Grocery Markets - Small Kid Time
September 16th, 2009 by Rodney Lee"we can't return, we can only look,
behind from where we came"
Remember small kid time? Mom used to drag you along to the market for grocery shopping - and you'd be bored out of your mind just following the wagon?
Don't you sometimes wish you could return to those old supermarkets and relive those days - as boring as they used to be? Or at least revisit the store again just for old times sake?
Unfortunately, many of those markets are long gone.
Growing up in Kailua, as far back as I can remember, I recall Oneawa Market and Harada Market. I remember the cardboard boxes that the bag boys used to use to package the groceries. They'd stand the box flaps up and tie a string around them so they could pack more groceries into the box. Those markets had those bulky refrigerator cases where the butcher would have to reach in to get the meat for you, then weigh it and wrap it in the familiar pink butcher paper.
But the one grocery store that I miss is - Star Market in Kailua. I suppose that since that market was the closest to our house - we patronized that market a lot. Even when it was time to buy our Christmas tree, we bought it from Star Market. I spent so many days of my youth in that store that it became a part of my childhood.
I just wish it was still there so I could go revisit a part of my childhood. Unfortunately, it's become a hardware store.
Kailua Foodland is still around, but that market has been renovated - so much so - that I hardly recognize it anymore.
Kailua Times is still around. And still looks the same from the outside. The next time I'm in Kailua, I'll make it a point to stop in at Times and see if the inside is pretty much the same as I remember it.
I remember a little alley way right next to Kailua Times and in the alley way window of Times was a floor to ceiling sign that looked like this:
The
Island
Market where
Everyone
Saves
I used to look at that sign every time we'd visit and think "so that's how they got their name!".
When we took a trip to town, before heading home my mom used to stop by Chun Hoon market on the corner of School street and Nuuanu avenue. But before entering the market, there was a Rexall drug store over where the Hungry Lion restaurant is now. Right next to the drug store (towards Chun Hoon market) was a little drive in window. My mom would pick up a burger for us and I'd always have it with a "green river" drink. I don't remember much about the market, but I sure do remember the green rivers I had there.
Paula told me how they used to go to the Kapalama GEM every Saturday to do their grocery shopping. And sometimes stop over at Times that was across the street where Palama Market is now. Later on when GEM phased out their grocery section, Times moved from across the street into GEM. That's another memory that is long gone. A place where we can't return, we can only look behind from where we came...
I was discussing this idea with a colleague and asked her what markets she remembers going to as a little girl. Surprisingly, she said she didn't go to the market when she was small. But she does remember the "Yasai truck" coming down her street in Palolo and her grandmother would go to the yasai man to get her groceries. And every so often, a little candy treat for her.
Do you remember going to the market back in your hanabata days? Are any of those markets still around? Perhaps you still go to the same market to this day. Has it changed much since then? Do memories of small kid time come rushing back to you when you visit those old time places? Can you still name the markets you used to go to? And finally, do you remember the yasai truck?
Tags: childhood memories, Chun Hoon Market, Circle Game, Foodland, GEM, hanabata days, Harada Market, Hungry Lion Restaruant, kailua, Memories, midlife crisis blog, Nuuanu Ave., Oneawa Market, Palama Market, Palolo, pink butcher paper, Rexall Drug store, Rodney Lee, School Street, small kid time, Star Market, Times Supermarket, Yasai man, Yasai truck
September 16th, 2009 at 5:05 am
FIRST!
September 16th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Oh yeah those markets. Lots of small markets are gone. We had Pick and Pay, Savemore, Hilo Foodtown and several others that bring back memories. ALL Gone. Now we have KTA, Foodland/Sack and Save, Safeway, Malama Market and few rural markets but that's about it.
Had to follow Mom in and out of the aisles. Once in awhile she'll let us buy a small toy. Or we got to ride the horse back and forth. Put 3 of us on to save money. The one sitting on the tail gotta hang on for dear life.
