My message to the businesses of Hawaii is, we need to be supporting each other and not exporting our precious dollars out of the state. Flower farmers, like wedding coordinators, were hard hit by the suspension of air service, said Rasmussen. In very small compensation, Maui farms did enjoy a day or two of unlimited access to the local market. Safeway, which normally imports roses, bought local. But it could have been worse.
Many restaurants receive shipments by air.
It also gets prime beef twice a week by air from California. But as of Thursday, Allaire said, his company was not yet having a supply problem.