HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Ward Village restaurant closed abruptly in June and workers say they are still waiting for paychecks.
One former employee came to KHON for help, saying she and her former co-workers are owed thousands.
Straits Hawaiʻi was known for its Singapore street food flavors and chic spot in Ward Village. But in June, without warning, it shut its doors.
“It was a second paycheck that bounced, but the first one, it was a little less than $300 and then it came back two weeks after,” said former server Deanna Tacmo.
Tacmo said she’s owed about $1500 in pay and shared with us documents and text messages from other workers saying they still haven’t been paid and were not getting answers from the owners nor managers.
“I was upset because it was a lot of money, and then there’s all of us that didn’t get paid, and some of us, like, have families and have kids and stuff,” said Tacmo.
A representative of the management company, Manna Restaurant Group, refused to go on camera, but said they tried to get the insurance company to release money to pay workers, but blame the attorneys for blocking their request. Our attempts to get a response from the insurance company were unsuccessful.
Court records show the management company is also embroiled in legal disputes over another of its restaurants, Romano’s Macaroni Grill at Ala Moana.
“It’s sad because the employees deserve to be paid for their wages. And because it kind of puts them in a terrible situation,” said Jade Butay, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director. “They need to put food on the table and meet their family. So, we do what we can to protect the workers.”
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is investigating, and says unpaid wages are a violation of state law and urge employees in similar situations to:
- Gather records and documentation that prove you worked there and weren’t paid
- File a claim with DLIR’s Wage Standards Division
- Consider Small Claims Court if necessary
- Stay in contact with co-workers. Group claims can sometimes carry more weight.
“And if back wages are found due, the employee is entitled to double the back wages, plus 6% interest, and then we are also going to tack on a $500 penalty,” said Butay.
Tacmo has filed her claim and is still waiting.
“Living in Hawaiʻi is already so expensive, and it’s just not okay to do this to the locals who are already trying to work as many jobs as they can,” said Tacmo.
Ward Village said in a statement that “despite our best efforts to find a resolution, Straits has been unable to meet its lease obligations” and Ward Village is looking for a new tenant to take over the space.
KHON will keep pressing for answers and will let you know if these workers get paid.