I can remember the smells, especially the meat department. Oh and the bakery too.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Speaking of Hanabata, Now days I blame my allergies
September 16th, 2009 at 5:45 am
In Honolulu, we used to go to Chun Hoon (or, that's what I remember) and Moiliili Star. when we moved to Kahaluu, it was Temple Valley Times.
in Hilo with my grandparents, the ones Ynaku mentions. My grandma used to work at Paramount Grill on Haili, so she would take us to the KTA in downtown sometimes.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Pop worked at Bigway Waipahu, then Wahiawa when they first opened, I want to say in 1959-60, and he did all of the grocery shopping. Mom never needed to go grocery shopping. Pop always brought home bruised or old fruits and vegetables that they couldn't sell so it was always a treat if he bought fresh ones for us. In my elementary school years, I used to tag along and help my pop on Saturdays at Bigway. On the way to work, he first stopped in Waipahu to pick up tofu from a small tofu factory and some produce at the Waipahu store. I recall the Wahiawa store as being very cold in the morning and that everyone was very cheerful. Pop managed the produce side and was always busy. He even did the price signs and thought it was neat the way he wrote in a large clear style that was distinct in markets. I usually helped him sort out, unpack, washed or put on display the produce. They had this large walk-in refrigerator where they stored the perishables. I was thinking how scary it would be trapped inside and freeze to death...must have been watching too many "Inner Sanctums" and the creaking door.
We also had a couple of truck vendors come by our country/farm neighborhood. I only remember Nishimura man but there were several others including the ice cream man who rang out his bell. Milk Nickle actually cost 5¢ in those days.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Matt, Paramount Grill was the place to go downtown. Too bad the place burnt down.
Now if you like the old time smells, go downtown KTA, it's reminiscent of the old markets. Actually IT IS AN OLD MARKET
September 16th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Wow, this topic really does dredge memories from the past.
I remember the old Dodie's grocery store in Kane`ohe where Jack in the Box is now. I remember the green cabbage neon sign. I don't ever remember going in there, though.
Mom always went to Times when I was really little and before she learned how to drive. I think that's b/c the Kane`ohe Taxi Stand was right there next door. I went to that Times with her when I was home last year February, and it seemed like nothing had changed (even though I know the store's gotten bigger). Shopping there with Mom and Gramma that day was so great - made me feel like I was 8 again!
September 16th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Before my mom got her license (I was in 1st gr) we bought from the Yasai Truck. I called it the Puu Puu Man cuz he'd honk the horn when he arrived... "Puu Puu!!!" I remember all those meats hanging from the rack and he'd slice balogna and luncheon meat to order. How... or was it even...refrigerated? How are we still alive? LOL He had everything in that truck... bread, veggies, candy. It was the Mary Poppins of trucks.
Star Kahala er... Waialae Shopping Ctr was my first grocery store. Mom got her license and loved driving down the deadly Kilauea Hill to get there. I think she had a bit or Mario Andrade spirit in her back then. I covered my eyes. I always went there as an adult for Christmas Trees, they had the best, normal, non-fancy schmancy trees. You know, one step above Charlie Brown trees.
BTW, Mrs Chun-Hoon is still alive, she's the sweetest lady and I love talking story with her!
September 16th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Good morning Rodney!
I remember the manapua man? He had 2 metal square 5 gal. cans, one on each end of a long stick that he carried on his shoulders. He use to stop at our house and my mom would buy manapua and dim sun.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:34 am
In Manoa, there was only Safeway (which is still there), Toyo's and IGA ( I think they closed in the late 60s or early 70s). I miss Toyo's, they had Icees and inexpensive toys like slingshots and baseball cards. You knew the store owners and some of my friends worked there part-time.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Schmall kine side-track: Just like the yasai truck, a fabric truck used to come around. I think it was from Kuni Dry Goods in Moiliili. He'd open the back and there'd be bolts and bolts of fabric, that's how my mom bought fabric before she could drive. I just loved looking at all the prints and feeling all the textures... I was always a touch-feely.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:34 am
sally: Yasai trucks used ice to keep meats and fish cool.
I seem to remember Piggly Wiggly and Everybodys grocery stores. Can't remember locations.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:36 am
One place I remember from small-kid time is Arakawa's in Waipahu. Anyone know if that place is still there?
September 16th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Good morning Rodney!
Remember the manapua man? He had 2 square metal 5 gal. cans, one on each end of long stick the he carried on his shoulders. He would stop at our house and my mom would buy manapua and dim sum.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Double post!!
September 16th, 2009 at 6:42 am
jaydee, Arakawas closed long time ago
That was the place to get all your Palakas.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:59 am
NaPueo: Everybody's Supermarket was on Kapiolani/McCully where the new storage facility is. My friend worked at the service station across the street where is now McCully Shopping Ctr.
M: Did you ever know what the Manapua Man was yelling? We weren't allowed to buy from him. Mommy said we going get sick and die if we did. Me starting to think my mommy had some sick sense of humor. (apple neva fall too far from da tree).
