HONOLULU (Eagle News) –  Sherry Menor-McNamara, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii, and Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi, executive director of the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation, introduced the Restaurant Card Program, which is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The new initiative is a private-public partnership that will provide prepaid purchase cards worth $500 to qualified unemployment insurance beneficiaries negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible individuals will receive a pre-loaded, non-transferable card in the mail.

Menor-McNamara commented, “Since March, it’s estimated that about 60% of Hawaii’s businesses have fully or partially closed. This is a win-win because it provides people who’ve qualified a little extra cash and also helps local small businesses that are struggling.”

Hayashi Yamaguchi said, “We hope this will bring a little good news to struggling individuals just in time for the holidays.”

The state’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) will provide oversight to the program and has been coordinating with the restaurant industry to prepare to accept the prepaid cards.

The Restaurant Card Program will run from October 20 to December 15. Additional details will be available in the coming days.

(With reports from EBC Hawaii Bureau, Eagle News Service)