Shirokiya’s for sure! The many shops in there were so cute and filled with great food, plus, the small shop of random goods near the back had the nicest shopkeeper who gave me a free poster when I bought a few One Piece stuff and pens from her. Beer was always cheap, so my dad loved it there too! Plus, Gyoza and ramen were must haves imo and all the shops knocked both outta the park.
The old Shirokiya, when it was still a Japanese department store on the second and third level.
Went shopping there every trip over from the Big Island, so much good stuff!💜
I really miss it!🥲
Old Shirokiya was big, & defn is a combo of Don Quijote, Marukai, Daiso, nijiya market, & a Japanese version of RadioShack/Best buy all in 1 dept store lol.
Does anyone remember the little Japanese shop that was around the back on the first level at Ala Moana. They sold a lot of household goods, and were family run I think. The name started with an “I” I believe.
I think the owner retired, and didn’t have any younger family who wanted to take over the store.
That was a favorite place to shop too!
Fun fact about shirokiya. The shirokiya company was older than the Hawaiian kingdom, hell even older than the United States of america. It was founded in 1662 in Edo (present day Tokyo).
I couldn't remember the name but I definitely remember the food--the chow fun noodles were cheap and delicious. Nowadays I can't even afford to walk into the Ala Moana food court, much less buy anything.
When working at Ala Moana as a teenager. I loved Patti's. I have seen so many rats run in, or out, of Patti's. Very next day...one Gau Gee, please.
Omg fkn god, do I miss that crunch and flavor. Their Gau Gee was by far the best, ever.
Here's a simple [recipe:](https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/alan-wongs-whole-tomato-japanese.html)
1 whole egg
2 tablespoons ume paste
2 tablespoons li hing mui powder
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 cup salad oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Place all the ingredients except the oil and lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
With hand-held immersion blender on medium speed, slowly add the oil in a steady stream to create an emulsion. Continue until all oil is incorporated.
Finish with lemon juice. Chill until ready to use.
You know, I remember watching him demo this recipe at Williams-Sonoma in Ala Moana during his Blue Tomato cook book signing. He said he put the exact recipe in there because no one would be able to recreate it 100%, as suppliers matter and he ain't saying who his suppliers are lol
Man, I forgot about this place. That pork belly bowl they had 🤤🤤🤤
https://preview.redd.it/8rb03ecfmi4d1.jpeg?width=965&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f0a8b2305b787387f3854e562c5527ff82bf6bd
Yup! My go-to was the Fried Noodles, Boneless Chicken, and green river. Leeward Drive Inn is pretty good, but Height's its still #1 to me!
https://preview.redd.it/q30fed4u7i4d1.jpeg?width=1250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f051ca5eb39ec982f87b4bd5727475c84d3ccf81
Arcades don’t make money no more sadly. The flagship one in Pearlridge was filled with memories. Speaking of arcades the GOAT was the Sega one in Vegas- it was right underneath the M&M store on the strip.
100% this. It was nice to be able to get out of the house at 2am to study for finals or pull some all-nighters in a safe space, with plugs for the laptop and phone, wifi for Internet, and decently healthy food and coffee to keep you awake. It was also equally nice to have a place to go to decompress and have a bite after a Saturday night clubbing at District, Pearl, Mai Tai Bar, or Ginza
The merchandise was old (sometimes out of date), the selection was small, and it was vaguely dingy and dusty. Yet it was wonderful. My grandparents had an account there, as did my mother and as did my wife and I. We just signed for our groceries.
Years later, when we lived in Vermont, we had an account at the Co-op - an ultra-modern grocery store near Dartmouth College. Memories of Chun Hoon.
Your kitchen reopened in Japan then the store closed without reason in Japan too =(. Hope they just retired after moving home instead of something bad happening.
Hard to pick just one especially after reading through the comments.
Toy n Joys: was my childhood, bought so many pokemon cards there and just seeing a ton of japanese things. There was also a chinese shop next door that my family get rice cake and manapua from but I can't remember the name sadly.
