Even as the inter-island tug boat strike last week had residents around the state scrambling to stock up on staple items, here on Kaua‘i, there was no noticeable change in shopping behavior. “There was minimal impact,” said Trevor Ryan, an
Even as the inter-island tug boat strike last week had residents around the state scrambling to stock up on staple items, here on Kaua‘i, there was no noticeable change in shopping behavior.
“There was minimal impact,” said Trevor Ryan, an assistant manager with the Kapa‘a Foodland. “By stocking up for the holiday weekend well in advance, we were able to handle conditions for the Fourth of July.”
It might have been fortuitous that the strike came at the same time as a holiday weekend because grocery stores and restaurants often plan in advance for such busy weekends.
But Lihu‘e’s McDonalds, operating on the now-famous “just-in-time” business model, ran short of some menu items.
A sign at the fast-food restaurant yesterday read that some food items were out.
Meanwhile, Princeville’s Foodland saw little noticeable change in customer buying behavior, and Kaua‘i’s distributors kept shelves stocked without missing a beat, according to Tony Baduria, store director.
“It was just a busy weekend,” Baduria said.
By 10 p.m. Saturday, Kapa’a Safeway had few paper towels and milk on the shelves, according to one shopper there that night — perhaps due to predictable customer demand. Anxiety has subsided now that talks between the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific and officials from Young Brothers Ltd. and Hawaiian Tug & Barge produced an agreeable four-year contract yesterday.
The strike has passed and stalled barges are set to dock at Nawiliwili Harbor today and tomorrow.
One Kaua‘i bread baker put it this way: “In four years, maybe we should just stock up again, just in case.”
Or hope any shipping strike comes on another long holiday weekend.
