A recent power outage in Honolulu's Chinatown has left local businesses struggling to cope with the financial toll and uncertainty. The outage, caused by a fire in a manhole, has disrupted power supply to at least 3,000 customers in the area, including restaurants and the historic Hawaii Theatre Center.

Business owners in Chinatown are expressing their frustration over the lack of clarity and communication from the Honolulu Electric Company (HECO), which they believe could have mitigated the impact of the outage. Ryan Bussler, managing partner of Fete Restaurant, highlights the domino effect this situation has had on both business owners and employees who rely on tips to survive. "It's definitely a waterfall of cascading events that will affect everybody down the line from us," Bussler said.

The lack of clear information from HECO left businesses uncertain about how to proceed. Bussler explains, "We kept hearing different stories, and that was part of the problem. We were stringing along our staff. We were not able to secure food properly because if we thought it was going this long, we would have had different moves to make."

J. Dolan's, another business in the area, is also grappling with the aftermath of the outage. Operations manager Kristen Allspaw expresses frustration and the need for answers, stating, "In general, we want answers."

HECO has acknowledged that the underground network damaged in the fire was originally built in the 1960s and 1970s. This revelation raises concerns about the resilience of infrastructure in the area and the potential for future disruptions.

The Hawaii Theatre Center, known for its use of solar power during the previous outage, is now facing serious problems as it lacks this alternative energy source. Ron McDaniel, director of communications for the theater, emphasizes the irreparable damage that water and humidity can cause, particularly the growth of mold, which could have catastrophic consequences for the historic venue.

With numerous businesses affected and financial losses mounting, there is a call for HECO and insurance companies to step up and assist the affected businesses in Chinatown. Bussler expresses his hope that they will take extra care in supporting the impacted businesses, stating, "I really hope HECO and all our insurance adjusters really take extra care of all the Chinatown businesses because the amount of loss is going to be pretty phenomenal for just this small footprint of an area."

In response to the power outage, the Honolulu Police Department plans to increase patrols in the area and have stationed officers at various intersections to help direct traffic.

As businesses in Chinatown continue to grapple with the aftermath of the power outage, the focus remains on finding answers, ensuring support from utility providers and insurance companies, and safeguarding the economic vitality of this vibrant community.