How the storms affect Hawaiʻi’s small businesses

−92%

change in typical daily revenue since the storms

Before$1,200

Now$100

Median daily revenue across 27 businesses, rounded to the nearest $25.

about120

jobs at risk

about250

employees with hours cut or jobs affected

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How hard were they hit?

15 of 27 businesses are open but at reduced operations.

12 of 27 expect the impact to last 4 months or longer.

Is the business operating?27 of 27 businesses answered.

Open, normal operations3
Open, reduced operations15
Temporarily closed9

Lost revenue or business27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes27
No0

How much revenue fell27 of 27 businesses answered.

1
No decrease
2
11-25%
3
26-50%
4
51-75%
7
More than 75%
9
No revenue at all
1
Unsure

How long they expect it to last27 of 27 businesses answered.

10
1-3 months
9
4-6 months
3
More than 12 months
5
Unsure

Physical damage27 of 27 businesses answered.

No damage10
Minor damage9
Moderate damage5
Major damage3

Types of physical damage27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Building or facility11
Inventory or products10
No physical damage8
Landscaping or property7
Equipment or machinery6
Agricultural crops or livestock5
Roads or access to the business5
Vehicles1
Other5

Which hit harder27 of 27 businesses answered.

Economic impacts or loss of customers17
Both have impacted us about equally9
Physical storm damage1

Hurt by conditions in the community27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes25
No0
Unsure2

Community conditions affecting them25 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Reduced customer traffic19
Reduced visitor traffic18
Negative perceptions about traveling to the area15
Community displacement10
Closure of nearby businesses10
Road or access issues10
Employee displacement6
Other5

What contributed to the losses27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Temporary closure19
Decline in visitor (tourist) traffic18
Damage or disruption to the surrounding community18
Utility interruptions17
Fewer customers16
Road closure or access issues13
Canceled reservations, orders, or contracts12
Employees unable to work9
Physical damage to my business8
Supply chain disruptions7
Customer displaced or financially impacted6
Other2

Which storms affected them27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Hurricane Lowell24
March 2026 Kona Lows7
Hurricane Lala7
Hurricane Nolo1
Other1

Who responded, their workers and customers

12 of 27 say employees are personally dealing with storm impacts.

Type of business27 of 27 businesses answered.

Restaurant/Food & Beverage9
Retail7
Nonprofit/Community Service3
Tourism/Visitor Industry2
Other types6

Employees before the storms27 of 27 businesses answered.

8
Self-employed (0)
11
1-5
4
6-10
2
11-25
1
51+
1
Other

Workforce changes27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Temporary layoffs10
Reduced employee hours8
No changes8
Permanent layoffs2
Delayed hiring2
Reduced wages or compensation2
Other5

Employees personally affected27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes12
No10
Unsure5

What employees are facing12 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Damage to their home or property8
Financial hardship7
Housing or displacement5
Transportation3
Childcare3
Other2

Primary customers27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Visitors/Tourists21
Local residents20
Other Hawaiʻi businesses7
Nonprofits3
Other1

Customer makeup changed27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes10
No8
Unsure9

Help: received and needed

The most-requested help: direct grants (25 of 27).

Assistance that would help most27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Direct grants25
Bringing customers back18
Rent or mortgage assistance17
Marketing or advertising support14
Inventory replacement11
Utility assistance10
Low-interest loans9
Repair or rebuilding assistance9
Employee assistance8
Insurance assistance5
Technical or business assistance5
Equipment replacement5
Transportation or access improvements2
Other3

What funding would pay for27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Rent or mortgage20
Utilities14
Payroll14
Debt incurred because of the disaster13
Working capital/Operating expenses13
Inventory13
Equipment8
Marketing7
Repairs7
Other1

Assistance applied for27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Haven’t applied11
Unsure what’s available10
Insurance claim6
State or county4
Nonprofit or community4
FEMA3
Not eligible2
SBA2
Other5

Recovery programs they’d join27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Direct business recovery grants24
Local shopping or dining incentive programs19
Events designed to bring customers into the community17
Marketing campaigns promoting impacted communities17
Low-interest recovery loans11
Visitor transportation or shuttle programs10
Business passport or discount programs9
Emergency preparedness planning8
Business resiliency training8
Workforce assistance8
Technical assistance or business counseling6
Other2

Would join a “support local” campaign27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes19
Maybe7
No1

Getting ready for next time, and Hawaiian culture

23 of 27 are taking steps to be more resilient.

