What to expect when the herd moves... Part I link:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001bI8

Just an update from the early Monday post, sorry no on-line web address available. I apologize in advance of any spelling errors - I am copying this from the morning paper...

The Honolulu Advertiser - Supermarkets shelves growing bare

Effects of last week's dockworker slowdown and the possibility of a full-blow strike began to show yesterday in empty store shelves as consumers hit the aisles more than usual and retailers waited for delayed deliveries.

Rice, milk, and toilet paper were disappearing the fastest. Other items such as frozen dinners, packaged lunch meats, ice cream and yogurt were beginning to run low in some stores.

Mattie Preston was happy to get one of the last packages of toilet paper at the Pali Safeway yesterday, and at the Kailua-Kona Costco on Sunday morining, Wendell Brooks III said he waited 20 to 30 minutes in the checkout line behind customers stocking up on items.

"It was horrible" he said.

[snip]

"I guess right now it's like the Christmas rush" employee Robert Petty said. "It's real crazy today because everybody's trying to buy toilet paper and rice and so on. Our door counts are real high"

[snip]

Costco has four stores in Hawaii - two on Oahu and one each on Maui and the Big Island. Yesterday, some locations had run out of toilet paper, paper towels, and rice, Singel said. Costco has no warehouse facilities in Hawaii; all goods go directly from the docks to the individual stores.

[snip]

John Fujieki, Jr., president of Star Markets Ltd., said "It's a tough situation for everybody."

Fukieki said Star had staples such as rice as of yesterday morning, but that shoppers are flocking to stores as if there were a sale.

[snip]

But as some retailers and goods suppliers worked to make contingency plans, some shoppers remain unconcerned

[end snip] ---------------------------------

The local news was reported numerous stores where placing restrictions on the quantities that consumers could purchase - usually a 1 bag limit of rice or toilet paper per customer. These were at the stores that still had supplies, many were out and wasn't expecting immediate deliveries. ---------------------------------

As I stated in Part I, this is probably what would take place once the general public starts moving to any kind of preparedness later this year for Y2K. People who intend to start prepping in the next few months will find that they cannot prep in the quantities that they thought they could get.

The good thing about what's going on here is that if the dockworker's situation resolves itself, A LOT of people would have some preps already for Y2K.

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), October 19, 1999

Answers

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

No cause for panic in isle food business

By Gregg K. Kakesako

Star-Bulletin

One of the state's major food wholesalers is monitoring the waterfront situation closely with concerns about Hawaii's supplies of perishable items.

Steve Christensen, distribution manager for Fleming Foods, said his 400,000-square-foot warehouses have "a good supply of dry goods."

"We don't see major problems," Christensen said, "unless this thing drags on."

Fleming is the major supplier for Times Super Markets, Foodland Super Markets, Daiei, Star Markets, the military commissaries and all of the dining facilities for the various military services on Oahu.

Christensen said his major concerns are perishable items, such as produce and fresh meat -- items that have a short shelf life.

For instance, a Matson container ship from Oakland was supposed to dock here on Saturday but could not find wharf space, he said.

Part of that cargo was fresh chicken, which has a shelf life of seven days. "I am told that it will be unloaded sometime today," he said.

"We're watching the situation very closely," Christensen said. "We're very concerned about highly perishable items."

All of Fleming's dry groceries are "on a continuous replenishment system," Christensen said, noting island residents could face major problems if the shipping lifeline were cut off.

If the slowdown at the island's docks continues, Christensen said his company may have to make plans to air-freight supplies from the mainland.

David Higashiyama, Times vice president for marketing, said supplies on the shelves of his 13 outlets on Oahu were fine last week.

He advised island shoppers "just to shop normally and be patient. There is no cause for panic."

John Fujieki, president of Star Markets, said there was "a small run" on items such as toilet paper, milk and rice at his nine outlets.

However, he said that five Oahu, three Maui and one Kauai Star Markets are "pretty well stocked."

"Things as of today look OK," he added.

-- CD (not@here.com), October 19, 1999.

One bag of rice, the size of which was not mentioned, and a package of toilet paper, another size which was not stated, is not indicative of Y2K preparedness.

The advantage Hawaii has possibly gained is the sending of a subtle laser message to the mainland that Hawaii is not the place to run too for escaping crises. One is not going to be skipping about lovely ladies in grass skirts, picking pineapples, and smacking ones lips after refreshing tropical juices playing "Moondoggie"while the mainland starves.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 19, 1999.

