Starbucks stores, including more than two dozen in Hawaii, closed their doors at 2:30 p.m. today to conduct racial-bias training for employees.

The Hawaii locations are part of an initiative the Seattle-based company announced earlier this month that will close more than 8,000 U.S. stores to conduct racial-bias training for nearly 175,000 workers.

The announcement came after public uproar over the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia who were waiting for a friend. A Starbucks employee had called in, saying the two men refused to make a purchase or leave.

Starbucks stores in downtown Honolulu, as well as at Ward Village, Ala Moana, Waikiki, Kahala and most standalone retail locations will all close at 2:30 p.m.

Some locations will remain open, however. Starbucks stores located inside Target, Safeway and the Honolulu airport will remain open until 8 p.m. or later.