The business owners represented at Hawaii on the Hill recognize that doing business in Hawaii presents unique challenges, especially with international commerce.

“Customers are very confused,” Stewart said. “We shipped to 29 different counties last year and the inbound inquires of how are the traffic going to impact my shipments, I would like to continue with your coffee club. Of course we go back to our logistics partner, FedEx, and ask them and they don’t know either. So there’s this constant back and forth. There’s a lot of confusion.”

Business owners recognize that doing business in Hawaii presents unique challenges, and hope events like this will help build relationships with key stakeholders and lawmakers to keep Hawaii top of mind when deciding on policy measures.

“Let’s face it, whether it’s in D.C., whether it’s in the state of Hawaii, or whether it’s the County of Kauai, these types of relationship building pay back in dividends,” Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said. “When we need an advocate, these small notions and gestures of aloha, they matter.”

Watch the segment here.