After over 70 years as a family-run business, Nakahara Store in Hawi closed the doors Tuesday in a bittersweet moment for owner Mary Rose Nakahara.
“My husband and I ran the store for 42 years before he passed away last year,” she said. “We practically worked together 24 hours a day.”
Nakahara said she came to Hawaii in 1980 from Manila, Philippines as a 22 year-old newlywed after a five year courtship with Richard, who was taking over the store from his mother. Richard’s mother retired and Mary Rose became part of the family business at the historic sugar plantation store. Hot food specials were served daily along with a full selection of groceries, beverages, alcohol and gifts.
Richard returned from Manila to Hawi to help his mother run the store in 1977, returning to the Philippines in 1980 to marry Mary Rose.
North Kohala was economically distressed after the Kohala Sugar Company closed its last mill in 1973.
The population of Kohala had been declining for several years, as jobs were no longer available due to the eventual closing of the sugar company. The Hawi store’s sales declined during the 1970s and did not improve until the population began to grow again after the opening of the large Kohala Coast hotels in the early 1980s.
The history of Nakahara store dates back to 1908, when Minezo and Kiyo Nakahara opened their first store in Paauilo servicing plantation workers. The Japan immigrants had eight children, four boys and four girls. The boys were expected to work in the store, and when they were older, Minezo planned on each son having their own store.
In 1951, Castle and Cook decided to divest itself of two Kohala Sugar Company stores, in Halaula and Hawi, and were purchased by the Nakahara family. Minezo and Kiyo’s eldest son, Shoichi, and his wife, Ayako, managed the Hawi store, and their son Richard became a third-generation store owner.
In all, the family owned four stores, with all but the Hawi store eventually closed by 2001.
Mary Rose reminisced about raising her sons at the store.
“The store was their playground. They were exposed to work at a very young age. They enjoyed it and thought it was normal for little kids to work because they were part of the name,” she recalled. “They grew up to be very hard workers.”
She said after her husband passed away she was alone because her children had already established their lives on the mainland.
“The told me, ‘Mom, life is very fragile and nothing is promised, and now that dad is not here, after 43 years, it’s time to retire.’ I decided they were right. I want to spend more time with them.,” she said.
Although Nakahara Store is closed, its spirit will remain thanks to Jake Chilton, owner of the True Value Hardware store located across the street.
“Mary Rose asked us to take over. Our big thing is trying to preserve it as a grocery and convenience stop. We will have ready to go food items, different kinds of food options because one thing Kohala lacks is diversity. We will put some new bathrooms in and make it a convenient quick stop. I want to make sure the employees had a home. Our game plan is to make it a great spot,” he said.
Chilton plans on reopening the store in February as the Plantation Market, honoring the store’s roots.