September 16th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Ynaks,
when we go hilo (every new year for family reunion), my (mainland pake) wife and (honolulu girl) mom like to hit up the farmer's market. usually, my dad (hilo boy) and I end up wandering the downtown streets with my 4 year old son, reminiscing. usually start at the tsunami museum or sig zane and wander our way back to mamo st. gotta make our way through kta, though, just because.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I only went to Arakawas once, but I miss it. I got my tiny 2-cup rice cooker from there before I moved to the Big Rock.
I don't remember the yasai man coming to my neighborhood (probably because we weren't home during the day) but I remember it coming to my babysitter Aunty's house. She lived in a cul-de-sac and all the neighbor ladies would come out to look, buy and socialize. Their yasai man had glasses and was kinda chubby, bald, and very kindly.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Rodney,
I remember -
Chun Hoon on Kapiolani Blvd.
Zane's on Waialae Ave.
Palolo Superette in Palolo
A funny thing is that I remember Tanabe's on Keeaumoku always being there but I have never gone in.
Like Sally, I remember yasai truck with the old Japanese man, we used to call him the po-po man because he always blew his horn when he arrived. Iremember the melting ice dripiing from the bottom of his truck. He used to sell fire crackers to the kids around new year's time. He would say "no tell your bachan".
September 16th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Zane's on Waialae Ave......my mom's family bought that store and called it "Family Superette" and had it for about 7 years. Can't compete with the larger "chain stores" as people would only come in for the "sale items" and my dad's boiled peanuts.
I remember as a small kid going with my mom/dad to TIMES in Kaneohe and ALWAYS running the wagon into my mom's heels as I wouldn't pay attention as I "drove". She'd ALWAYS GET PISSED at me...........
OL
September 16th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Rod,
In 'Nalo, we had Shima store, Kodama's & Mel's market. so depending on where you lived it was good for "small stuff", for the biggies, we went to Times in Kailua.
My Dad was an electrician who would hook up the Leonard's malasada wagon. We usually did want to help him at his job (rather played), but with that job, we would get free & first batch (i'm salivating just thinking about 'em!)
September 16th, 2009 at 7:32 am
roach: My classmate from Palolo, her daddy was a yasai man. I never got to meet him but used to see the truck parked whenever we picked her up to go out. Maybe was him?
How cool is that to know your daddy was an MLC icon?
September 16th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Just like Paula, every Saturday my dad would bring us 2 kids to go Kapalama Gem for grocery shopping. I would get bored and tell him I was going to look at the toys. When we were finished shopping, dad would always get us an ice cream cone that was located in front of the store. Yes, we used to go to Times that was located across the street from Gem.
My family always used to go to the Rexall drug located in Moanalua Shopping Center. There was also a Foodland store there too- kinda ghetto is what I remembered. Now the entire center is built up and I dont remember anything. I know there was a Kress store over in that area with Jesse's bakery which is still there.
Instead of the yasai man, we had a "breadman" as the neighborhood kids called him with his truck full of seed, potato chips, all kind donuts, and bread and other things. Mom used to send me out to buy bread and those jelly donuts. Sometimes I would get the crack seed. Kenneth was his real name. He was once robbed and shot, later recovered and back selling in the ol neighborhood. Used to come around 5 pm on tues and Thursdays. Those were the days..
September 16th, 2009 at 7:48 am
volleymom2 got real good memory! Gee, ask me what I had for lunch yesterday LOL
We had Akita store in Kapahulu where we used to buy fish. I think Seattle Gail's daddy used to supply the fish? Not sure... Seattle Gail? I just remember the doggie used to hang out outside the store. Or was that somewhere else?
Oh my.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Have a great day everyone! Off to work now.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Morning erverybody
Yeah, I remember goin marketing with my mom. We used to live in Palolo so always go to Palolo Surperette, and we had Yasai man too
NKHEA.... used to love to go Kekaulike St look at all da fish
September 16th, 2009 at 8:19 am
@NaPueo: I seem to remember a Piggly Wiggly at the corner of School and Liliha, but that was a long time ago.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Good Morning All!
In Wahiawa we had Matsumoto's Market and Big Way. Matsumoto's is now a part of Hawaiian Eye Center I think and Big Way is Tamura's. I still go to Tamura's regularly.
We used to have the old bus come to our street to sell produce. I barely remember it but do remember the horn. How funny, never called it puupuu though.
