While this post may be about Hawaii, it can apply to anywhere, really. Because what it involves is a universal thing: loyalty.
On Twitter and Facebook, I see instance after instance of stores in Hawaii jacking up the price of bottled water in anticipation of the upcoming hurricanes (PLURAL!), sometimes by as much as 300%.
Forget whether this practice may or may not be illegal (and it is illegal, per Hawaii Revised Statutes § 209-9), it’s just shitty. And if there’s something Hawaii people are good at, it’s remembering who did shitty things to them. I have some family members who had not spoken to other family members for 50 years, even choosing to skip the other’s funeral.
Maybe you are relatively new to the islands or have been around for decades. No matter, the people of Hawaii will remember the shitty things you’ve done to them in this time of impending danger. And social media makes it even easier for news of your shady criminal deeds to spread and take hold. Will it have been worth it to make a few extra bucks at the public’s expense when you are holding a liquidation sale?
What Hawaii peeps are even better at, and what makes Hawaii so very special, is that they got your back. Remember American Idol’s third season? Yes, the sheer power of Hawaii’s got-your-back-ness propelled Jasmine Trias to a third place finish.
One of these had her 15 minutes, and the other IS TELLING YOU SHE’S NOT GOING TO GO.
CALM DOWN, JASMINIONS! (I just made up that term. You can have that free of charge.) I’m not knocking Jasmine’s talents, because she can sing, but two years later a girl she outlasted on the show (Jennifer Hudson) would win the mothereffing Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. I’m just saying.
Need more proof? I give you KSSK Radio’s Perry & Price. This radio duo has been dominating Honolulu radio for over 30 years. They post such a wide margin of victory in every ratings period that more people listen to them, percentage-wise, than in any other city in America. Maybe even in the observable universe, I don’t know.
It’s not like people haven’t tried. For 8 years I did morning radio in Honolulu and while we enjoyed victories in our target demographic (persons 18-34), Perry & Price obliterated the competition in overall ratings and especially in the coveted “money demo” of persons 25-54.
How did they do it? The famous Hawaii “got-your-back-ness.” Again, not knocking the guys (you can’t be number one for over three decades if you’re doing a bad show), but they inherited the morning spot from the then-top-rated show. AAAANNDD… they had Hawaii’s back. They gave away a million dollars. They catch criminals. They showed up to work during hurricanes to coordinate information and relief efforts. And Hawaii remembered that. Correction: continues to remember that. By faithfully listening to Perry & Price each morning (except Sundays).
So, shady businesses, think about that story if you have a long-term survival plan in Hawaii. Instead of price gouging, try Perry & Price gouging. (I don’t even know what that means, but it sounded so motivational.) Do the right thing. Because Hawaii is watching. And remembering.
I kneel before you general Zod.
Honor the man I once was, not this monster I have become.
I rolled up to Menehune Water in Halawa and they are charging the same price for their “straight outta the tap” (Compton–or Kalihi in our case?) water that they did before the hurricanes were approaching. And they had two mokes carry it to the car for me for free. And they threw in a few loose 12 oz bottles as well. Why lose customers over a quick easy profit?
That’s just good business. Bravo, Menehune! (Full disclosure: empty Menehune Water jugs are Johnny Punani’s ipu of choice.)
And like I told friends of mine here in San Diego, if a merchant will do this to people in Hawaii before a hurricane, they’ll do it in New York before a blizzard, in Oklahoma after a tornado, or in California after a wildfire. What Whole Foods is doing may not be illegal, but neither is public shaming.
I just hope that people remember those who would take advantage of them in times of need. Then act accordingly, and patronize only the businesses with consciences.
This (at least in the picture shown) isn’t price gouging. $24 for a case of 12 1.5 liter bottles is actually about the norm. Even by mainland price standards.
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen water prices in Hawaii firsthand. However, enough Hawaii people were complaining about this pricing. Also, you can get a 12-pack of 1.5 liter bottles of water from Arrowhead for $14.99 here in California. Might be that pesky Matson shipping charge!