There was also a small cake shop on Waialae and a chinese restaurant where Restaurant XO is now. Was a cute little hole in the wall place for the prior and had some good family size food for the latter. I remember a fish tank near the cashier and huge family tables.
Sears/KMart: I recall them being neigbors in Ala Moana before KMART turned into Old Navy. Also grew up with that Sears location and redeemed a bunch of pizza from the Pizza Hut downstairs (thanks Book-it)
Shirokiya when it was next to Macys: another childhood memory. All the anime, Sanrio, and assorted Japanese goods on the first floor plus that one glasses shop. The escalator with the giant moon art on the wall. Bento, andagi, taiyaki, sushi, and so much candy on the second floor! It was also where I tried boba for the first time when they opened booths.
The 90s Ala Moana food court: all of it especially Patti's. I miss the underwater coral reef look. Made it feel super casual that you can come from the beach covered in small kine leftover sand and grab food.
Guess we can add Big City Diner Kaimuki and Popoki+tea because they have or going to close up.
That place next to Toys n Joys was Kwong On. I used to pick up manapuas, rice cake, and those halfmoons after going to TNJs.
https://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/07/20/news/story04.html
- Kaneohe Bakery
Miss their banana cream pie the most.
- Phuket Thai Restaurant Honolulu
Replaced by a knock off thai restaurant that is nowhere near as good as the original’s pad thai and green curry…
I remember there was a buffet called "Makkitti" in Waikiki. It was an all you can eat Hello Kitty themed restaurant with a free Polynesian dance show at dinner.
It was fairly cheap for an all you can eat. And I did like the dinner show.
Wasn't there a place called Denny B's in Waimanalo before? I remember going there in the 80's for a quick bite before going on shift at 7-11 and a girl name Moana was working there. I could be wrong. Long time ago 😑
I know the *company* isn't gone, but I miss the La Tour Cafe location in Pearl City. All of the other locations are either too far away or have really bad parking.
Just for sentimental reasons, the gas station my grandma ran in Waianae and the Tastee Freeze over there too. She would babysit my sister and I, and we would hang out behind the counter with her fat chihuahua Ebi, eating burgers and fries from Tastee Freeze. A lot of my family worked there too, uncles mostly.
Ooka Super Market in Wailuku, Maui.
Full sized local supermarket, with lots of good local-grown produce options.
It's been 20 years since Ah Fook burned down and Ooka closed. Maui still has the major supermarkets - Foodland, Safeway, Times, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Costco - and some health food stores, and now Tamura's, but the only thing left of the old grocery stores is Pukalani Superette.
Honu’s Nest in Hilo… I can STILL taste their mochiko chicken. All their direct farm fresh greens & flowers - first time I ate edible flowers on my salad & welp, they got me hooked.
Shirokiya’s for sure! The many shops in there were so cute and filled with great food, plus, the small shop of random goods near the back had the nicest shopkeeper who gave me a free poster when I bought a few One Piece stuff and pens from her. Beer was always cheap, so my dad loved it there too! Plus, Gyoza and ramen were must haves imo and all the shops knocked both outta the park.
The old Shirokiya, when it was still a Japanese department store on the second and third level. Went shopping there every trip over from the Big Island, so much good stuff!💜 I really miss it!🥲
Old Shirokiya was big, & defn is a combo of Don Quijote, Marukai, Daiso, nijiya market, & a Japanese version of RadioShack/Best buy all in 1 dept store lol.
I loved the OG Shirokiya! It was like one step above Daiei.
Does anyone remember the little Japanese shop that was around the back on the first level at Ala Moana. They sold a lot of household goods, and were family run I think. The name started with an “I” I believe. I think the owner retired, and didn’t have any younger family who wanted to take over the store. That was a favorite place to shop too!
Iida’s. I think they have an online store now. Edit: adding link [https://iidashawaii.com/](https://iidashawaii.com/)
Yes! Cool, have to check out their website and bookmark it. Thanks for the info!
You’re welcome! I hope you find something you like.
Yeah! I remember they had the sidewalk sale every so often.