Mom used to work at Times Kapalama. Then when Liliha Times opened up she transferred. So we used to go there often. I remember going to the crack seed shop next to Times Liliha all the time.
I remember on Wednesdays both parents were off and we would do all the grocery shopping on that day. Coolers loaded in the van all the kids and hit all the stores. Daie in Pearlridge, Times Waimalu then Foodland in Wahiawa.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I don't remember shopping much in the big markets because we had a mom and pop store two doors away from us. It was very convenient. I can remember sitting down for dinner and then discovering we didn't have catsup for our hamburger paddies. No problem. One of us would run to the store and be back in minutes.
@M: I remember the manapua man.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I almost forgot but back in the day there use to be guys who drove around in refrigerated trucks on a kind of regular basis selling produce around the neighborhood. Also Meadowgold and Foremost use to deliver juice and milk house to house.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Oh crap, I have a similar topic coming up... I might need to tweak it!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Used to go with my parents to Times on King St and Star Market in Moiliili. I remember pushing/riding the wagon and "pumping" it like a scooter
You really jogged my memory when you mentioned bag boys using boxes and tying the flaps with string. There was a technique in breaking the string.
Old markets: Valley Meat Market, Tomisato Store and Palolo Superette. I cannot recall the name of the other one on Palolo Ave. A store is still there, but the name's changed. Also there once was a Piggly Wiggly on the corner of Waialae Ave and 10th Ave where CPB is now.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I still remember the old Gibson's store in Mapunapuna. My grandparents frequently shopped there while me and my brother tagged along. We really didn’t mind strolling the aisles because of the air conditioning. I recall a small crack seed vendor at the entrance and we used to buy snacks and follow grandma around the store. If we were extra good grandpa would let us ride the Giant Slide out in the parking lot. Oh, those were good times.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Rodney, I remember going to Star market. I used to go to the drug store next door to buy comic books for $.12. Good candy selection too. We used to call the yasai man, the Tofu man because he had fresh tofu and watercress sitting in water in his truck. I also remember putting out the empty milk bottles for the Foremost man.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Does anyone have a historical photo of the old GEM store? I would love to get my hands on one. I used to go there all the time with my parents.
I also used to go to Chun Hoon with my mom to shop. "Uncle Burt" was the butcher, and I can't remember the "Aunty" at the cash register. But we were regulars.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:13 am
visitor,
rainbow mart?
September 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am
@ matt - I think that's it! Was there also a small market further up the valley off of Palolo Ave, behind the public housing?
September 16th, 2009 at 10:42 am
visitor, you use to live in Palolo? I use to go to Valley Meat Market all the time. I use to call it Nakama store because that was the last name of the owner.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Speedy's in Aiea...my uncle's girlfriend, her parents owned it and when I went with her she would always grab me a chocolate milk and a snack. Yum. To be a kid again....
September 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
visitor,
there was, by the laudrette. used to be walking distance from my grandma's house, so i know it well. forget the name, though.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
visitor; had 2 small stores behind the laundromat on Palolo Ave., on Kauhana St. think the names was Violets on the makai side downstairs of the apt building and Yama's on the mauka side....makin me really think now
NKHEA..... always used to go dea wen walkin home from school
September 16th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
@ M, matt &NKHEA - Yep, raised in Palolo; you guys too?
M- you're right about everyone calling it "Nakama" Store. It was actually an amazing store. Mr. Nakama used to be butcher/meat cutter, you could buy fresh beef at that little store. Remember that at one time there was a Shell service station in back of the store? I think the name was "Roy's." It didn't last very long.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
visitor, NKHEA and I are from Palolo, I use to go to his house. I still live in Palolo. Our family had a tab at "Nakama" store. I don't know about matt.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
My grandma and cousins live there. spent more time there than at home, I think.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
i remember going shopping at star market (kam shopping center), gem (ward and dillingham - ward most often though we lived closer to dillingham, which was a little grungy!), chun hoon (not too often, even though it was on the way home!). i remember going to p&p superette in kalihi during the longshoreman's strike - it was the only place we could find toilet paper!
i don't remember the yasai man here but i do remember having on on the mainland. i remember he sold those red "sticks" of cuttlefish, which i loved as a kid! i always wondered how they got the cuttlefish to be so red and flat! hee hee...
visitor & matt - rainbow mart is/was right by grandma's house (now my cousin lives there)! if we went over, we usually made a trip to rainbow mart!
midori-mm - my mom's family had a store on the corner of school and liliha, though i think it was originally on the diamond head side of liliha (wasn't quite on the corner then) then later moved to the ewa side. did you grow up around there?
