Local President’s Report

Aloha Sisters and Brothers,

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
— Charles Dickens

I think we can all agree that this has been a time such as when Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities.
The good news is Hawaii’s COVID-19 numbers, while showing a recent spike, are still significantly better than the rest of the mainland United States. 

The bad news is our tourist economy is shattered and shuttered, and we had in June the eighth highest percentage unemployed in the country. Our film and television work has evaporated with no definite dates yet as to restarting. 

Hopefully, some good will come from this crisis and we will be left with a better world once this plague has passed.

Our extraordinary executive director, Mericia Palma Elmore, continues to serve above and beyond the call of duty. She is still here, working diligently, maintaining connections with our local industry partners and board and officers, performing all essential and core functions, and assisting her colleagues around the country where she can.

We are truly blessed here in Hawaii and hope to celebrate soon the return to work just as soon as it is safe.
In solidarity and looking forward,

David C. Farmer,
SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Local President