SOLDIERS' DEPARTURE LEAVES
WAHIAWA IN THE LURCH
A customer had no trouble finding a quiet place to sit at Kemoo Farm bar and grill in Wahiawa last week. The business has been hit hard since 10,000 soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division from nearby Schofield Barracks deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Wahiawa businesses, most of which are mom-and-pop shops, are suffering.
Many businesses that rely on sales
to the military struggle to survive
with recent mass deployments
On military paydays, this rural town surrounded by a sprawling Army base and vast pineapple fields bustled, living up to its Hawaiian name, "place of noise."
Lively chatter and laughter filled Kemoo Farm bar and grill. A few blocks away, a rhythmic hum reverberated from the four sewing machines at El'gant Alterations. Cash registers at restaurants along Kamehameha Highway rang with success.
No longer. Wahiawa is now silent.
With 10,000 soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, Wahiawa businesses -- most of which are mom-and-pop shops -- are suffering.
"They're taking a beating," said Dan Nakasone of the Wahiawa Community and Business Association. "I was surprised to hear some were down 75 percent, which is scary."
Nakasone said he's hoping visitors and residents across Oahu will support the town during the deployment and "shop Wahiawa."
"We've been pushing that message for years, but now we really need our local residents to patronize our businesses," he said.
Schofield began sending soldiers on yearlong deployments in January with the final group sent last weekend. It is the largest deployment in the history of the division. Fewer than 2,000 soldiers remain.
"It's like a ghost town out there," said Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Poamoho). "There's a lot of people affected by this large-scale deployment. We're hoping people will find their way to Wahiawa."
At Kemoo Farm, directly across from the Army base, an empty table ordinarily would be scarce during lunchtime on military paydays, which fall on the first and 15th of every month. This past payday, only one table and three bar stools were occupied at noon.
Manager Donna Baker said there hasn't been such a drop-off in business since Desert Storm in the early 1990s, but it's worse this time around.
"We're just kind of hanging in there," she said. "We're just waiting for them to come back."
David Phan and his fellow barbers have also been doing a lot of waiting at nearby Michael's Barbershop. Despite military haircuts costing only $6.25, the nine chairs at the shop were empty.
"Right now over here are days of snoring and restless walking back and forth looking at each other," Phan said.
He said more civilians are stopping in, but revenue is still down about 75 percent.
"A barbershop is like a fishing game. You have your good days when you're pulling out 10 fish, then you got your days when you pull five fish. Now, it's a year of bad days. It's been dry," he said.
Barber David Phan waits for customers at Michael's Barbershop in Wahiawa. Despite military haircuts costing only $6.25, the nine chairs at the shop were empty.
Tywo Jordan, an account manager at the Rent-A-Center in Wahiawa, said his furniture and appliance rental store has been devastated by the deployments. About 80 percent of his customers are military, and foot traffic on California Avenue and the rest of the main streets in Wahiawa has been minimal. There's even ample street parking now.
"It's bad. It really is like a ghost town," he said. "We have big-screen TVs, computers, bedroom sets, freezers, refrigerators and stoves -- all we need is renters."
Not only are the troops gone, many of their spouses and children have also left Wahiawa to be closer to family on the mainland, he said.
Jordan said he's anxiously awaiting the troops' return.
"We need the business because that's what pays the paychecks," he said. "The more customers we have, the better our salaries and bonuses are and everything else. So everybody's hurting right now."
There are signs of patriotism and support for troops all over town.
Several merchants have yellow ribbons hanging from their doors and windows. One restaurant has a banner advertising the "Shock and Awe Breakfast Special" for $1.75.
Military Auto Sales Hawaii, or MASH, has a sign reading: "Go 25th. Wishing you a safe and speedy return."
MASH owner Sam Chen said his business is off by a third since the deployments. Sports cars and SUVs that used to be snapped up daily now sit on his lot.
"You just got to do whatever you can to make up for it," he said. "We'll be OK. Even with a 30 percent hit, we're not happy about it, but we'll be OK."
To generate more sales, Chen is now open Sundays and is paying more for advertising to try and attract residents from elsewhere on the island.
Dirar Sarameh, owner of Car Audio & Security Specialists, said this is the worst year since he started the company eight years ago.
"I would say 60 percent is gone. It's that bad," he said. "The good thing is, we don't pay rent. We own this building. That's what's keeping us alive.
"We're just surviving, paying the bills and the employees."
Wahiawa is a multicultural, tight-knit community on Lake Wilson, the only fresh water lake on Oahu. Many families have lived here for decades, some living three generations to a household.
Although Wahiawa has changed throughout the years with increased traffic, its small-town, blue-collar personality is preserved.
"People who grew up in this area and live in this community, it's almost timeless as far as not changing over the years," Oshiro said.
The state lawmaker said some events are scheduled to help businesses in addition to legislation setting up low-interest loans to small business owners hurt by the deployments. It awaits Gov. Linda Lingle's signature.
"Instead of having these mom-and-pops pull out their credit cards, they could obtain a low-interest loan just to tide them over," Oshiro said.
In the meantime, Wahiawa continues to suffer.
"We're telling them to just hang in there and hopefully, another six months or so, you'll see them coming back from Iraq and then Afghanistan," Oshiro said.