September 16th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Funny, I was just thinking about these old places last night on the drive home. Chun Hoon, of course. Anyone remember Lau Poo market on Pauoa? I guess it was our version of Manoa's Toyo's. Good times aftah school.
September 16th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
visitor; went school with Nakama's daughter, think her name was Lynn
M you know remember her 
I used to live in the Carlos Long area till late 70's
NKHEA....still can remember
September 16th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I remember Times in Kaneohe, food shopping with my then GF (the center where Coronets use to be), Star Market (my brother worked there). My parents would always shop at the commissary on base so we rarely visited the local super markets growing up.
Anyone remember the Hygienic Store in Kahaluu or Lau's Drive Inn
September 16th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Anybody know Kam Heong Market at the top of Lanakila Avenue? That was my old stomping grounds and where we bought tons of candies and chips. I have over 20 cavaties to show for it. The area is just decimated with housing kids and all ethnic groups, but mainly Filipinos. "Eh, tonghi eh, ah tonghi, tonghi eh...", that was the warchant of the rowdies. But us pa-kes, we were just too slick and fast for them. But it sure brings back good memories writing about Boy-le, Palua, and the entire neighborhood.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I remember Everybody's and Star Market. I still can remember when there was a robbery at Star Market and you could hear the gunshots of the robbers and the police.
Anybody remember those wagons that drove around the neighborhood selling produce,bread and candies? I remember buying tofu and bringing a pot and he would scoop out a square of Tofu from a big container and drop it in the pot.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
@snow: The Piggly Wiggly I remember was on the diamond head, makai corner on the Liliha and School intersection. My father worked across from Liliha Theater. We lived on Dillingham diagonally across from Kalihi-kai School. Hard to believe that the whole area used to be a single dwelling residential community.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Uncle John was a yasai ya-san from Palolo. Drove a green ford. Fresh fish, tofu, veggies, maui natto, red ika legs for me, the white round japanese snacks for brother, li hing mui for sister.
I remember the old Foodland at Market City, where Blockbuster was, P & P where Chico's used to be, now City Mill.
@Sally, I remember Akita store too, also the one on Campbell and Herbert (think Morihara's owned it), and Stop and Shop. Also Ruger Market. Used to stop there on the way home from school. Li hing dried ginger.
@M & Sally, the Manapua Man would stop at the top of our street and 6th ave. Sounded like he was saying "ooooooohhhhhhhhh". My mother wouldn't buy anything from him either.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Yes I remember taking the boys to market a memory I want to forget..omg funny! CRYING KIDS ,,,a the memory.
my very early memory I remember my "nanay" (MOM) bringing me to the market . I scream and kick I wanted a toy doll.... (she didn't buy he doll ) ever since that she didn't take me along anymore.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
my oldest son does the market shopping I relax.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Rodney: Why did you have to mention Green River drinks?
I used to love those as a kid. 
The only places I can remember getting that, was at places like Rexall, as well as, Kress, and Woolworth's, and maybe an old soda fountain or drive-in. Nowadays, I can't find that anywhere. 
As far as grocery stores, my mom frequented a few, including Times, Safeway, Foodland, mostly Times though. If she wanted fish, then it was a trip down to Ward Ave and the Farmer's Market.
My dad worked at Everybody's in McCully for a short period of time. Before that, dad's family had their own little grocery store. I think that store was on Beretania in the Moiliili area, during the late 1940's or early 1950's, long before my time.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Good Evening Everyone!
Plenty good rememories. Stop & Shop in Kapahulu, I used to go there too when my brothers had to cut hair at Doris' Barber Shop.
We had Green River drinks at the original W&M on 9th and Waialae. Burgers were so ono and they had the small baby size cups of soda for 5 cents. Perfect if you still had money leftover from Tanoues Saimin and 10cents BBQ Stick after the 30cents movie at Kaimuki Theater.
visitor: don't know if you answered but are you going to your class reunion next month? We're the entertainment... Going karaoke too.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
@Rodney. I remember that window by Chun Hoon that sold hamburgers!! My friends and I used to buy our lunch there and go to the botonical gardens across the street and eat in the cool shade. Only problem is we'd have to dodge the bullfrogs hiding in the grass...used to scream every time one jumped!