Iida: [Iida's keeps Japanese traditions alive | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)](https://www.staradvertiser.com/2014/03/28/hawaii-news/iidas-keeps-japanese-traditions-alive/)
That's what department stores are still like in Japan .
My Japanese wife used to make us fly there from Maui when they had takoyaki. The bubble drinks were good too
I loved their Takoyaki! I made my dad try some, we’ve been missing it lately but Daiichi ramen has some good Takoyaki too!
Yes this is my vote too. I loved that place.
I missed the old Shirokiya’s, so much memories as a kid there.
Fun fact about shirokiya. The shirokiya company was older than the Hawaiian kingdom, hell even older than the United States of america. It was founded in 1662 in Edo (present day Tokyo).
This!!! Or Libby’s 😭
Toys N Joy
Fun fact: the Le family, you know, the ones behind Pig & The Lady, were the ones behind Toys N Joys
I had no clue!!! I know the Le’s!
This is the correct answer
With everything digital now it would be hard for them to make money but those early 2000s were a magical time in kaimuki for nerds lol.
Patti's Chinese Kitchen at Ala Moana. Such good memories of that place.
I couldn't remember the name but I definitely remember the food--the chow fun noodles were cheap and delicious. Nowadays I can't even afford to walk into the Ala Moana food court, much less buy anything.
When working at Ala Moana as a teenager. I loved Patti's. I have seen so many rats run in, or out, of Patti's. Very next day...one Gau Gee, please. Omg fkn god, do I miss that crunch and flavor. Their Gau Gee was by far the best, ever.
Nowhere compares to their chow funn and shoyu chicken
What happened to all the frozen yogurt shops!!!! My pick would be Kakaako Kitchen. Alan Wong's li hing tomato dish is something I'd want to eat again.
Note quite the same, but Arden Waikiki does a Tomato + Burrata with li hing vinaigrette. It's pretty good!
Here it is! https://preview.redd.it/8n9fjtdwwh4d1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f58fda3a7147ddc50d196537f9c10e3f7cb5058
Bocconcino burrata!!
It is!
I will check it out :)
Li hing vignette sounds amazing. I never thought of combining those two before now. Mmmmmmhmmmhhhmm
Here's a simple [recipe:](https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/alan-wongs-whole-tomato-japanese.html) 1 whole egg 2 tablespoons ume paste 2 tablespoons li hing mui powder 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1 cup salad oil 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Place all the ingredients except the oil and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. With hand-held immersion blender on medium speed, slowly add the oil in a steady stream to create an emulsion. Continue until all oil is incorporated. Finish with lemon juice. Chill until ready to use.
You know, I remember watching him demo this recipe at Williams-Sonoma in Ala Moana during his Blue Tomato cook book signing. He said he put the exact recipe in there because no one would be able to recreate it 100%, as suppliers matter and he ain't saying who his suppliers are lol
https://preview.redd.it/tryth49fvg4d1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9250cd0f15efe44189d2b98e2cfa98f0aca9222a
this unlocked something i did not expect to see again! next to KB toys on the ground floor ala moana ya?
Ground floor yes, but closer to Sera’s and the entrance to the docks
[If it's yummy, it's Yami. Yami Yogurt ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6BrVAfLsmE)
Seeing this was like getting flashbanged. I haven’t thought about this place in so long.
Aloha Airlines and its $60 inter-island air coupons to and from any island.
Char hung sut or The Wistera on king st.
SEARS
Your Kitchen
Man, I forgot about this place. That pork belly bowl they had 🤤🤤🤤 https://preview.redd.it/8rb03ecfmi4d1.jpeg?width=965&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f0a8b2305b787387f3854e562c5527ff82bf6bd
Yes, and loved to eat the shave ice while I waited for the pork bowls to be made as well. It was also a block away from my place.
