Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi held a press conference today to discuss the recent signing of Bill 27, which restarts the city’s outdoor sidewalk dining program.

Joining Blangiardi were Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Esther Kiaaina, Department of Transportation Services Deputy Director Jon Nouchi, Hawaii Restaurant Association Executive Director Sheryl Matsuoka, and Yakitori Hachibei Managing Director Robert Yamazaki.

The bill, which was unanimously approved by the Honolulu City Council earlier this month, allows restaurants to apply for a one-year permit to operate dining service on the sidewalk directly outside of its storefront.

“This is something that we wanted to do really, I think, first and foremost for our patrons, because we know people really like to do this,” Blangiardi said of outdoor dining. “We also hope that it’s really going to help our restaurants because more than anything, they were really hammered during COVID.”

At one point during the pandemic, about 40% of Honolulu restaurants closed, Blangiardi said. The impact was felt across the $6.5 billion industry that employs more than 100,000 people.