@Sally and COhiba. OMG Akita Store!! Remember the comic stand was right by the front door! Small kid time, we used to sit on the front step and read the comics. Raymond Akita was the butcher, his wife ran the cash register, their daughter Geraldine and son, Gary would help. I worked with Geraldine at Kapahulu Drugs (where Zippy's is now located) for a short time. When my dad had too much fish, he would sell it to a friend who owned a grocery store somewhere in Palolo.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
My Chun Hoon memories was the fun I had standing in the doorway where they had the blast of air coming down. It felt good at that junction of hot outside, and cool inside. I think my Mom told me it was to keep the flies out, since they didn't have those automatic sensor doors that open when it detects motion or someone stepping on the mat.
Lau Po market in Pauoa!
Kammy's store - Seawalker, when I'd visit my friend that lived up on Judd St, near the turn from Lankila, or my other friend who lived in the 2 story apartments just below, we'd go here for snacks.
Anyone remember the store on Kunawai Lane, across Kunawai Terrace before they closed and I was told it was later turned into a warehouse? I used to get my Icee there, and loved to collect those translucent animal figures that they'd hang from the cup: monkey, giraffe, elephant, etc.
And on Liliha St, and the end of Kunawai Lane, there was the store that Mom went to if it was a last minute thing she needed. I used to get sent there with a few ¢ to buy a loaf of bread. I remember being careful to not drop it, but what came home was a squashed-in-the-middle loaf of bread, and the slices never returned to their original shape.
On the days with the ads, my Mom would make her list, sitting at the square black carved table that was in the livingroom, and then we'd go in Dad's Dodge to do the rounds. I remember thinking P&P was far away, but reality is that it was in the neighborhood. Gibson, with the Super Sky Slide that gave me a friction burn when my foot slid off the carpet was an occasional trip, and ONLY if they had something that was a good price.
Parkview Gems at Kapalama was my store I loved, with Kim Chow shoes, and Kuni Fabrics concessions there. I loved to look at the different shoes that I hoped for, thinking I'd be either fashionable, or faster on foot, and the notions and sewing tools always caught my eye.
Star Market was a stop in the Kamehameha Shopping Center, and Longs Drugs.
And we'd have trips on the bus to Chinatown too, since Mom didn't drive.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
@Seattle Gail.... ew ew ew all those fish guts in your front yard!
Hey SG, do you have any idea who visitor is? He's from Palolo so probably knows Harv. I trying to find out if he's going to the reunion and karaoke.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
@COhiba. The small store on Campbell and Herbert was Tanseido. Can't remember what it was before that. I remember Norman Morinaga, small kid on Castle Street took $20 from his bachan's wallet and bought everybody model airplane kits from Tanseido. Ohhh, he had licking from his dad when he found out! What was the name of the store on corner of Campbell and Castle? They had the pickles in the green wax, marshmallow ice cream cones in the big glass jar...it's a laundromat now. Also used to stop at Ruger Market on the way home from Kaimuki Intermediate. In those days they would put the see moi in small paper bags so after we were done, we'd turn the bag inside out and suck the bag. Ha, ha!
@Sally. I remember Stop and Shop...it's still there. We used to stop there after Japanese school and buy candy.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
@Sally. Yeah, my dates used to park across the street because my dad was cutting up fish in the front yard. Huge marlins or ahi...fish blood and guts everywhere!.
I know there's a Kaimuki Palolo gang...Andy Iwamoto, Rob Yamamoto, Dean Yoshioka...I believe these 3 have signed up for reunion.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
@Seattle Gail: wasn't the blood and guts so much as it was the set of Ginsu Machetes.
Okamura Store in Kapahulu across from Japanese School on Campbell Ave was owned by ...duh.. the Okamuras. (ain't I the brilliant one?) Their daughter was the gal that married Wayne Newton and all of a sudden the old mom and pop got all hoity toity on the keiki.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Whoo... busy day at work today. Just catching up now.
Wow! Lots of good memories.
Hey, you Kapahulu folks - what about the market that was next to Burgerland?
@losthawaiian - I remember the drug store next to Star Market in Kailua - Walrich Drugs. Before going to Kailua Drive In to see movies, my dad would stop there for us to stock up on candies. The 5¢ candies were - buy 5 for 19¢, plus 1¢ tax. We used to call it the "5 for 19". I remember the comic racks too.
I don't remember a Yasai man in Kailua. Even though we lived only a block away from each other, maybe he bypassed the ghetto part where I lived. "skip Kihapai street". LOL
@snow and Midori-mm - I have to get Paula to chime in on the Liliha stores. She mentioned something about Jimmy's on the corner of Liliha and Kuakini - across from Honda delicatessen.
