HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0970.013 2018-2020 I
From: Chris Paterson
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 9:41 AM
To: Council Testimony COUNTY CLERK
Subject: Affects of COVID to our Business COUNTY OF AI®I
RECEIVED
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Aloha County Council, Bate JUL 0 7 202
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I'm a luxury tour owner/operator here in Kailua-Kona. We work with small groups to do circle island and volcano
tours. We employ approximately 24 people. Since our business closed on March 18th, our business has not operated.
All but one or two employees have been furloughed and are being supported by unemployment and the
federal government's PUA program.
As a tourism-dependent industry, we realize that we would be the first to close and likely the last to reopen. It is
certainly a privilege to operate a business on this beautiful island and one that we do not take for granted. However, I
with limited funds, bills and loans piling up, and rising COVID cases, we are at a critical juncture. In the next week or
two, without help, we will be forced to make some very difficult decisions about the future of our business. My wife I
and I have had about 100 restless nights to worry about the impending consequences but understand that some of it
may be out of our control.
Opening up tourism would help, but consumer confidence for safe travel is low and I'm now worried about exposing
my employees, guests, and fellow residents. So far, the debate seems to be between the health of our citizens V. the
health of our economy. I think there's a way to handle both but that comes with a cost; an investment in Hawaii's
future. I would like the government to subsidize business for an additional 90 days to slow the spread, allow for
additional time to manage public health, improve contact tracing and plan for the economic boom to come. It is my
preference to stay closed until October I st, so we can prepare for a fourth quarter that we will likely be able to operate
without government or other financial assistance.
The business community is starved for answers and in need of immediate financial assistance_
I humbly ask for your help in keeping the public safe by subsidizing businesses that rely heavily on tourism.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Chris Paterson
KAILANHTOURS
EXPERIENCE HAWAII
Chris Paterson I Owner
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Kailani Tours Hawaii
74-555 Honokohau Street B8
Kailua-Kona HI,96740
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Comm. No. 30
Ref. To: F 1601A.
Ref. Date lUL 0 R 299
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