The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii will present KTA Super Stores with its 2016 Nikkei Kigyo Award during a sold-out banquet Friday at Nani Mau Gardens.
The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii will present KTA Super Stores with its 2016 Nikkei Kigyo Award during a sold-out banquet Friday at Nani Mau Gardens.
The translation of Nikkei Kigyo is “enterprise of Japanese ancestry.”
“We are indeed privileged to recognize KTA Super Stores, founded in 1916 by Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi, who were committed to the philosophy of serving the people of our community with humility — a philosophy which is still continued throughout their 100 years in business,” said Jan Higashi, JCAH president.
KTA now is led by third-generation chairman and CEO Barry Taniguchi and fourth-generation President and COO Toby Taniguchi. Along with third- and fourth-generation family members Lon Taniguchi, Maryan Miyada, Andrew Chun and Derek Taniguchi, they ensure the legacy of Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi will continue.
Today, KTA Super Stores employs more than 800 associates in its six sites on the Big Island with stores in Kailua-Kona, Keauhou, Waimea, at the Puainako Center and Downtown Hilo, and the Waikoloa Village Marketplace.
“We are a local company,” Barry Taniguchi said about the secret to the company’s success. He says KTA Super Stores is part of the community. “Our employees share our values and those values have everything to do with loyalty to the customer.”
Previous honorees of the Nikkei Kigyo Award are Suisan Co. Ltd., I. Kitagawa &Co. Ltd., HPM Building Supply and Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd.
The nonprofit Japanese Community Association of Hawaii was formed in the early 1970s to promote and preserve Japanese culture and boasts a membership of more than 400 families. JCAH also awards scholarships to deserving students whose major or minor is in Japanese studies.
For more information about the organization, call 969-6437, email jcahawaii@yahoo.com or visit www.jcahawaii.org.