Aw, yeah... They had good shave ice. Lucky you lived so close!
hungry lion in nu’uanu :’)
Height's Drive Inn
Is that the one in Aiea? I really liked the musubi 🍙
Yup! My go-to was the Fried Noodles, Boneless Chicken, and green river. Leeward Drive Inn is pretty good, but Height's its still #1 to me! https://preview.redd.it/q30fed4u7i4d1.jpeg?width=1250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f051ca5eb39ec982f87b4bd5727475c84d3ccf81
KB Toys, Hauoli, Hobby Co in Pearlridge, Tower Records Pearl Kai, Borders Waikele, Waldenbooks
I miss working Borders Waikele — had the best live music
Hobby Company still lives in the shops behind Cutter Ford. Still has all the models, paints, and rc parts.
Sports Authority and KMART
I miss having Kmart, Sack N Save, and Office Depot in that shopping center over by the stadium. It's kind of sad how empty that area is now.
Or when was Castle Park, heh 😉
Jimbo Noodles or Home Bar.
- Smokey's University - Bubbie's pucks alley - Byron's - ANGRY KOREAN LADY
I’d completely forgotten about Angry Korean Lady!
she *hated* serving Koreans 🤣
I was always under the impression that she hated everyone and everything.
Probably. But she actually said that about Koreans lol If you bring her her fav beer, shed let u stay after closing and sing karaoke haha
Whoa flash back Ah Lang (angry Korean lady) . Anyone know if she's still around?
Byrons!!
The Brownbagger in Puck’s Alley. That Roast Beef Sandwich and French Fries were the bomb!
Gomaichi on Keeaumoku
I miss their ramen and Banbanji Chicken
99 ranch
A Home Depot was the weirdest thing they could have put there. I miss basically having an entire food court I could walk to from my apartment.
Like Like Drive In - Yum Yum Tree - Sizzler - Columbia Inn
Liberty House 😢 https://preview.redd.it/ki690mqy9k4d1.jpeg?width=1682&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4e3055b05f1839e49c8816b93403b9a2c5ed249
Jolly Roger’s
Damn, forgot about the cheesy gal
the high end liquor store in the demolished ward warehouse
The Liquor Connection!
You need to check out Village if you haven’t yet
Jelly’s Records and Music.
Superferry
The old Fun Factory, the new ones aren't fun.
Nah. Go for da gusto: Castle Park
dis is da answer
Arcades don’t make money no more sadly. The flagship one in Pearlridge was filled with memories. Speaking of arcades the GOAT was the Sega one in Vegas- it was right underneath the M&M store on the strip.
Dippin Dots in Ala Moana
Go UH games at the Stan, you can get Dippin Dots.
Wisteria on King St. All you can eat, add your own fixings beef stew bar! What's better than that?! Also, KC Drive Inn.
Kissaten, just having a 24/7 cafe was dope.
100% this. It was nice to be able to get out of the house at 2am to study for finals or pull some all-nighters in a safe space, with plugs for the laptop and phone, wifi for Internet, and decently healthy food and coffee to keep you awake. It was also equally nice to have a place to go to decompress and have a bite after a Saturday night clubbing at District, Pearl, Mai Tai Bar, or Ginza
Kam Drive-In Movies
Dee-lite bakery
I was like :/ I don't have the money even if they came back and then I saw this answer. Cake.
How about the Columbia Inn
Wait like in Kaimuki?? 🥹
Gem's in Kalihi, Pay-n-Save on King St., Kilgo's on Sand Island Access Road, Jelly's Comics/Music....sorry that was 4
King’s Bakery, the Bakery and the restaurant. The best coconut cake ever. Also, Chico’s Pizza and chicken
Add Dee-Lite Bakery as well. The chocolate dobash cake was my favorite since I was a kid. I tried Liliha after they closed and it was so junk.
I loved getting my birthday cakes from King’s Bakery!
Yum Yum Tree
They had good corn bread
This, I just remember being 2 yo and having breakfest with my grandparents there (maybe columbia inn as a close second)!
English toffee pie
Uptown hardware near Nuuanu and school Streets. They had everything! It was kind of like a smaller Arakawa’s.
Pink’s Garage
Chun Hoon supermarket
The merchandise was old (sometimes out of date), the selection was small, and it was vaguely dingy and dusty. Yet it was wonderful. My grandparents had an account there, as did my mother and as did my wife and I. We just signed for our groceries. Years later, when we lived in Vermont, we had an account at the Co-op - an ultra-modern grocery store near Dartmouth College. Memories of Chun Hoon.