Paula

Look at the earlier thread, where we're talking 50 pound rice, 24 pack toilet paper. Costco and Sam's club did not put restrictions on quantity and a lot of people had multiple bags going out the door.

the earlier thread..

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001bI8

(You're not here... You don't see what I see)

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), October 19, 1999.

Also Paula,

I said A LOT of people would have SOME PREPS already for Y2K.

This means that there will be (hopefully) more toilet paper and rice to go around for y2k since more people had already "pre-bought" them.

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), October 19, 1999.

Yeah, Paula, stay where you are.

We'll tough it out in the fertile warmth of the Hawaiian Islands while you and the National Grid play "oops".

300,000 people lived a self-reliant existence on the Big Island alone once. We can do it again.

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), October 19, 1999.

At least they'll have water Paula, especially in the mountain regions. Some folks in the city may have to ration it, and they won't be able to drive, but as long as they have reasonable quantities of dry goods, Hawaii won't be too bad off.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.

I think what you gotta remember when you live in Hawaii is that the pineapples grow on the ground and not in the trees....Oh, it also rains alot...

-- Psychotic (y2k@doom&gloom.com), October 19, 1999.

"300,000 people lived a self-reliant existence on the Big Island alone once. We can do it again."

Sara, I admire your optimism and determination. If I'm not mistaken there are currently less than 200,000 permanent inhabitants on the Big Island, aren't there? Given the climate, soil, and sense of community on the islands, you might have a much smoother ride than those of us on the mainland. Initially, however, you may have a much worse time of it depending upon how much disruption the rollover has on shipping.

Best of luck in any case.

-- PKM (.@...), October 19, 1999.

Hawaii (especially Oahu) will IMO be a deathtrap in 2000. Only places like LA, NYC, Las Vegas and Phoenix could have prospects as bad (or worse).

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.

Dear Minnisota, Got a silver dollar to wager that Honolulu makes out better than Minniapolis/St Paul.During Jan. the big Ahi (tuna) and other + 200 pounders are running right off shore. also the pacific fleets 2 year supply of MRE's are waiting at Schofield Barracks. you can have fresh greens in 2-3 weeks in Jan. try the same in minnisota! the outer islands are covered with orchards and cattle and lots of rain but no ice or snow. 3 huge fat wild pigs are penned up and fat on corn out back and the citrus and bananna's are thick,there will be even more in january. we may walk from lack of fuel but you can bet the weather is great for walking and bicycling.We are planting the third garden of the year today,the first two are harvested and waiting.it will be ready for harvest new years day. As for the mainland, too many weirdo's ,racists and gumint officials for this guy .And for survival we are contemplating 4 and twenty myna birds baked in a pie. aloha!

-- merek (merek@aloha.net), October 19, 1999.

MinnesotaSmith,

This is a sincere question... Could you elaborate on why Honolulu will be a death trap?

Just asking your opinion, for me to consider. Mahalo!

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), October 19, 1999.

merek, You are the first person to REeeaally tempt me to move to Hawaii.

I'm craving some pineapple as we speak.

WAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

-- Northerngal (from@MN.com), October 20, 1999.

Aloha! The NO HEATER NEEDED climate is for me. My Hero,Ed Dames moved to Maui, so I guess it will be safe there, in a 500 year old lava tube, remote viewed safe. Tidal waves...800mph winds... Montana...West side of Glacier, deep valley with fresh water is suppose to be safe too, no Mad Max, too far to drive for Max. Green food growing on the wall in a cave? Sprout House? Save your non iradiated seeds and pig free gene tomato. Oink Oink...Between the Solar X rays and My Hero, geologist, James O.Berklands Quake prediction windows...I'll be grateful if the patron saint of architecture and good health provides a new t

-- Marilyn (Me@MarilynEllis.com), October 21, 1999.

Hawaii - many place NO got soil for grow food. Lava real tough for grow in! And bugs, plenty bugs eat you house an home. Sure, got plenty rain. But many time, too much or no kine rain. Pineapple take long time to grow. Sure, got fish. No time to fish. Sure, plenty warm. Mosquitos like warm too. Need plenty money live Hawaii. Mainland folk got plenty money. Hawaii folk, no money. Big Lulu

-- Big Lulu (reisch@c-zone.net), October 21, 1999.