testimony
couarTx CLERK
Subject: Micro Grant Program for Small Business COUNTY of HAWAIII
RECEIVED
Aloha, Time .,2.31
Data
L 0 6 202
Here is our story starting with a little of our history.
Here's a little about us! We are Hawaii's original adventure rafting company. We started in 1974 on Kauai, and moved to Kona
in 1987 offering snorkel tours to Kealakekua Bay and whale watches when in season. Captain Zodiac operates 16 passenger
military Zodiac Hurricanes 733's—the exact vessels made by Zodiac of North America for the U.S. Navy Seals and U.S. Coast
Guard. They are fast, powerful, highly maneuverable, and very safe and there are 7 vessels in our fleet. My husband has
worked for the company for 17 years as a boat captain,and last May we took over the company from the previous owners who
are now enjoying retirement. We have continued in keeping the company a success and in addition have changed the way we
do some things, especially in relation to sustainability. Captain Zodiac is dedicated to providing responsible and holistic
tourism to help create a stronger visitor connection with Hawaii's past, present, and future and to create a more connected
and sustainable Hawaii. We strive to implement sustainable practices into our business through continually assessing and
lowering our carbon footprint, participating in respectful and educative wildlife interactions, and by providing historical and
cultural connections to our visitors. We aim to create continuous environmental improvement to promote the health of our
community socially, economically, and environmentally. We use our tours as a way to inspire change towards a healthier
planet. This year we also started working with Carbon Buddy to reduce our emissions and we're proud to say that we're now
carbon neutral!
All of that being said, all 7 of our boats have been grounded since March 19. Although the DLNR has lifted the restrictions on
commercial boating operations,we have decided to wait until August 1 to reopen. We are trying to be conscious of what we
think is safest for the community, and don't want to start running tours until the transpacific travel ban is lifted and we know
the people coming in are not infectious. We normally employ 15-20 employees, and while we did get 8 weeks of PPP funding
in which they all returned to work(albeit with differentjob duties),they are all currently on unemployment.
Our fixed costs: rent, utilities, boat insurance (yes even though we are grounded we have gotten no leniency on our$9k/mo
insurance bill), employee health insurance,taxes, and come October our SBA loan payment of$20k/mo, have all remained the
same. Our sales last year from March 19-June 30 were almost$420,000. This year$0. As I said,we did get the PPP funding
and used it properly. Ninety five percent went to our employees. We also got the capped amount EIDL loan,which is one third
of what we asked for. I did apply for reconsideration of our EIDL amount as suggested by our Hawaii SBA representative, and
got denied. Almost half of our EIDL money is already gone due to catching up on bills and back taxes. August and September
are already historically slow months for us, and now?? We have contracts with cruise ships (about 35% of our revenue), but it
doesn't look like they will be coming back here at all this year. There's no way we will be able to maintain our business and
survive without more assistance. Who knows when people will travel here again?
Anyway,that's our story! I really hope you can help us. In our 46 years, we've survived recessions, lava flows and were
thriving. It would really be a shame to get taken out by a virus.
. ca.ha(6,
Amy Cor►fartk CEO Comm. No. "t��•
Kona Zodiac, Ltd. dba Captain Zodiac ReF. o: 4�
e .Date AUL 082M
i
74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy. #16
ailu. .- oiia., .[--U 96740
(808) 329-:3199
2