A Little Oasis in the Middle of Kakaako
July 3rd, 2008 by RodneyI’m going to share with you a little known secret right in the heart of Kakaako. It’s at Ward Farmer’s Market. First of all, if you haven’t been to the Farmer’s Market 
recently, it’s changed quite a bit. Tropics Fish and Vegetable has recently closed up. Besides Marukai which is like the anchor tenant, Haili’s Hawaiian Food is still going strong and Lin’s Market is now only a crack seed store. But located just inside the diamond head side door is Stanley’s Chicken Market. At Stanley’s Chicken Market, you can buy chicken, eggs, gizzards, and even boiled peanuts (dry boiled). Oh, and one more thing - Shave Ice. Cool, refreshing, melt in da mout, ono syrup, shave ice.
We’ve been hitting Stanley’s Chicken Market for shave ice almost weekly for the past year or two. 
Jaymi already knows that my wife is having a Rainbow and mine will be Pineapple/something. Sometimes it’s Pineapple/Lime, sometimes it’s Pineapple/Root beer, sometimes its Pineapple/Orange, sometimes Pineapple/Grape, and sometimes it’s Pineapple/Pineapple. After we get our shave ice, we sit outside on the green benches and cool off. In fact, sometimes we cool off too much and end up standing in the sun just so we can warm up and finish off our shave ice.
Stanley’s Chicken almost like the In-n-Out of shave ice. The menu is straight up: $1.25 for the small (keiki size) and $1.75 for the regular size. Optional is Azuki beans, ice cream, and snow cap, for an additional 25¢ each. And that’s it. But their selection of flavors will keep you thinking of which combination to choose. Oh, and get this, their syrups are chilled so your shave ice does’t shrink when the syrups are poured on. I took a photo of the flavor board, but lost it. I’ll snap another picture of it then next time we go there and post it in a future entry.
And on Saturdays, Stanley’s Chicken sets up a tent in the corner of the upper parking lot where they sell huli-huli chicken plates for around $6.
So the next time you’re heading home from the beach or shopping, or seeing a movie at the Ward theaters, or just need to hit Marukai for some groceries, stop by this little oasis in the middle of Kakaako and enjoy a bit of small kid time ono shave ice.
Stanley’s Chicken Market
Located at Ward Farmer’s Market
Mon-Sat 7AM-5PM
Sun 7AM-1PM
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Anyone headed to Ala Moana for the Fourth of July fireworks show? Or maybe during the weekend for some Independence Day bargains? Or do you have a damn good photographic memory? I have a little game for you. 
As you recall, Ala Moana was built and owned by the Dillingham Corporation. Then in the early 80’s, it was bought out by a partnership with Daiei and an insurance company. Then in the mid 90’s, Daiei became the sole owner of Ala Moana until 1999 when General Growth Partners became the new owner of Ala Moana Shopping Center. However, throughout all those turnovers, memories of Dillingham Corporation still exist today at the shopping center:
As a matter of fact, I’ve located 3 of these disclosure notices in various places at Ala Moana Shopping Center. Whoever can find the three (3) notices and is the first to post their locations here on this blog, I will give 2 free Blockbuster movie rental coupons. Hint: If you find one, it shouldn’t be too hard finding the other 2. If you can find more than 3, not only will I give you the 2 Blockbuster coupons, but I’ll include some popcorn money. And if you need access to a computer from Ala Moana Shopping Center to be the first to post your answer, I know a computer store there where they allow internet access. 
Enjoy the 3 day weekend and be safe out there.
Tags: ala moana shopping center, Dillingham Corporation, Midlife Crisis, shave ice, stanley's chicken market, ward farmer's market
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 am
FIRST! Morning Rodney…….gotta try the shave ice now. As far as the contest, GOOD LUCK to whoever tries as I’ve NEVER SEEN THOSE PLAQUES.
OL
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 am
I miss Tropics. But Haili still make some good looking food and poke. Wow didn’t know about the Huli Huli Chicken. Guess since from Hilo I only come for the poke.
That’s a good idea to chill the syrup. But I like when it melts the ice. Watchout for the BRAIN FREEZE!!!! Have a safe 4th of July gang. Be safe!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Stanley’s looks good, I going try’em. Thanks for da tip! Too bad Tropics closed down - they had the biggest and best fruit baskets, and plenty ono tsukemono. I used to gulp down the small nasubi one. Had Wilson meat market too right?
Good challenge to find those plagues. I going try. Good luck everybody!
Happy 4th of July to Rodney and to all you MidLife Crisis bloggers!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 am
yeah….Farmer’s Market not the same anymore that’s why I hardly go there nowdays. but i recall seeing Stanley’s but neva buy anything frome there. guess i gotta stop buy now and check out their ice shave.
