HONOLULU (KHON2) Supplies were flying off the shelves Wednesday, with some shoppers taking pictures of empty shelves at stores across Oahu. This comes after a message from the Health Department to stock up on necessities. There arent any coronavirus (COVID-19) cases here in Hawaii, but health officials want people to have food, supplies and medicine just in case.
At Costco Iwilei, flatbeds were overflowing with boxes of canned goods, bottled water, toilet paper and paper towels. One shopper picked up all these things and more.
The essentials toilet paper, paper towels, bottles of water, soap, a lot of clorox stuff, cleaning supplies. I figure with all the coronavirus scare and everything, its better to be safe than sorry, said Honolulu resident Keane Zakimi.
Others picked up foods that could last a long time.
Its always a good idea to stock up with things that are protein items like albacore, or things that have a shelf life thats a long time protein items, things, like black beans, said Marlene Nations, a Kailua resident. Yeah this is just an extra precaution but no panic.
Panic buying, or leaving store shelves bare, is what the Hawaii Foodbank is worried about. Theyre seeing it in other Asian countries and are concerned it could impact those who may need the food.
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"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.