A Century Of Shopping In Haleiwa Town
By Kerry Miller
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Del.icio.usHaleiwa Super Market turns 100 this month, and the Sakai family will celebrate the milestone on Dec. 22.
The store will have free hot dogs, drinks and balloons that day, as well as conduct demonstrations and drawings.
“It’s thanks to all our loyal customers that we’re in business this long, 100 years,” said Shinae Sakai and her husband, Roy.
Roy, 82, and his brother, Robert, 79, currently own the market with Roy as store manager and Robert running the meat department and assisting Roy.
Grandfather Kasaku Sakai bought the first store in 1907 in Haleiwa town at the present site of First Hawaiian Bank and named it K. Sakai Shoten. In 1955, then-owners Charles and Myrtle Sakai (Roy and Robert’s uncle and aunt), moved the business across the street where Pioneer Ace Hardware now stands. The store moved to its current spot, next to the courthouse, in 1975.
The 18,000-square-foot store stocks the usual groceries - produce, meats, liquor and non-food items like cigarettes. It also has T-shirts designed by a Japanese businessman - a big hit with Japanese tourists, even though most of their customers are North Shore folks.
“There’s a lot of regular customers, most of them are elderly,” said Shinae. “They’ve been here a long time, since Waialua Plantation was in existence.”
Despite a century of history, she said their children aren’t interested in taking over the business. Robert’s son owns a mini mart and is focusing on that, she said, adding “so we really don’t have anyone taking over.
“But there are options out there.”
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