Like Ynaku…i really miss Tropics and also Mura’s.
hmm….i’m thinking i saw something like that on the outside of Sear’s makai entrance? i dunno. if get one there then must get one on Macy’s side too.
have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend y’all.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 am
You kidding right? You know you getting old when you don’t want to go somewhere because traffic going be nuts, no parking, and the crowds! Guess I’m old! I took my kids (16 & 13) to the state fair on the last sunday. The crowd really irked me–the pushing, the shoving, the shoulder bumping. . ..not to mention the smell of pakalolo wafting thru the crowd!
But, life’s an adventure, right? Probably catch the bus and try Stanley’s, then get in some shopping, watch the fireworks & bus it back home.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am
I am a country mouse through and through and not super familiar with some of these town spots but a friend recently took me to where B & S store was and they had changed owners and is now Shimizu store on School St. I had a shave ice there and am hooked now. I like really sour stuff and their lime and sour lemon syrups are really good! Too sour for most I guess.
In the past I have gone to Ice Garden in Aiea but sometimes the ladies in there are too grouchy. If these stores weren’t so far away, I’d go get one right now….
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
No, not going to Ala Moana, but I will be at Aloha Tower Marketplace on July 3, where the fireworks go off at 9 p.m! BTW, we do allow pets on property. Not that your pets want to be anywhere near our fireworks, but….
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 am
[…] A Little Oasis in the Middle of Kakaako If you can find more than 3, not only will I give you the 2 Blockbuster coupons, but I’ll include some popcorn money. And if you need access to a computer from Ala Moana Shopping Center to be the first to post your answer, … […]
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Yeah, Farmer’s market isn’t the same like the old days we remember with just a few legacy stores holding on. I think in a couple of years, the Farmer’s Market and all the warehouses behind it are going to come down. Whether these legacy stores come back is questionable at this time - so get your fill now. Hopefully, Ward will make provisions to keep the old mom-n-pop shops around during and after they redevelop.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Remember when used to have Bob’s Fish Market at Farmer’s Market? We used to get phone calls at our house for them but the callers got the wrong number. It happened so frequently that I checked the phone book and found their number was one digit off from ours. I figured they were just mis-dialing, and after that, I used to give them the correct number. Once when we came home from vacation, had about 5 messages for Bob’s. When we finally got around to going to Farmer’s Market, we passed by Bob’s and saw their “Bob’s Fish Market” calendar hanging on the back wall with OUR home phone number printed. I wonder how many calendars they gave away? No wonder we had so many calls! I felt bad about the people who called our house when we weren’t home, so I changed our recording to say “If you are trying to reach Bob’s Fish Market, their correct number is XXX-XXXX.” I hope they didn’t lose too much business. I wish I got a calendar.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Wow, Other Half, you are very polite and compassionate! I would’a asked them to give me free stuff for bothering me, was their mistake. Was this the peanut guy? I must say, more people should be kind like you!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
My mom always buys their chicken, but somehow it’s always me that has to drive there. Then I have huli huli aroma in my car.
BTW, can you teach me how to make photos come out like that? I’m so new at this and I need all the help I can get.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tankobu: I think the peanut guy was where Lin’s is now (against the back wall side). I should have asked for a calendar.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
@Kelli
When you have a minute or two, I’d be glad to show you how to do the photos.
Huli huli chicken aroma in your car, eh? Try picking up Sugoi garlic chicken to take home.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Mmmm … now you got me and baby craving some sweet shave ice! I think I gotta head to Stanley’s this weekend.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
ho boy that shave ice looks good.
Can tell you never work cannery, Rodney, with your flavor choices.
ooh, that garlic chicken smell - ho boy, I drooling now.
just don’t ever break a bottle of takuan or patis in your car. You’d probably have to sell your car after that. If you can find a buyer.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Mahalo for publicizing the nice kine local food spots. All the watered down mainland chains wen push out all the fish markets and local food so its good to know where the places that still are going.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:23 am
I kinda remember seeing those Dillingham signs but can’t recall the location. I don’t think you will get many takers unless you up the ante since Ala Moana is huge- although you only need to look around the original sites. If you read the sign from what I can tell, which is so legaleese, many of us should be arrested for trespassing. Those just hanging out, like people watching or walking around and not making business transactions are subject to prosecution as trespassers - no?
July 6th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Rodney, I couldn’t get my midlife okole down to ala moana to try find those plagues. You going extend the contest? If not, das okay. I still going try find’em anyways.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Sure, I’ll extend the contest. How about until the end of July. It’s not like us Midlifers are mall rats. Okay, not all Midlifers.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Can you extend it ’till after Thanksgiving, when I’m back for a vacation?
:-)
July 8th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Sure, I’ll extend it until after Thanksgiving - that is if no one finds them by then. There’s no expiration date on the Blockbuster coupons.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Rodney’s challenge was just too good to pass up. If you think about Ala Moana back in the early 1960’s you would know that Liberty House and Sears were anchor tenants. So, knowing that, my wife and I hunted down all three markers over the weekend. Pretty simple actually as they appear on the sidewalks fronting several Diamond Head entrances into Macy’s (formerly the Liberty House location). Interestingly, these entrances were never re-tiled like the rest of the mall was. As for a fourth marker, there may be another one out there. Keep hunting!