By HUNTER BISHOP
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer
In 1978, SureSave Markets pioneered the convenience store concept in Hawaii County, opening its first Wiki-Wiki Mart on the triangular lot in Hilo where Ainaola Drive meets Kawailani Street.
With gas, snacks, videos and a variety of beverages, the Wiki-Wiki was a popular stop for folks heading to and from their homes in Waiakea Uka.
Nearly 35 years later, the convenience store and Wiki-Wiki Video are no more. Soon, in their place will be a new convenience store and deli being developed by family-owned firm S. Yokoyama Inc., which owns the property. SureSave leased the property for its retail operations from Yokoyama for more than three decades.
Signs now on the property say: “Kawailani Convenience Mart and Deli Opening Soon.” A couple of beauty salons and gas station are still open on the site while construction workers renovate the property around them.
Kathy Kimoto, granddaughter of the family patriarch and spokeswoman for the Yokoyama family, said the new convenience store and deli will feature fresh sandwiches and salads and a wide variety of convenience store items. Tables will be available for deli customers to dine onsite if they choose.
The gasoline station and retail shops will also stay, but Kimoto wasn’t sure yet how much retail space will be leased. About 3,000 square feet of retail space at the Kawailani location is currently being renovated, she said.
The Yokoyama family owned and operated the Manono Mini Mart where Kimoto was manager until 2009, when it was sold to Blane Aburamen of Blane’s Drive Inn, who continues to operate the Manono Mini Mart convenience store and restaurant complex. The Yokoyama family also formerly owned the Kamuela Deli and currently operates Travel Professionals on Banyan Drive.
Kimoto and cousin Tricia Yokoyama Kimura will manage the new Kawailani Convenience Mart and Deli, which is expected to open in October or November.
Carl Okuyama, Sales and Customer Relations representative at SureSave, said it was difficult to close the Kawailani Wiki-Wiki. “After 35 years it’s not easy. We made a lot of friends there,” he said. But the store operated on a month-to-month lease for the past 15 years, making it difficult to make long-term plans for the business.
“We just opened another Wiki in Naalehu,” Okuyama said. Sure Save now has two Wiki-Wiki marts; the other is at 1710 Kamehameha Ave., with an accompanying Wiki-Wiki Kitchen.
Email Hunter Bishop at hbishop@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