26 of 27 incorporate or support Hawaiian culture.

Taking steps to be more resilient27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes23
Maybe4
No0

Resilience steps taken or planned27 of 27 businesses answered. They could pick more than one.

Diversifying online or e-commerce sales15
Developing an emergency operations plan14
Building emergency savings or reserves13
Obtaining or improving business interruption insurance12
Developing additional products or services11
Installing backup power or utilities11
Developing an employee emergency plan9
Identifying alternative suppliers2
Other2

Incorporates or supports Hawaiian culture27 of 27 businesses answered.

Yes26
Not yet, but interested1
No0

In their own words

Businesses answered 9 open questions in their own words. Here are the themes that came up.

We read every written answer and grouped them into themes. Counts are businesses whose answer touched the theme. No quotes are shown, to protect respondents’ privacy. Summarized Oct 5, 2026 from 27 of 27 responses.

What is the single most important thing that would help your business recover?

16 Grants or direct financial help to cover lost revenue, rent, payroll or debt
11 Visitors and customers coming back
2 Getting the word out that businesses are open and safe to visit
2 Help repairing storm-damaged buildings

What is currently the biggest barrier to returning to normal operations or revenue?

16 Too few visitors and customers
7 Money and time needed to repair, clean up and rebuild
5 Closed roads, area closures, visitor restrictions and fewer residents nearby
4 More storms in the forecast keep people away
3 Local families have less to spend
2 Not enough income to restock lost inventory

Has the makeup of your customers changed? How?

6 Local residents are spending less
6 Fewer visitors
3 Almost no customers at all

What would support the overall economic recovery of your community?

17 Direct financial assistance for small businesses
6 Bringing visitors back and encouraging people to buy local
4 Clear information and coordinated access to available help
3 Help for workers who lost jobs or hours
3 Restoring and strengthening infrastructure, parks and transportation
2 Bridge help for businesses waiting on, or denied, insurance
2 Faster help, with funding ready before the next storm

What would make a recovery program easier to take part in?

8 Simple applications, clear rules and little paperwork
6 One-on-one or online help that fits busy schedules
4 Direct grants rather than loans
3 Marketing that tells residents and visitors businesses are open
2 Hands-on help with cleanup and getting going again

What would help your business be more resilient before the next emergency?

8 Backup power, solar and water catchment
6 Insurance that covers lost business
5 Emergency savings or a cash reserve
3 Selling online
3 Physical improvements to buildings, land and crops
3 Stronger roads, bridges and drainage so access holds
2 Help with emergency and continuity planning

How does your business incorporate or support Hawaiian culture?

10 Local and Hawaiian foods, ingredients and products
9 Supporting the community through events, donations and sponsorships
6 Sharing culture through classes, performances and storytelling
4 Caring for the land (mālama ʻāina) and growing Hawaiian crops
4 Native Hawaiian-owned, or serving Native Hawaiian-owned businesses
4 Living values like aloha, mālama and kuleana
2 Serving kūpuna, keiki and families in need

What cultural or community considerations should recovery efforts include?

6 Put locally owned businesses and local families first
5 Listen to the community and base help on real needs
4 Center Native Hawaiian voices, cultural practice and lineal-descendant families
2 Rural and remote communities face different challenges
2 Plan carefully and prepare for the next disaster

Anything else you want us to understand?

8 Financial help to bridge the months of recovery
7 Customers and visitors need to return
5 Losses go far beyond visible physical damage
5 Costs keep coming even when customers don’t
3 Repeated storms and disasters are wearing businesses down
3 Businesses stepped up to support their communities after the storms
2 Federal help has been slow or out of reach

At a glance