@marcorbito - Pauoa, eh? Later, maybe we'll visit the shoyu/ice/sake factory.
@jaydee - Arakawa's. Wow! That's a blog entry in itself. I gotta go find my Arakawa's t-shirt.
@Dave In Oregon - Green River. Shimazu's shave ice (old B&S store) has Green River flavor for their shave ice.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I added a couple of pictures to the entry - maybe help jog the memory.
@Ynaku - you guys really used to go to the market on a horse?!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
@seawalker - There's still an old store I see on Lanakila ave - all boarded up. Also, on Kunawai lane is a structure that looks like it too was an old mom & pop store.
@Melissa - I'll bet our library has a picture of the old Kapalama GEM. I'll go take a look.
@eddyo - now I'm hungry for malasadas. Hey, Portuguese festa happening this weekend at McCoy pavilion. Perfect timing.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
@Sally...yeah my dad's machetes, bloody hands, and his BBDs sticking out 6 inches...that used to scare my dates. That and him saying, "eh, where you going??"
Now I remember the store on corner of Castle and Campbell...Okada Store!
How about Shihara Store on Kapahulu and Herbert (now a shave ice stand).
September 16th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Bwahahahaha. I knew I wrote that wrong. HORSE
No!!!! Ride the mechanical one outside the market.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
@Ynaku -
September 17th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Good Morning Rodney!
Hey, that 1st pic... dat be my 'hood.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:59 am
@ two fish- yeah, remember the skyslide at Gibsons, that was pretty scary for me. and Gibson... used to go there all the time when small, then later during the 20 something years... bought plenty of xmas ornaments at their going out of business sale!
@ 9ball- i remember the Speedy's market in Aiea. Never went in it, used to pass by all the time.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:43 am
TwoFish, I forgot about Lau Po market in Pauoa.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:50 am
TwoFish has a good reply (# 59). Unfortunately, I miss it last night and it sat in "awaiting moderation". Sorry, TwoFish.
@Sally, that first picture - still pretty much looks the same today. Kapahulu should preserve the look of the town before it's torn down. Same with Kaimuki.
That second picture - isn't that the shopping center that turned into Kahala Mall?
September 17th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Great to here about the old Kailua town. I often here these stories from my Dad. On the note of Foodland, as you know, the "renovated" Foodland is not the original one. The original one is now the Kailua Beach Center. I still go there often, but now to get a shave ice, and my favorite Ts (so does Obama).
September 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@Kalani - Welcome to MLC and thanks for posting. Your dad is absolutely correct - Foodland used to be by Kailua beach (where Island Snow shave ice is). The Foodland now, used to be named "Foodcity", back when it was next to Wigwam.
I recall that I used to get the 2 names mixed up - then I taught myself that Foodcity is in the city (or Kailua town) and Foodland is the other one.
I remember that the Foodland by the beach was later named Food Warehouse when Foodland was testing the warehouse store concept - like Costco is today. I guess Food Warehouse was created before it's time.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
The old Food Fair in downtown Hilo, off of Ponahawai and Kilauea, tiny supermarket.
But not as small as Paauilo General Store, that served that plantation town. It had a small meat counter in the back. Old Filipino man used to be the butcher....Pedro? Had food, meat and clothes inside the very small store. Talk about yesteryear.
And frequently, the crazy old lunatic, "Frankie Bobo" hanging around the outside door, waving his money at passersby and yelling out "...payday tomorrow!!..."
September 17th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
@theDman - Frankie Bobo, the crazy old lunatic. Nice way of saying "the village idiot". ~~~ hmm, blog topic churning...
September 17th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
@theDman, You remember Ichi Honda? He carry that sickle around.
Oh Yeah, Frankie Bobo.
oops was I suppose to wait?
September 17th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
@Ynaku
No, don't remember Ichi Honda, there was that older Portuguese guy that had the mind of a 12 year old, we used to call him.....Lurch??? Had a job, but could only function as a child. Used to give the teenage girls the creeps, because he liked.....teenage girls.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:09 am
First!
Morning!
Sitting on plane at lax. Was hoping to be first on new post.
