Other businesses see uptick as threat looms

Restaurants appear to be getting the most attention as the Pahoa love fest continues in light of the approaching lava, but other businesses also have noted changes to their daily routines.

Pahoa Auto Parts, located across the street from Long’s on Pahoa Government Road, is seeing a run on parts as area residents work to get the old junkers on their lawns running again in case they need to be moved before the lava flows through, said Brady Metcalf, who owns the business with his brother, Michael.

“Business is gettin’ good,” he said. “We’ve sold more gas cans in the last two weeks than we’ve probably sold in the previous two years before that. People are tuning up vehicles that haven’t been running forever and trying to get them out of the way, I think.”

Metcalf said he and other Pahoa residents have noticed a parade of new faces making their way to restaurants like Luquin’s “to have one last margarita before it’s gone … one burrito or whatever.”

“Everybody seems to be thinkin’ our little town is gonna disappear from the face of the Earth here pretty soon,” he said. “I think we’re going to be OK for a while. Eventually, maybe, (the lava) is going to go over (the town). Those old buildings toward the end of town, the old town, the Akebono down toward Kaleo’s, all it would take is Madame Pele to come up and breathe real hard on one corner of that building, and that whole end of town would be gone in five minutes. I mean, those buildings are 100 years old, and they’ve had termites and that. It wouldn’t take much to set that end of town off. I hope that doesn’t happen. That’s the heart and soul of Pahoa right there.”

Metcalf added that he has “mixed emotions about the whole thing.”

“You just kinda roll with the punches and see what happens. It’s the uncertainty that tears people up, the waiting game of where’s it’s going to hit, what’s gonna be first. That’s what’s fraying the nerves and preying on the fears of people out here, because the uncertainty’s a killer,” he said.

Jungle Love owner Becky Petersen said she’s seen a jump in sales of between 40 and 50 percent. Especially popular items include anything referencing Pahoa or the lava flow.

“We’ve had a lot of people coming in and spending money,” she said. “A lot of local people, but also a lot of tourists, too.”

Shirts bearing slogans such as “Going with the Flow in Lava Zone 1” and “Pele is My Homegirl” are flying off the shelves, she said. September is usually the slowest month for her business, but this year it’s been almost overwhelming.

“A lot of (the customers) seem kind of nervous, like they need a little shopping therapy,” Petersen said. “Women like to come in and spend some money and make themselves feel better. It’s really been going on since (Tropical Storm Iselle).”

Warren Sanekane, manager at Longs Drugs in Pahoa, said it’s mostly been “business as usual.”

Asked about things people are stockpiling, he replied, “Water, for sure. … They’re stocking up on things like batteries, canisters for their stove, those kinds of things, toilet paper, all the paper products.”

As far as the number of customers he’s seen come through the door, though, not much has changed, from his perspective.

“I think it’s pretty much the same, actually. I don’t think people are panicking at this point, yet,” Sanekane said.

Daniel Perreira, manager at Lex Brodie’s Tire &Service Center in Pahoa said business has been “pretty steady and busy.”

“Honestly, it really hasn’t affected us at all, yet,” he said. “Some of the business around here are just getting prepared (for the lava). I think the businesses are just hangin’ tough, hangin’ in there until we see if we gotta evacuate. But business-wise, it hasn’t changed much at all.”

Meanwhile, state Sen. Russell Ruderman, who owns Island Naturals, said he’s seen customers stocking up on plenty of canned goods in preparation for the lava flow possibly crossing Highway 130.

“We had a couple weeks where people did seem to be stocking up, both in the Hilo and Pahoa stores,” he said.

The grocery store holds a customer appreciation day once a month, and this month turned out to be the company’s most heavily attended, both in Hilo and Pahoa, he added.

In an effort to relieve some of the stress everyone’s been feeling over the lava flow, Island Naturals will host a Pahoa Pele Party, featuring four live bands today from 2-6 p.m. Attendees are asked to park off site, and the event is billed as family-friendly, with no alcohol and no smoking allowed on the premises.

Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune- herald.com.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune- herald.com.