Because of APEC there will be restrictions on ocean use, parking and roads.
One road is Kalakaua Avenue, a main artery in and out of Waikiki, so some Waikiki business owners are worried.
Some business owners in Waikiki are concerned road closures and limited parking will hurt business rather than help.
Kalakaua Avenue is the main thoroughfare where thousands of visitors enjoy shopping, restaurants and entertainment, but come next month it may difficult to visit Waikiki.
"I think it’s going to be difficult to get in and out of Waikiki the roads are going to be totally different I don’t know which roads are actually closed off but I’m sure that Kalakaua is going to be suffering," says Valerie Lamoureux.
Thursday, the Mayor announced, roads in and around the Hawaii Convention Center including Kalakaua Avenue may be closed at times during APEC.
Valerie Lamoureux is the owner of Waikiki Aloe which sits along Kalakaua Avenue. She expects business to be slow during APEC.
"For the retailers like myself, I’m bracing for the worst and hoping for the best because these people are under high security not really going to be coming out," she says.
Owner, John Hui of Avanti Shirts who has been in business for nearly two decades says he mostly depends on foot traffic, so if the roads are only closed to cars, business should be okay.
"Our foot traffic is the retail business more from people who live in the hotel in the nearby in Waikiki," he says.
Hui worries with thousands from APEC expected to occupy most hotel rooms, many visitors who usually come to Hawaii will have no place to stay.
"Since most of the hotel rooms are occupied by the APEC delegation then on the other side the Japanese tourists might not be able to get a room to come to Hawaii," he says.
But in the end, they see APEC has a boost to the economy as a whole.
"It’s also going to showcase Hawaii where business can happen we’ve been looked at as only a tourist destination and there are a lot of things that Hawaii can offer the world," Lamoureux says.
On Tuesday night, KHON2 will feature a special on the conference.
A Countdown To APEC airs at 9:30 p.m.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