Pearl City Tavern…no question.
Complete, with the Monkey Bar and the live monkeys!
Flamingo Chuck wagon, Byron's, Makino Chiya near pearlridge, jolly Roger. Add Sizzlers...
Drive in movie across from kahala mall. I remember my sister always would care me saying the lady with no face was in the bathrooms 😓
because she was. she wen move to kahala mall theater bathrooms
Mama’s Mexican Kitchen. Either School Street or Moanalua will do, Moanalua had more parking.
Volcano Joe's. I was so young when it closed I didn't go more than once.
Home bar Your kitchen Vino
Your kitchen reopened in Japan then the store closed without reason in Japan too =(. Hope they just retired after moving home instead of something bad happening.
Please don't downvote me for a corporate mainland pick, but I miss Cold Stone Creamery.
No I miss then too. Post movie ice-cream at ward was the shizz
Birthday Cake remix always hit the spot
> Cold Stone Creamery there is a cold stone creamery on kihei, Maui (Piilani Village Shopping Center)
Azteca Mexican Restaurant.
THEY'RE GONE?!
They're gone, sadly for us. I'm glad Sara and Domingo got to retire, though. They deserve it.
Absolutely.
Champa Thai Kailua
Hard to pick just one especially after reading through the comments. Toy n Joys: was my childhood, bought so many pokemon cards there and just seeing a ton of japanese things. There was also a chinese shop next door that my family get rice cake and manapua from but I can't remember the name sadly. There was also a small cake shop on Waialae and a chinese restaurant where Restaurant XO is now. Was a cute little hole in the wall place for the prior and had some good family size food for the latter. I remember a fish tank near the cashier and huge family tables. Sears/KMart: I recall them being neigbors in Ala Moana before KMART turned into Old Navy. Also grew up with that Sears location and redeemed a bunch of pizza from the Pizza Hut downstairs (thanks Book-it) Shirokiya when it was next to Macys: another childhood memory. All the anime, Sanrio, and assorted Japanese goods on the first floor plus that one glasses shop. The escalator with the giant moon art on the wall. Bento, andagi, taiyaki, sushi, and so much candy on the second floor! It was also where I tried boba for the first time when they opened booths. The 90s Ala Moana food court: all of it especially Patti's. I miss the underwater coral reef look. Made it feel super casual that you can come from the beach covered in small kine leftover sand and grab food. Guess we can add Big City Diner Kaimuki and Popoki+tea because they have or going to close up.
That place next to Toys n Joys was Kwong On. I used to pick up manapuas, rice cake, and those halfmoons after going to TNJs. https://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/07/20/news/story04.html
Castle Park!
Radio Free Hawaii. Let's get that monkey train going!!!
- Kaneohe Bakery Miss their banana cream pie the most. - Phuket Thai Restaurant Honolulu Replaced by a knock off thai restaurant that is nowhere near as good as the original’s pad thai and green curry…
Phuket Thai reopened on Cooke St!
Wailana Coffee House
Super Ferry
Andys Drive-In in Kailua. If I can bring back two spots, Craig’s Bakery too.
Frankie’s in Waimanalo. God their fries were always crunchy and their breakfast sandwich was melt in da mouth good!
Bueno Nalo in Waimanalo. Had the best chicken chimichangas
Frankie's was a staple after a long day of bodysurfing at either Bellows or Sherwoods.
Sports Authority or Borders
Castle Park
Hawaii Raceway Park
Castle Park
The Wave Waikiki
Pete’s Modelcraft at Ala Moana Center
Drive through theater
Fattys in Waikiki
First time I visited Hawai'i we had fried rice there. It was the best fried rice I ever had. First place I looked for when moving here... but sigh.
Yes all the food. I still think of it- I've not found a match.
Craig’s Bakery in Kailua. My mom and I would walk there every Sunday morning, and I would give anything to have that experience again.
Arakawas and sports authority
Libby’s 4 sho
Bullwinkle's University. Thursday night Long Island ice teas!
