Dillingham shops eager for help as the city prepares to distribute grants

Dillingham shops eager for help as the city prepares to distribute grants | News [Video]

HONOLULU (Island News) — Rong Zhang has seen business after business shut down since rail construction began on Dillingham Boulevard.

And he hasn’t even calculated his own losses at his used car dealership.

“I would say a little bit scared. You have to do whatever you can do,” Zhang said. “It’s out of my control.”

But he knows it’s significant.

The rail construction has made it difficult for many small businesses on Dillingham Boulevard to stay afloat with how inaccessible the area has become. These businesses will be given a grant worth $10,000 but they question how long it will help them last.

“At least 20% because walk-in customers are very, very important for us.”

Walk-in customers, his main source of business, have all but dried up because of traffic restrictions due to construction.

“This is really, really stressful for people,” Zhang said. “Right now we have no walk-in customers. They cannot turn left.”

After …