The second pick is Kahala mall. The left side became longs.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:10 am
hiya Uncle Rod! Happy Aloha Friday! lets see, I do remember Star Market, I remember Pay n Save and Cornets, I remember Times and the alley way, and my most favorite store was Holiday Mart. That store will always be holiday mart. Not Daiei or Don Quiote or what ever it is...its Holiday Mart. I remember there use to be a Japanese man who sold those japanese pastrie donut things in the front. You could put azuki beans, apples or ham and cheese inside and my most favorite of course, was the chocolate chips.Do u remember him? Robert & I have been trying to look for someone who makes these delicious treats to see if they are the same...just to be able to have a familiar taste of our childhood days...
September 18th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
oh! I just remembered a market and how it use to look...Kalapawai Market. they had those horsie rides and the car rides. I remember dad taking us there
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Anybody from Pearl City? Pearl City Market brings back a lot of memories. We used to shop there before Pearl City Foodland was built. That market had fresh cut meat and fish. The butcher was one of the owners. I can see it like it was yesterday:Every flavor of icecakes. My fav was the blue one and the strawberry. Mochi crunch, cuttlefish, red squid legs, abalone, and just about every cavity-causing candy that there was. Sweettarts, Sugarbabies, Look, Big Hunk, Horlicks Tablets, Red Whips ( when they were the long ones in the package), Pixie sticks, lipstck candy, necklace candy on the elastic string, Chicostick, those little drinks that used to come in the bottles that were made out of wax and shaped like coke bottles ( 6 in a pack), flat taffy that was wrapped in wax paper(strawberry, orange, grape, banana), Big rectangle Nestle's Crunch (3" x 7") only for the rich: 15 cents. Ice cold sodas all in the bottle kept in the cooler with the water circulating around the bottles. Real size ice-cream sandwiches by Foremost and Meadowgold, not those skinny sickly looking ones they sell today. Thick creamsicles, fudgesicles, and popsicles. Creamy drumsticks.Still can taste them today! Let's not forget about the crackseed. I don't remember them selling out of the glass containers but the packaged stuff was good too when Yick Lung was king and fresh tasting too. Remember Yick Lung potato chips? I remember when we would stay over at my uncle's house in Manana Housing, he'd send my cousins and my sister to Pearl City Market with $5. They'd come back with loaded packages and change. My all time favorite:solid metal sling-shot for 15 cents. The market is still there but is only a shell of its former self. The owners, I believe, have passed on. The market has been sub-divided and has housed a variety of businesses over the years. The one thing that I remember the most about that market and any other mom & pop store I walked into was that it had an unforgettable, distinguished aroma as a result of the combination of the goods that were kept in the store. No matter how old you were, it brought you back to your childhood and happy memories. I'll be back with more.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Aloha Jon - thanks for you post and welcome to the Midlife Crisis blog. Those were some nice memories you shared with us. Please stop by the MLC blog again as I'm always looking for ideas for new blog entries - and your post brings up some new ideas for me. Thanks, Jon
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Next to Pearl City Market on the Mauka side was Lehua Market. I don't remember going in there as a kid. It was around for a while but I don't know much about it. I do know that after it closed the building served as a workshop for the Marsh Comany that made furniture. They had a store on Dillingham Blvd. where Foodland is now. After that, the market became Airport Automotive something like a NAPA store. The nicest people worked there. The building was demolished and there is a nursing home on the site. Does anybody else remember Lehua Market? I'd like to know more about it.
Up the street from Lehua on the left hand side going mauka, there was a mom & pop store right on the corner of Lehua Avenue and the street behind Pearl City Tavern. There was a barber shop in there too. Don't remember the name but I can still see the sweet old lady's face. My dad took my baby sister there and had her cut off her long flowing hair without telling my mom. My mom was pissed. The place is long gone and there's a huge apartment building there now.
Across from Pearl City Foodland, where the food court is now, was Shoprite Drugstore. This was the biggest little drugstore. It had everything at the time. The pharmacy was where Bale' is now. At the far ocean end was the fountain service area that had counter and table service. They cooked up the best hamburgers that I ever tasted as a kid. The coke had a unique, unmatched sweetness even to this day. The closest in taste is the coke at St. Louis Drive Inn. There was also a magazine nook in the back of the store. All the comics you read when you had the time. There was even a small two-lane bowling alley next to the fountain service area. I used to look forward to going there just for the sake of going. I never saw so much candy. Cheap too. The store closed in late 1965 because Pearl City Longs was opening in 1966. The store later became B & R hardware and garden which later moved to the Aiea Shopping Center. After that, it became the pet, hardware, and garden shop for Holiday Mart. They got rid of pets and plants, moved the hardware instore, and then opened the food court. Is there anybody out there that either worked or remembers this place?