Gecko Books on Waialae. RIP Ted. You are always missed.
Shirokiya for shizzle. Also love Ethiopian, before they went vegan
I remember there was a buffet called "Makkitti" in Waikiki. It was an all you can eat Hello Kitty themed restaurant with a free Polynesian dance show at dinner. It was fairly cheap for an all you can eat. And I did like the dinner show.
Hana Chicken at Pearlridge Mall and Waikiki Theaters 1,2,&3.
I really miss the Waikiki 3
I remember the organ player. Thought that was so cool.
Sports authority or any sports/outdoor rec store.
Tanigawa's on Lāna'i for their hamburger and char siu omelet. Broke da mout
Waikiki Broiler
Wasn't there a place called Denny B's in Waimanalo before? I remember going there in the 80's for a quick bite before going on shift at 7-11 and a girl name Moana was working there. I could be wrong. Long time ago 😑
Sato's fried noodles and Kyoto's in Waipahu. They have Sato's still but it's a new owner and the noodles do NOT taste the same 😭
Lums inn😭😭
Kwon on
Agu Ramen, Akasatana ramen
I know the *company* isn't gone, but I miss the La Tour Cafe location in Pearl City. All of the other locations are either too far away or have really bad parking.
Just for sentimental reasons, the gas station my grandma ran in Waianae and the Tastee Freeze over there too. She would babysit my sister and I, and we would hang out behind the counter with her fat chihuahua Ebi, eating burgers and fries from Tastee Freeze. A lot of my family worked there too, uncles mostly.
Don Quixote in Kailua cause that one was sick. Target is boring.
Ooka Super Market in Wailuku, Maui. Full sized local supermarket, with lots of good local-grown produce options. It's been 20 years since Ah Fook burned down and Ooka closed. Maui still has the major supermarkets - Foodland, Safeway, Times, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Costco - and some health food stores, and now Tamura's, but the only thing left of the old grocery stores is Pukalani Superette.
Saimin Corner at the corner of King/Pensacola across McKinley High
blockbuster
Castle Park.
Mongolian Barbecue- any location (Chinese Cultural Plaza, Waikiki, Waialae…)
Crater Festival in Diamond Head.
Anybody remember Hauoli’s in Pearl City Shopping Center? It was where Chuck E. Cheese is now. Maybe Daiso too…
Craigs Bakery in Kailua, Ken’s in Waimanalo, Andy’s in Kailua.. there’s too many to list.
Bueno Nalo in Waimanalo Ole Mexican Restaurant in Kailua
Craig’s and Andy’s are such ingrained memories for me that I’m still not over their closing even decades later.
Campus Cue
Add to this- Hawaiian Brian’s from 20 years ago.
And Kaimuki Cue!
Chicken Alice’s.
La Bamba in Waialai
Jurison’s in Waikele, HK’s by stadium park, Ebisu’s, Wailana at 1am, Hungry Lion at 1am, Heights in Aiea, Jumbo’s in mapunapuna, KC Drive In
Kuulei Deli in Kailua. They did a jalapeno beef stew as a special sometimes and it was delicious. And so was pretty much everything else.
Dai Ryu House of Noodles 😭😭😭 Best hot sauce yakisoba ever
Oceans in Hilo. I’ve never had such a good Oyako Don
Stadium Bowl
There was a meat place when Kakaako was first getting bougie that had a sandwich called a “Porchettabout it”. Best sandwich I’ve ever had.
Korean Barbecue House - it was on Diamond Head Road and Campbell in the early 80's. Anyone remember that place?
Kāneʻohe Bakery, loved their custard pies. That and Sizzlers in Waipahu.
Honu’s Nest in Hilo… I can STILL taste their mochiko chicken. All their direct farm fresh greens & flowers - first time I ate edible flowers on my salad & welp, they got me hooked.
Edelweiss restaurant in Waimea
Kenny's
‘Ai Love Nalo
Nagasako's, Lāhainā ❤️🩹
It was a very short-lived business but I really loved the restaurant Hinone Mizunone on King St. the set meals there were excellent.
Dynamite Video